Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Big Apple Bagels
Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Big Apple Bagels: Ampm Mini Market- Arco costs $340K to $3.9M to open; Big Apple Bagels costs $52K to $248K. Ampm Mini Market- Arco has 64 units, Big Apple Bagels has 56. SBA loan history: Ampm Mini Market- Arco = 79 loans (0.0% default); Big Apple Bagels = 85 loans (31.8% 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.
Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Big Apple Bagels: 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
Big Apple Bagels requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($52K vs $340K for Ampm Mini Market- Arco), a 554% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Ampm Mini Market- Arco operates 64 units to Big Apple Bagels's 56. Ampm Mini Market- Arco has been operating 48 years (founded 1978) versus 33 for Big Apple Bagels (founded 1993), a 15-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Big Apple Bagels has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 85 7(a) approvals compared with 79 for Ampm Mini Market- Arco. Ampm Mini Market- Arco's peak SBA year was 2015 (24 loans); Big Apple Bagels's peak was 1996 (13 loans). Ampm Mini Market- Arco's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Ampm Mini Market- Arco has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 67. Big Apple Bagels leads in MI, with 22. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Ampm Mini Market- Arco deals is $2.0M vs $138K for Big Apple Bagels, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Ampm Mini Market- Arco and 31.8% for Big Apple Bagels, Ampm Mini Market- Arco has the cleaner SBA loss record by 31.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 46 (Fair) for Ampm Mini Market- Arco and 28 (Fair) for Big Apple Bagels, giving Ampm Mini Market- Arco the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 46/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 79 | 85 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 31.8% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $340K to $3.9M | $52K to $248K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $57K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 64 | 56 |
Franchised Units | 64 | 56 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1978 | 1993 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1993 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 33 yrs |
Headquarters | TURLOCK, CA | KALAMAZOO, MI |
Category | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Big Apple Bagels?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: $340K starting · Big Apple Bagels: $52K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Big Apple Bagels
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 79 SBA loans · Big Apple Bagels: 85 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Ampm Mini Market- Arco
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 0.0% · Big Apple Bagels: 31.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 64 units · Big Apple Bagels: 56 units
More lender financing options
Big Apple Bagels
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 32 unique lenders · Big Apple Bagels: 50 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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Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Big Apple Bagels: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Ampm Mini Market- Arco and Big Apple Bagels is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $52K to $3.9M.
Ampm Mini Market- Arco has 79 SBA loans on record and Big Apple Bagels has 85. 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.
Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Big Apple Bagels, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Big Apple Bagels?
How much does a Ampm Mini Market- Arco franchise cost compared to Big Apple Bagels?
Can I finance Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Big Apple Bagels with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Big Apple Bagels?
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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