Arby's vs Health Mart
Arby's vs Health Mart: Arby's costs $645K to $2.5M to open; Health Mart costs $150K to $442K. Arby's has 3,365 units, Health Mart has 133. SBA loan history: Arby's = 330 loans (13.0% default); Health Mart = 148 loans (3.4% 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.
Arby's vs Health Mart: 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
Health Mart requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($150K vs $645K for Arby's), a 330% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $38K for Arby's versus $60K for Health Mart, Arby's has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Arby's operates 3,365 units to Health Mart's 133, roughly 25× the system size. Arby's has been operating 62 years (founded 1964) versus 20 for Health Mart (founded 2006), a 42-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Arby's has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 330 7(a) approvals compared with 148 for Health Mart. Arby's's peak SBA year was 1995 (27 loans); Health Mart's peak was 2020 (19 loans). Health Mart's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in CA. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Arby's deals is $583K vs $686K for Health Mart, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 13.0% for Arby's and 3.4% for Health Mart, Health Mart has the cleaner SBA loss record by 9.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for Arby's and 52 (Moderate) for Health Mart, giving Arby's the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 57/100 | 52/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 330 | 148 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 13.0% | 3.4% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $645K to $2.5M | $150K to $442K |
Franchise Fee | $38K | $60K |
Royalty Rate | 4% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 5.2% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $500K | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $400K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 3,365 | 133 |
Franchised Units | 2,286 | 133 |
Company Owned | 1,079 | – |
Term Length | 20 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1964 | 2006 |
Franchising Since | 2015 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 11 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | OROVILLE, CA | N/A |
Category | Full-Service Restaurants | Full-Service Restaurants |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Arby's or Health Mart?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Arby's: $645K starting · Health Mart: $150K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Arby's
Arby's: 330 SBA loans · Health Mart: 148 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Health Mart
Arby's: 13.0% · Health Mart: 3.4%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Arby's: 3,365 units · Health Mart: 133 units
More lender financing options
Arby's
Arby's: 130 unique lenders · Health Mart: 51 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
Arby's vs Health Mart: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Arby's and Health Mart is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $150K to $2.5M.
Arby's has 330 SBA loans on record and Health Mart has 148. 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.
Arby's vs Health Mart, Frequently Asked Questions
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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