Beef Jerky Outlet vs Jamba Juice
Beef Jerky Outlet vs Jamba Juice: Beef Jerky Outlet costs $191K to $407K to open; Jamba Juice costs $150K to $1.1M. Beef Jerky Outlet has 68 units, Jamba Juice has 48. SBA loan history: Beef Jerky Outlet = 31 loans (3.2% default); Jamba Juice = 58 loans (5.2% 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 Jamba Juice: 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
Jamba Juice requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($150K vs $191K for Beef Jerky Outlet), a 28% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Beef Jerky Outlet versus $36K for Jamba Juice, Jamba Juice has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Beef Jerky Outlet and 6% for Jamba Juice, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Beef Jerky Outlet operates 68 units to Jamba Juice's 48. Jamba Juice has been operating 36 years (founded 1990) versus 23 for Beef Jerky Outlet (founded 2003), a 13-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Jamba Juice has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 58 7(a) approvals compared with 31 for Beef Jerky Outlet. Beef Jerky Outlet's peak SBA year was 2017 (11 loans); Jamba Juice's peak was 2016 (12 loans). Beef Jerky Outlet's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Beef Jerky Outlet has the most SBA funded units in AR, with 3. Jamba Juice leads in CA, with 24. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Beef Jerky Outlet deals is $160K vs $456K for Jamba Juice, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 3.2% for Beef Jerky Outlet and 5.2% for Jamba Juice, Beef Jerky Outlet has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 53 (Moderate) for Beef Jerky Outlet and 49 (Fair) for Jamba Juice, giving Beef Jerky Outlet the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 53/100 | 49/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 31 | 58 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 3.2% | 5.2% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $191K to $407K | $150K to $1.1M |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $36K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 3% |
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 | 48 |
Franchised Units | 63 | 48 |
Company Owned | 5 | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2003 | 1990 |
Franchising Since | 2010 | 1980 |
Years Franchising | 16 yrs | 46 yrs |
Headquarters | Kodak, TN | FOOTHILL RANCH, CA |
Category | All Other Specialty Food Stores | All Other Specialty Food Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2024 |
Which Is Better, Beef Jerky Outlet or Jamba Juice?
Lower upfront capital required
Jamba Juice
Beef Jerky Outlet: $191K starting · Jamba Juice: $150K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Jamba Juice
Beef Jerky Outlet: 31 SBA loans · Jamba Juice: 58 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Beef Jerky Outlet
Beef Jerky Outlet: 3.2% · Jamba Juice: 5.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Beef Jerky Outlet
Beef Jerky Outlet: 68 units · Jamba Juice: 48 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Beef Jerky Outlet: 6% · Jamba Juice: 6%
More lender financing options
Jamba Juice
Beef Jerky Outlet: 16 unique lenders · Jamba Juice: 27 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 Jamba Juice: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Beef Jerky Outlet and Jamba Juice is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $150K to $1.1M.
Beef Jerky Outlet has 31 SBA loans on record and Jamba Juice has 58. 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 Jamba Juice, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Beef Jerky Outlet or Jamba Juice?
How much does a Beef Jerky Outlet franchise cost compared to Jamba Juice?
Can I finance Beef Jerky Outlet or Jamba Juice with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Beef Jerky Outlet or Jamba Juice?
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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; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and 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