Big Apple Bagels vs Exxon
Big Apple Bagels vs Exxon: Big Apple Bagels costs $52K to $248K to open; Exxon costs $65K to $1.4M. Big Apple Bagels has 56 units, Exxon has 204. SBA loan history: Big Apple Bagels = 85 loans (31.8% default); Exxon = 170 loans (6.5% 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.
Big Apple Bagels vs Exxon: 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
Big Apple Bagels requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($52K vs $65K for Exxon), a 20% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $57K for Big Apple Bagels versus $50K for Exxon, Exxon has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Exxon operates 204 units to Big Apple Bagels's 56, roughly 4× the system size. Big Apple Bagels has been operating 33 years (founded 1993) versus 18 for Exxon (founded 2008), a 15-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Exxon has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 170 7(a) approvals compared with 85 for Big Apple Bagels. Big Apple Bagels's peak SBA year was 1996 (13 loans); Exxon's peak was 1994 (15 loans). Big Apple Bagels's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Big Apple Bagels has the most SBA funded units in MI, with 22. Exxon leads in TX, with 61. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Big Apple Bagels deals is $138K vs $661K for Exxon, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 31.8% for Big Apple Bagels and 6.5% for Exxon, Exxon has the cleaner SBA loss record by 25.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 28 (Fair) for Big Apple Bagels and 42 (Fair) for Exxon, giving Exxon the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 28/100 | 42/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 85 | 170 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 31.8% | 6.5% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $52K to $248K | $65K to $1.4M |
Franchise Fee | $57K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 3% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 56 | 204 |
Franchised Units | 56 | 204 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1993 | 2008 |
Franchising Since | 1993 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 33 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | KALAMAZOO, MI | HOUSTON, TX |
Category | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Big Apple Bagels or Exxon?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Big Apple Bagels: $52K starting · Exxon: $65K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Exxon
Big Apple Bagels: 85 SBA loans · Exxon: 170 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Exxon
Big Apple Bagels: 31.8% · Exxon: 6.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Big Apple Bagels: 56 units · Exxon: 204 units
More lender financing options
Exxon
Big Apple Bagels: 50 unique lenders · Exxon: 86 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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Big Apple Bagels vs Exxon: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Big Apple Bagels and Exxon is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $52K to $1.4M.
Big Apple Bagels has 85 SBA loans on record and Exxon has 170. 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.
Big Apple Bagels vs Exxon, Frequently Asked Questions
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Big Apple Bagels or Exxon?
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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
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