Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Carquest Auto Parts
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Carquest Auto Parts: Al & Ed's Autosound #8 costs $119K to $169K to open; Carquest Auto Parts costs $100K to $910K. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has 7 units, Carquest Auto Parts has 8. SBA loan history: Al & Ed's Autosound #8 = 9 loans (11.1% default); Carquest Auto Parts = 12 loans (0.0% 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.
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Carquest Auto Parts: 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
Carquest Auto Parts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $119K for Al & Ed's Autosound #8), a 19% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Carquest Auto Parts operates 8 units to Al & Ed's Autosound #8's 7. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has been operating 72 years (founded 1954) versus 52 for Carquest Auto Parts (founded 1974), a 20-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Carquest Auto Parts has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 12 7(a) approvals compared with 9 for Al & Ed's Autosound #8. Al & Ed's Autosound #8's peak SBA year was 2003 (6 loans); Carquest Auto Parts's peak was 2020 (4 loans). Carquest Auto Parts's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 9. Carquest Auto Parts leads in MI, with 3. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Al & Ed's Autosound #8 deals is $146K vs $422K for Carquest Auto Parts, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.1% for Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and 0.0% for Carquest Auto Parts, Carquest Auto Parts has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 26 (Fair) for Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and 44 (Fair) for Carquest Auto Parts, giving Carquest Auto Parts the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 26/100 | 44/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 9 | 12 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.1% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | emerging | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $119K to $169K | $100K to $910K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 7% | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 7 | 8 |
Franchised Units | 7 | 8 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 7 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1954 | 1974 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | LOS ANGELES, CA | Baraga, MI |
Category | Automotive Parts | Automotive Parts |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Carquest Auto Parts?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: $119K starting · Carquest Auto Parts: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Carquest Auto Parts
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 9 SBA loans · Carquest Auto Parts: 12 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Carquest Auto Parts
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 11.1% · Carquest Auto Parts: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 7 units · Carquest Auto Parts: 8 units
More lender financing options
Carquest Auto Parts
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 3 unique lenders · Carquest Auto Parts: 8 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.
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Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Carquest Auto Parts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and Carquest Auto Parts is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $910K.
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has 9 SBA loans on record and Carquest Auto Parts has 12. 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.
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Carquest Auto Parts, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Carquest Auto Parts?
How much does a Al & Ed's Autosound #8 franchise cost compared to Carquest Auto Parts?
Can I finance Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Carquest Auto Parts with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Carquest Auto Parts?
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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