Atlanta Bread Company vs Huddle House
Atlanta Bread Company vs Huddle House: Atlanta Bread Company costs $199K to $672K to open; Huddle House costs $95K to $707K. Atlanta Bread Company has 88 units, Huddle House has 95. SBA loan history: Atlanta Bread Company = 128 loans (35.9% default); Huddle House = 134 loans (20.9% 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 Huddle House: 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
Huddle House requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($95K vs $199K for Atlanta Bread Company), a 109% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $69K for Atlanta Bread Company versus $69K for Huddle House, Atlanta Bread Company has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Atlanta Bread Company and 4% for Huddle House, giving Huddle House the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Huddle House operates 95 units to Atlanta Bread Company's 88. Huddle House has been operating 62 years (founded 1964) versus 33 for Atlanta Bread Company (founded 1993), a 29-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Huddle House has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 134 7(a) approvals compared with 128 for Atlanta Bread Company. Atlanta Bread Company's peak SBA year was 2002 (27 loans); Huddle House's peak was 2008 (10 loans). Huddle House's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in GA. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Atlanta Bread Company deals is $454K vs $409K for Huddle House, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 35.9% for Atlanta Bread Company and 20.9% for Huddle House, Huddle House has the cleaner SBA loss record by 15.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 23 (Fair) for Atlanta Bread Company and 39 (Fair) for Huddle House, giving Huddle House the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 23/100 | 39/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 128 | 134 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 35.9% | 20.9% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $199K to $672K | $95K to $707K |
Franchise Fee | $69K | $69K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 88 | 95 |
Franchised Units | 88 | 95 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1993 | 1964 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1966 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 60 yrs |
Headquarters | ATLANTA, GA | GROVETOWN, GA |
Category | Full-Service Restaurants | Full-Service Restaurants |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Atlanta Bread Company or Huddle House?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Atlanta Bread Company: $199K starting · Huddle House: $95K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Huddle House
Atlanta Bread Company: 128 SBA loans · Huddle House: 134 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Huddle House
Atlanta Bread Company: 35.9% · Huddle House: 20.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Atlanta Bread Company: 88 units · Huddle House: 95 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Huddle House
Atlanta Bread Company: 5% · Huddle House: 4%
More lender financing options
Huddle House
Atlanta Bread Company: 42 unique lenders · Huddle House: 68 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 Huddle House: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Atlanta Bread Company and Huddle House is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $95K to $707K.
Atlanta Bread Company has 128 SBA loans on record and Huddle House has 134. 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 Huddle House, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Atlanta Bread Company or Huddle House?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Atlanta Bread Company or Huddle House?
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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