Ben Franklin Store vs Dippin Dots
Ben Franklin Store vs Dippin Dots: Ben Franklin Store costs $72K to $500K to open; Dippin Dots costs $79K to $399K. Ben Franklin Store has 53 units, Dippin Dots has 260. SBA loan history: Ben Franklin Store = 75 loans (20.0% default); Dippin Dots = 18 loans (11.1% 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.
Ben Franklin Store vs Dippin Dots: 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
Ben Franklin Store requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($72K vs $79K for Dippin Dots), a 9% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $46K for Ben Franklin Store versus $35K for Dippin Dots, Dippin Dots has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Dippin Dots operates 260 units to Ben Franklin Store's 53, roughly 5× the system size. Ben Franklin Store has been operating 99 years (founded 1927) versus 4 for Dippin Dots (founded 2022), a 95-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Ben Franklin Store has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 75 7(a) approvals compared with 18 for Dippin Dots. Ben Franklin Store's peak SBA year was 1993 (17 loans); Dippin Dots's peak was 2025 (3 loans). Dippin Dots's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Ben Franklin Store has the most SBA funded units in IA, with 10. Dippin Dots leads in KY, with 2. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Ben Franklin Store deals is $302K vs $699K for Dippin Dots, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 20.0% for Ben Franklin Store and 11.1% for Dippin Dots, Dippin Dots has the cleaner SBA loss record by 8.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 24 (Fair) for Ben Franklin Store and 43 (Fair) for Dippin Dots, giving Dippin Dots the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 24/100 | 43/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 75 | 18 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 20.0% | 11.1% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $72K to $500K | $79K to $399K |
Franchise Fee | $46K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 53 | 260 |
Franchised Units | 53 | 260 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1927 | 2022 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1999 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 27 yrs |
Headquarters | IOWA CITY, IA | Paducah, KY |
Category | Other Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers | Other Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Ben Franklin Store or Dippin Dots?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Ben Franklin Store: $72K starting · Dippin Dots: $79K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Ben Franklin Store
Ben Franklin Store: 75 SBA loans · Dippin Dots: 18 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Dippin Dots
Ben Franklin Store: 20.0% · Dippin Dots: 11.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Ben Franklin Store: 53 units · Dippin Dots: 260 units
More lender financing options
Ben Franklin Store
Ben Franklin Store: 44 unique lenders · Dippin Dots: 15 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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Ben Franklin Store vs Dippin Dots: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Ben Franklin Store and Dippin Dots is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $72K to $500K.
Ben Franklin Store has 75 SBA loans on record and Dippin Dots has 18. 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.
Ben Franklin Store vs Dippin Dots, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Ben Franklin Store or Dippin Dots?
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Can I finance Ben Franklin Store or Dippin Dots with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Ben Franklin Store or Dippin Dots?
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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