Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Champion Auto Store
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Champion Auto Store: Al & Ed's Autosound #8 costs $119K to $169K to open; Champion Auto Store costs $86K to $249K. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has 7 units, Champion Auto Store has 17. SBA loan history: Al & Ed's Autosound #8 = 9 loans (11.1% default); Champion Auto Store = 22 loans (18.2% 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 Champion Auto Store: 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
Champion Auto Store requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($86K vs $119K for Al & Ed's Autosound #8), a 39% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Champion Auto Store operates 17 units to Al & Ed's Autosound #8's 7, roughly 2× the system size. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has been operating 72 years (founded 1954) versus 6 for Champion Auto Store (founded 2020), a 66-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Champion Auto Store has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 22 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); Champion Auto Store's peak was 1997 (5 loans). Al & Ed's Autosound #8's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 9. Champion Auto Store leads in MN, with 7. 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 $167K for Champion Auto Store, 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 18.2% for Champion Auto Store, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has the cleaner SBA loss record by 7.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 26 (Fair) for Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and 33 (Fair) for Champion Auto Store, giving Champion Auto Store the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 26/100 | 33/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 9 | 22 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.1% | 18.2% |
Peer Tier | emerging | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $119K to $169K | $86K to $249K |
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 | 17 |
Franchised Units | 7 | 17 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 7 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1954 | 2020 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | LOS ANGELES, CA | COTTAGE GROVE, MN |
Category | Automotive Parts | Automotive Parts |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Champion Auto Store?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: $119K starting · Champion Auto Store: $86K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Champion Auto Store
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 9 SBA loans · Champion Auto Store: 22 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Al & Ed's Autosound #8
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 11.1% · Champion Auto Store: 18.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 7 units · Champion Auto Store: 17 units
More lender financing options
Champion Auto Store
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 3 unique lenders · Champion Auto Store: 14 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 Champion Auto Store: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and Champion Auto Store is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $86K to $249K.
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has 9 SBA loans on record and Champion Auto Store has 22. 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 Champion Auto Store, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Champion Auto Store?
How much does a Al & Ed's Autosound #8 franchise cost compared to Champion Auto Store?
Can I finance Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Champion Auto Store with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Champion Auto Store?
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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