Franchise financing
Once Upon A Child franchise financing
What it costs to finance a Once Upon A Child 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
- 186
- Total funded
- $51.3M
- Median loan
- $250K
- 7(a) charge-off
- 1.7%
What financing a Once Upon A Child franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a Once Upon A Child franchisee is $250K, and the middle half of Once Upon A Child's 186 loans run $108K to $348K (average $276K). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. Once Upon A Child buyers borrow less 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 Once Upon A Child loan runs 10 years. Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 176 Once Upon A Child loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 63.1% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance Once Upon A Child
Once Upon A Child franchisees have financed with 186 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $276K each. The 7(a) program is the usual route: it covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital (179 of the 186 loans). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
Once Upon A Child's 7(a) charge-off rate is 1.7% across 179 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance Once Upon A Child
By SBA loan count
Where Once Upon A Child gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. Florida 21
- 2. Texas 18
- 3. Pennsylvania 14
- 4. Minnesota 11
- 5. North Carolina 6
- 6. Missouri 5
- 7. Virginia 8
- 8. South Dakota 2
Financing a Once Upon A Child?
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.
Once Upon A Child SBA financing FAQ
How much does a Once Upon A Child franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a Once Upon A Child franchisee is $250K, and the middle half of Once Upon A Child's 186 loans run $108K to $348K. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of Once Upon A Child's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for Once Upon A Child?
Yes. Lenders have funded 186 SBA loans to Once Upon A Child franchisees, worth $51.3M in all, so Once Upon A Child is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for Once Upon A Child?
The data says yes: of Once Upon A Child's 176 SBA loans that record a business age, 63.1% 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 Once Upon A Child?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for Once Upon A Child are Wells Fargo Bank National Association, First Bank of the Lake, Truist Bank, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is Once Upon A Child's SBA charge-off rate?
Across Once Upon A Child's 179 SBA 7(a) loans, 1.7% 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 Once Upon A Child?
Mostly 7(a): 179 of Once Upon A Child's 186 SBA loans. The 7(a) program covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital. The median Once Upon A Child loan term is 10 years.