Franchise financing
ARBY'S franchise financing
What it costs to finance a ARBY'S franchise and how buyers fund it. The real numbers: how much gets borrowed, which lenders fund it, and the track record.
By Mario Bailey · Source: SBA FOIA data, as of 2026-03-31
- SBA loans
- 110
- Total funded
- $77.8M
- Median loan
- $469K
- 7(a) charge-off
- 4.0%
What financing a ARBY'S franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a ARBY'S franchisee is $469K, and the middle half of ARBY'S's 110 loans run $305K to $859K (average $707K). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. ARBY'S buyers borrow more than the typical franchisee.
These are loan amounts, not the brand's total startup cost. Buyers also put in equity (the SBA generally wants at least 10% down on a new franchise), and the brand's own investment estimate is Item 7 of its franchise disclosure document (FDD). The median ARBY'S loan runs about 11 years (127 months). Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 102 ARBY'S loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 26.5% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance ARBY'S
ARBY'S franchisees have financed with 110 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $707K each. Of those, 75 ran through the 7(a) program (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital) and 35 through 504 (owner-occupied real estate). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
ARBY'S's 7(a) charge-off rate is 4.0% across 75 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance ARBY'S
By SBA loan count
Where ARBY'S gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. California 17
- 2. Michigan 11
- 3. Indiana 9
- 4. Ohio 13
- 5. New York 6
- 6. Texas 7
- 7. Puerto Rico 6
- 8. Washington 4
Financing a ARBY'S?
Get matched with the SBA lenders that actually fund businesses like yours, ranked on real loan data by state, industry, and size. Independent: your details go only to the lenders we match you to, never to data brokers.
ARBY'S SBA financing FAQ
How much does a ARBY'S franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a ARBY'S franchisee is $469K, and the middle half of ARBY'S's 110 loans run $305K to $859K. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of ARBY'S's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for ARBY'S?
Yes. Lenders have funded 110 SBA loans to ARBY'S franchisees, worth $77.8M in all, so ARBY'S is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for ARBY'S?
The data says yes: of ARBY'S's 102 SBA loans that record a business age, 26.5% went to new businesses two years old or younger. Expect the lender to look harder at your experience, business plan, and equity injection.
Which lenders finance ARBY'S?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for ARBY'S are Live Oak Banking Company, The Huntington National Bank, Mortgage Capital Development Corporation, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is ARBY'S's SBA charge-off rate?
Across ARBY'S's 75 SBA 7(a) loans, 4.0% have charged off. Read it as a relative track-record signal, not a prediction. It is not a lifetime default rate.
Which SBA program fits ARBY'S?
Both. Of ARBY'S's 110 SBA loans, 75 were 7(a) (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, working capital) and 35 were 504 (owner-occupied real estate). The median ARBY'S loan term is about 11 years (127 months).