Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Citgo Service Station
Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Citgo Service Station: Ampm Mini Market- Arco costs $340K to $3.9M to open; Citgo Service Station costs $141K to $1.3M. Ampm Mini Market- Arco has 64 units, Citgo Service Station has 111. SBA loan history: Ampm Mini Market- Arco = 79 loans (0.0% default); Citgo Service Station = 111 loans (13.5% 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 Citgo Service Station: 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
Citgo Service Station requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($141K vs $340K for Ampm Mini Market- Arco), a 141% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Citgo Service Station operates 111 units to Ampm Mini Market- Arco's 64. Citgo Service Station has been operating 61 years (founded 1965) versus 48 for Ampm Mini Market- Arco (founded 1978), a 13-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Citgo Service Station has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 111 7(a) approvals compared with 79 for Ampm Mini Market- Arco. Ampm Mini Market- Arco's peak SBA year was 2015 (24 loans); Citgo Service Station's peak was 2008 (9 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. Citgo Service Station leads in IL, with 25. 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 $626K for Citgo Service Station, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Ampm Mini Market- Arco and 13.5% for Citgo Service Station, Ampm Mini Market- Arco has the cleaner SBA loss record by 13.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 46 (Fair) for Ampm Mini Market- Arco and 28 (Fair) for Citgo Service Station, 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 | 111 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 13.5% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $340K to $3.9M | $141K to $1.3M |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $25K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 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 | 64 | 111 |
Franchised Units | 64 | 111 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1978 | 1965 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | TURLOCK, CA | Chicago, IL |
Category | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Citgo Service Station?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: $340K starting · Citgo Service Station: $141K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Citgo Service Station
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 79 SBA loans · Citgo Service Station: 111 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Ampm Mini Market- Arco
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 0.0% · Citgo Service Station: 13.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 64 units · Citgo Service Station: 111 units
More lender financing options
Citgo Service Station
Ampm Mini Market- Arco: 32 unique lenders · Citgo Service Station: 64 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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About These Franchises
Ampm Mini Market- Arco vs Citgo Service Station: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Ampm Mini Market- Arco and Citgo Service Station is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $141K to $3.9M.
Ampm Mini Market- Arco has 79 SBA loans on record and Citgo Service Station has 111. 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 Citgo Service Station, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Citgo Service Station?
How much does a Ampm Mini Market- Arco franchise cost compared to Citgo Service Station?
Can I finance Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Citgo Service Station with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Ampm Mini Market- Arco or Citgo Service Station?
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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