Atlanta Bread Company vs Health Mart
Atlanta Bread Company vs Health Mart: Atlanta Bread Company costs $199K to $672K to open; Health Mart costs $150K to $442K. Atlanta Bread Company has 88 units, Health Mart has 133. SBA loan history: Atlanta Bread Company = 128 loans (35.9% 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.
Atlanta Bread Company 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 $199K for Atlanta Bread Company), a 32% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $69K for Atlanta Bread Company versus $60K for Health Mart, Health Mart has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Health Mart operates 133 units to Atlanta Bread Company's 88. Atlanta Bread Company has been operating 33 years (founded 1993) versus 20 for Health Mart (founded 2006), a 13-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Health Mart has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 148 7(a) approvals compared with 128 for Atlanta Bread Company. Atlanta Bread Company's peak SBA year was 2002 (27 loans); Health Mart's peak was 2020 (19 loans). Health Mart's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Atlanta Bread Company has the most SBA funded units in GA, with 38. Health Mart leads in CA, with 16. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Atlanta Bread Company deals is $454K vs $686K for Health Mart, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 35.9% for Atlanta Bread Company and 3.4% for Health Mart, Health Mart has the cleaner SBA loss record by 32.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 23 (Fair) for Atlanta Bread Company and 52 (Moderate) for Health Mart, giving Health Mart the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 23/100 | 52/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 128 | 148 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 35.9% | 3.4% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $199K to $672K | $150K to $442K |
Franchise Fee | $69K | $60K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 3% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $400K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 88 | 133 |
Franchised Units | 88 | 133 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1993 | 2006 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | ATLANTA, GA | N/A |
Category | Full-Service Restaurants | Full-Service Restaurants |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Atlanta Bread Company or Health Mart?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Atlanta Bread Company: $199K starting · Health Mart: $150K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Health Mart
Atlanta Bread Company: 128 SBA loans · Health Mart: 148 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Health Mart
Atlanta Bread Company: 35.9% · Health Mart: 3.4%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Atlanta Bread Company: 88 units · Health Mart: 133 units
More lender financing options
Health Mart
Atlanta Bread Company: 42 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
Atlanta Bread Company vs Health Mart: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Atlanta Bread Company 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 $672K.
Atlanta Bread Company has 128 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.
Atlanta Bread Company vs Health Mart, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Atlanta Bread Company or Health Mart?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Atlanta Bread Company or Health Mart?
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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