Franchise financing
Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchise financing
What it costs to finance a Bruster's Real Ice Cream 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
- 106
- Total funded
- $68.1M
- Median loan
- $553K
- 7(a) charge-off
- 2.1%
What financing a Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchisee is $553K, and the middle half of Bruster's Real Ice Cream's 106 loans run $250K to $804K (average $642K). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. Bruster's Real Ice Cream 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 Bruster's Real Ice Cream loan runs about 11 years (126 months). Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 106 Bruster's Real Ice Cream loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 72.6% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance Bruster's Real Ice Cream
Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchisees have financed with 106 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $642K each. The 7(a) program is the usual route: it covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital (94 of the 106 loans). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
Bruster's Real Ice Cream's 7(a) charge-off rate is 2.1% across 94 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance Bruster's Real Ice Cream
By SBA loan count
Where Bruster's Real Ice Cream gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. Georgia 14
- 2. Texas 12
- 3. South Carolina 10
- 4. Nevada 4
- 5. Arizona 8
- 6. North Carolina 7
- 7. California 8
- 8. New York 4
Financing a Bruster's Real Ice Cream?
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Bruster's Real Ice Cream SBA financing FAQ
How much does a Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchisee is $553K, and the middle half of Bruster's Real Ice Cream's 106 loans run $250K to $804K. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of Bruster's Real Ice Cream's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for Bruster's Real Ice Cream?
Yes. Lenders have funded 106 SBA loans to Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchisees, worth $68.1M in all, so Bruster's Real Ice Cream is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for Bruster's Real Ice Cream?
The data says yes: of Bruster's Real Ice Cream's 106 SBA loans that record a business age, 72.6% 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 Bruster's Real Ice Cream?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for Bruster's Real Ice Cream are United Community Bank, Citizens Bank, America First FCU, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is Bruster's Real Ice Cream's SBA charge-off rate?
Across Bruster's Real Ice Cream's 94 SBA 7(a) loans, 2.1% 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 Bruster's Real Ice Cream?
Mostly 7(a): 94 of Bruster's Real Ice Cream's 106 SBA loans. The 7(a) program covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital. The median Bruster's Real Ice Cream loan term is about 11 years (126 months).