BIGGBY Coffee vs Scooter's Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee vs Scooter's Coffee: BIGGBY Coffee costs $296K to $1.0M to open; Scooter's Coffee costs $692K to $1.5M. BIGGBY Coffee has 194 units, Scooter's Coffee has 849. SBA loan history: BIGGBY Coffee = 289 loans (1.0% default); Scooter's Coffee = 342 loans (0.9% 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.
BIGGBY Coffee vs Scooter's Coffee: 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
BIGGBY Coffee requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($296K vs $692K for Scooter's Coffee), a 57% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for BIGGBY Coffee versus $40K for Scooter's Coffee, BIGGBY Coffee has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for BIGGBY Coffee and 6% for Scooter's Coffee, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Scooter's Coffee operates 849 units to BIGGBY Coffee's 194, roughly 4× the system size. BIGGBY Coffee has been operating 31 years (founded 1995) versus 28 for Scooter's Coffee (founded 1998), a 3-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Scooter's Coffee has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 342 7(a) approvals compared with 289 for BIGGBY Coffee. BIGGBY Coffee's peak SBA year was 2023 (44 loans); Scooter's Coffee's peak was 2022 (70 loans). BIGGBY Coffee's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. BIGGBY Coffee has the most SBA funded units in MI, with 147. Scooter's Coffee leads in TX, with 39. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded BIGGBY Coffee deals is $277K vs $890K for Scooter's Coffee, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 1.0% for BIGGBY Coffee and 0.9% for Scooter's Coffee, Scooter's Coffee has the cleaner SBA loss record by 0.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 75 (Strong) for BIGGBY Coffee and 86 (Excellent) for Scooter's Coffee, giving Scooter's Coffee the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 75/100 | 86/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Excellent |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 289 | 342 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 1.0% | 0.9% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $296K to $1.0M | $692K to $1.5M |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $200K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 194 | 849 |
Franchised Units | 194 | 825 |
Company Owned | – | 24 |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1995 | 1998 |
Franchising Since | 1999 | 2010 |
Years Franchising | 27 yrs | 16 yrs |
Headquarters | East Lansing, MI | Omaha, NE |
Category | Snack | Snack |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, BIGGBY Coffee or Scooter's Coffee?
Lower upfront capital required
BIGGBY Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee: $296K starting · Scooter's Coffee: $692K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Scooter's Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee: 289 SBA loans · Scooter's Coffee: 342 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Scooter's Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee: 1.0% · Scooter's Coffee: 0.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Scooter's Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee: 194 units · Scooter's Coffee: 849 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
BIGGBY Coffee: 6% · Scooter's Coffee: 6%
More lender financing options
Scooter's Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee: 70 unique lenders · Scooter's Coffee: 89 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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About These Franchises
BIGGBY Coffee vs Scooter's Coffee: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing BIGGBY Coffee and Scooter's Coffee is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $296K to $1.5M.
BIGGBY Coffee has 289 SBA loans on record and Scooter's Coffee has 342. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Both brands have an established underwriting path, though the lender that fits a specific deal still depends on its size, location and the buyer.
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.
BIGGBY Coffee vs Scooter's Coffee, Frequently Asked Questions
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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