Franchise financing
CULVER'S franchise financing
What it costs to finance a CULVER'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
- 218
- Total funded
- $262.6M
- Median loan
- $919K
- 7(a) charge-off
- 0.0%
What financing a CULVER'S franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a CULVER'S franchisee is $919K, and the middle half of CULVER'S's 218 loans run $412K to $1.7M (average $1.2M). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. CULVER'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 CULVER'S loan runs 20 years. Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 169 CULVER'S loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 47.9% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance CULVER'S
CULVER'S franchisees have financed with 218 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $1.2M each. Of those, 132 ran through the 7(a) program (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital) and 86 through 504 (owner-occupied real estate). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
CULVER'S's 7(a) charge-off rate is 0.0% across 132 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance CULVER'S
By SBA loan count
Where CULVER'S gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. Florida 33
- 2. Illinois 37
- 3. Georgia 13
- 4. Michigan 17
- 5. Wisconsin 26
- 6. Arizona 9
- 7. Missouri 12
- 8. Utah 6
Financing a CULVER'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.
CULVER'S SBA financing FAQ
How much does a CULVER'S franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a CULVER'S franchisee is $919K, and the middle half of CULVER'S's 218 loans run $412K to $1.7M. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of CULVER'S's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for CULVER'S?
Yes. Lenders have funded 218 SBA loans to CULVER'S franchisees, worth $262.6M in all, so CULVER'S is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for CULVER'S?
The data says yes: of CULVER'S's 169 SBA loans that record a business age, 47.9% 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 CULVER'S?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for CULVER'S are Wells Fargo Bank National Association, Bank Five Nine, Byline Bank, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is CULVER'S's SBA charge-off rate?
Across CULVER'S's 132 SBA 7(a) loans, 0.0% 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 CULVER'S?
Both. Of CULVER'S's 218 SBA loans, 132 were 7(a) (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, working capital) and 86 were 504 (owner-occupied real estate). The median CULVER'S loan term is 20 years.