A-1 Concrete Leveling vs Sam The Concrete Man
A-1 Concrete Leveling vs Sam The Concrete Man: A-1 Concrete Leveling costs $124K to $244K to open; Sam The Concrete Man costs $100K to $150K. A-1 Concrete Leveling has 10 units, Sam The Concrete Man has 93. SBA loan history: A-1 Concrete Leveling = 12 loans (0.0% default); Sam The Concrete Man = 100 loans (6.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
A-1 Concrete Leveling vs Sam The Concrete Man: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Sam The Concrete Man requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $124K for A-1 Concrete Leveling), a 24% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for A-1 Concrete Leveling versus $67K for Sam The Concrete Man, A-1 Concrete Leveling has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for A-1 Concrete Leveling and 4.5% for Sam The Concrete Man, giving Sam The Concrete Man the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Sam The Concrete Man operates 93 units to A-1 Concrete Leveling's 10, roughly 9× the system size. A-1 Concrete Leveling has been operating 44 years (founded 1982) versus 37 for Sam The Concrete Man (founded 1989), a 7-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Sam The Concrete Man has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 100 7(a) approvals compared with 12 for A-1 Concrete Leveling.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for A-1 Concrete Leveling and 6.0% for Sam The Concrete Man, A-1 Concrete Leveling has the cleaner SBA loss record by 6.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 41 (Fair) for A-1 Concrete Leveling and 73 (Strong) for Sam The Concrete Man, giving Sam The Concrete Man the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 41/100 | 73/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 12 | 100 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $124K to $244K | $100K to $150K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $67K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 4.5% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $20K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $50K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 10 | 93 |
Franchised Units | 10 | 93 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1982 | 1989 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2001 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 25 yrs |
Headquarters | Akron, OH | Canyon, TX |
Category | Poured Concrete Foundation | Poured Concrete Foundation |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, A-1 Concrete Leveling or Sam The Concrete Man?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
A-1 Concrete Leveling: $124K starting · Sam The Concrete Man: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Sam The Concrete Man
A-1 Concrete Leveling: 12 SBA loans · Sam The Concrete Man: 100 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
A-1 Concrete Leveling
A-1 Concrete Leveling: 0.0% · Sam The Concrete Man: 6.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
A-1 Concrete Leveling: 10 units · Sam The Concrete Man: 93 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Sam The Concrete Man
A-1 Concrete Leveling: 6% · Sam The Concrete Man: 4.5%
More lender financing options
A-1 Concrete Leveling
A-1 Concrete Leveling: 9 unique lenders · Sam The Concrete Man: 3 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
Need Funding for A-1 Concrete Leveling or Sam The Concrete Man?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
A-1 Concrete Leveling vs Sam The Concrete Man: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing A-1 Concrete Leveling and Sam The Concrete Man is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $244K.
A-1 Concrete Leveling has 12 SBA loans on record and Sam The Concrete Man has 100. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
A-1 Concrete Leveling vs Sam The Concrete Man, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, A-1 Concrete Leveling or Sam The Concrete Man?
How much does a A-1 Concrete Leveling franchise cost compared to Sam The Concrete Man?
Can I finance A-1 Concrete Leveling or Sam The Concrete Man with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, A-1 Concrete Leveling or Sam The Concrete Man?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman