Apple Spicetm vs Southern Steer Butcher
Apple Spicetm vs Southern Steer Butcher: Apple Spicetm costs $80K to $478K to open; Southern Steer Butcher costs $487K to $628K. Apple Spicetm has 19 units, Southern Steer Butcher has 6. SBA loan history: Apple Spicetm = 27 loans (7.4% default); Southern Steer Butcher = 9 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.
Apple Spicetm vs Southern Steer Butcher: 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
Apple Spicetm requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($80K vs $487K for Southern Steer Butcher), a 84% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $83K for Apple Spicetm versus $60K for Southern Steer Butcher, Southern Steer Butcher has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Apple Spicetm and 6% for Southern Steer Butcher, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Apple Spicetm operates 19 units to Southern Steer Butcher's 6, roughly 3× the system size. Southern Steer Butcher has been operating 13 years (founded 2013) versus 9 for Apple Spicetm (founded 2017), a 4-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Apple Spicetm has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 27 7(a) approvals compared with 9 for Southern Steer Butcher. Apple Spicetm's peak SBA year was 2019 (11 loans); Southern Steer Butcher's peak was 2025 (7 loans). Southern Steer Butcher's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Apple Spicetm has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 5. Southern Steer Butcher leads in AZ, 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 Apple Spicetm deals is $316K vs $385K for Southern Steer Butcher, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.4% for Apple Spicetm and 0.0% for Southern Steer Butcher, Southern Steer Butcher has the cleaner SBA loss record by 7.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for Apple Spicetm and 65 (Strong) for Southern Steer Butcher, giving Southern Steer Butcher the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 27 | 9 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.4% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $80K to $478K | $487K to $628K |
Franchise Fee | $83K | $60K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 19 | 6 |
Franchised Units | 19 | 6 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2017 | 2013 |
Franchising Since | 2003 | 2019 |
Years Franchising | 23 yrs | 7 yrs |
Headquarters | LAKE FOREST, CA | Palm Harbor, FL |
Category | Food Service Contractors | Food Service Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2023 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Apple Spicetm or Southern Steer Butcher?
Lower upfront capital required
Apple Spicetm
Apple Spicetm: $80K starting · Southern Steer Butcher: $487K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Apple Spicetm
Apple Spicetm: 27 SBA loans · Southern Steer Butcher: 9 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Southern Steer Butcher
Apple Spicetm: 7.4% · Southern Steer Butcher: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Apple Spicetm
Apple Spicetm: 19 units · Southern Steer Butcher: 6 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Apple Spicetm: 6% · Southern Steer Butcher: 6%
More lender financing options
Apple Spicetm
Apple Spicetm: 11 unique lenders · Southern Steer Butcher: 4 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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Apple Spicetm vs Southern Steer Butcher: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Apple Spicetm and Southern Steer Butcher is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $80K to $628K.
Apple Spicetm has 27 SBA loans on record and Southern Steer Butcher has 9. 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.
Apple Spicetm vs Southern Steer Butcher, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Apple Spicetm or Southern Steer Butcher?
How much does a Apple Spicetm franchise cost compared to Southern Steer Butcher?
Can I finance Apple Spicetm or Southern Steer Butcher with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Apple Spicetm or Southern Steer Butcher?
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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