Beef Jerky Outlet vs Honeybaked
Beef Jerky Outlet vs Honeybaked: Beef Jerky Outlet costs $191K to $407K to open; Honeybaked costs $514K to $830K. Beef Jerky Outlet has 68 units, Honeybaked has 16. SBA loan history: Beef Jerky Outlet = 31 loans (3.2% default); Honeybaked = 17 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.
Beef Jerky Outlet vs Honeybaked: 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
Beef Jerky Outlet requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($191K vs $514K for Honeybaked), a 63% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Beef Jerky Outlet versus $20K for Honeybaked, Honeybaked has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Beef Jerky Outlet and 6% for Honeybaked, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Beef Jerky Outlet operates 68 units to Honeybaked's 16, roughly 4× the system size. Honeybaked has been operating 69 years (founded 1957) versus 23 for Beef Jerky Outlet (founded 2003), a 46-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Beef Jerky Outlet has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 31 7(a) approvals compared with 17 for Honeybaked.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 3.2% for Beef Jerky Outlet and 0.0% for Honeybaked, Honeybaked has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 53 (Moderate) for Beef Jerky Outlet and 54 (Moderate) for Honeybaked, giving Honeybaked the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 53/100 | 54/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 31 | 17 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 3.2% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $191K to $407K | $514K to $830K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $20K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 4.25% |
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 | 68 | 16 |
Franchised Units | 63 | 16 |
Company Owned | 5 | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2003 | 1957 |
Franchising Since | 2010 | 1998 |
Years Franchising | 16 yrs | 28 yrs |
Headquarters | Kodak, TN | Alpharetta, GA |
Category | All Other Specialty Food Stores | All Other Specialty Food Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Beef Jerky Outlet or Honeybaked?
Lower upfront capital required
Beef Jerky Outlet
Beef Jerky Outlet: $191K starting · Honeybaked: $514K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Beef Jerky Outlet
Beef Jerky Outlet: 31 SBA loans · Honeybaked: 17 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Honeybaked
Beef Jerky Outlet: 3.2% · Honeybaked: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Beef Jerky Outlet
Beef Jerky Outlet: 68 units · Honeybaked: 16 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Beef Jerky Outlet: 6% · Honeybaked: 6%
More lender financing options
Beef Jerky Outlet
Beef Jerky Outlet: 16 unique lenders · Honeybaked: 13 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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Beef Jerky Outlet vs Honeybaked: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Beef Jerky Outlet and Honeybaked is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $191K to $830K.
Beef Jerky Outlet has 31 SBA loans on record and Honeybaked has 17. 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.
Beef Jerky Outlet vs Honeybaked, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Beef Jerky Outlet or Honeybaked?
How much does a Beef Jerky Outlet franchise cost compared to Honeybaked?
Can I finance Beef Jerky Outlet or Honeybaked with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Beef Jerky Outlet or Honeybaked?
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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