Ben Franklin Store vs Interstate All Battery Center
Ben Franklin Store vs Interstate All Battery Center: Ben Franklin Store costs $72K to $500K to open; Interstate All Battery Center costs $90K to $830K. Ben Franklin Store has 53 units, Interstate All Battery Center has 31. SBA loan history: Ben Franklin Store = 75 loans (20.0% default); Interstate All Battery Center = 44 loans (4.5% 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 Interstate All Battery Center: 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 $90K for Interstate All Battery Center), a 20% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $46K for Ben Franklin Store versus $55K for Interstate All Battery Center, Ben Franklin Store has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Ben Franklin Store operates 53 units to Interstate All Battery Center's 31. Ben Franklin Store has been operating 99 years (founded 1927) versus 74 for Interstate All Battery Center (founded 1952), a 25-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 44 for Interstate All Battery Center. Ben Franklin Store's peak SBA year was 1993 (17 loans); Interstate All Battery Center's peak was 2014 (10 loans). Interstate All Battery Center's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Ben Franklin Store has the most SBA funded units in IA, with 10. Interstate All Battery Center leads in AZ, with 5. 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 $779K for Interstate All Battery Center, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 20.0% for Ben Franklin Store and 4.5% for Interstate All Battery Center, Interstate All Battery Center has the cleaner SBA loss record by 15.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 24 (Fair) for Ben Franklin Store and 51 (Moderate) for Interstate All Battery Center, giving Interstate All Battery Center the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 24/100 | 51/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 75 | 44 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 20.0% | 4.5% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $72K to $500K | $90K to $830K |
Franchise Fee | $46K | $55K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
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 | 31 |
Franchised Units | 53 | 31 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1927 | 1952 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2019 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 7 yrs |
Headquarters | IOWA CITY, IA | Baton Rouge, LA |
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 Interstate All Battery Center?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Ben Franklin Store: $72K starting · Interstate All Battery Center: $90K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Ben Franklin Store
Ben Franklin Store: 75 SBA loans · Interstate All Battery Center: 44 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Interstate All Battery Center
Ben Franklin Store: 20.0% · Interstate All Battery Center: 4.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Ben Franklin Store: 53 units · Interstate All Battery Center: 31 units
More lender financing options
Ben Franklin Store
Ben Franklin Store: 44 unique lenders · Interstate All Battery Center: 24 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.
Need Funding for Ben Franklin Store or Interstate All Battery Center?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Ben Franklin Store vs Interstate All Battery Center: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Ben Franklin Store and Interstate All Battery Center is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $72K to $830K.
Ben Franklin Store has 75 SBA loans on record and Interstate All Battery Center has 44. 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 Interstate All Battery Center, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Ben Franklin Store or Interstate All Battery Center?
How much does a Ben Franklin Store franchise cost compared to Interstate All Battery Center?
Can I finance Ben Franklin Store or Interstate All Battery Center with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Ben Franklin Store or Interstate All Battery Center?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
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