Balloons & Bears vs Edible
Balloons & Bears vs Edible: Balloons & Bears costs $47K to $71K to open; Edible costs $22K to $214K. Balloons & Bears has 5 units, Edible has 685. SBA loan history: Balloons & Bears = 10 loans (50.0% default); Edible = 490 loans (11.0% 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.
Balloons & Bears vs Edible: 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
Edible requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($22K vs $47K for Balloons & Bears), a 120% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $48K for Balloons & Bears versus $30K for Edible, Edible has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Edible operates 685 units to Balloons & Bears's 5, roughly 137× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Edible has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 490 7(a) approvals compared with 10 for Balloons & Bears. Balloons & Bears's peak SBA year was 1996 (6 loans); Edible's peak was 2007 (50 loans). Edible's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Balloons & Bears has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 4. Edible leads in FL, with 45. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Balloons & Bears deals is $57K vs $208K for Edible, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 50.0% for Balloons & Bears and 11.0% for Edible, Edible has the cleaner SBA loss record by 39.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 30 (Fair) for Balloons & Bears and 49 (Fair) for Edible, giving Edible the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 30/100 | 49/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 10 | 490 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 50.0% | 11.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $47K to $71K | $22K to $214K |
Franchise Fee | $48K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 3.5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $80K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $250K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 5 | 685 |
Franchised Units | 5 | 680 |
Company Owned | – | 5 |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1999 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2001 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 25 yrs |
Headquarters | PLEASANATON, CA | Atlanta, GA |
Category | Gift, Novelty, | Gift, Novelty, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Balloons & Bears or Edible?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Balloons & Bears: $47K starting · Edible: $22K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Edible
Balloons & Bears: 10 SBA loans · Edible: 490 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Edible
Balloons & Bears: 50.0% · Edible: 11.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Balloons & Bears: 5 units · Edible: 685 units
More lender financing options
Edible
Balloons & Bears: 6 unique lenders · Edible: 144 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
Balloons & Bears vs Edible: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Balloons & Bears and Edible is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $22K to $214K.
Balloons & Bears has 10 SBA loans on record and Edible has 490. 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.
Balloons & Bears vs Edible, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Balloons & Bears or Edible?
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Can I finance Balloons & Bears or Edible with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Balloons & Bears or Edible?
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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