Blimpie vs Scooter's Coffee
Blimpie vs Scooter's Coffee: Blimpie costs $242K to $564K to open; Scooter's Coffee costs $692K to $1.5M. Blimpie has 582 units, Scooter's Coffee has 849. SBA loan history: Blimpie = 658 loans (24.3% 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.
Blimpie 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
Blimpie requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($242K vs $692K for Scooter's Coffee), a 65% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $12K for Blimpie versus $40K for Scooter's Coffee, Blimpie has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Blimpie and 6% for Scooter's Coffee, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Scooter's Coffee operates 849 units to Blimpie's 582. Blimpie has been operating 62 years (founded 1964) versus 28 for Scooter's Coffee (founded 1998), a 34-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Blimpie has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 658 7(a) approvals compared with 342 for Scooter's Coffee.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 24.3% for Blimpie and 0.9% for Scooter's Coffee, Scooter's Coffee has the cleaner SBA loss record by 23.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 30 (Fair) for Blimpie 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 | 30/100 | 86/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Excellent |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 658 | 342 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 24.3% | 0.9% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $242K to $564K | $692K to $1.5M |
Franchise Fee | $12K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $125K | $200K |
Net Worth Required | $250K | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 582 | 849 |
Franchised Units | 582 | 825 |
Company Owned | – | 24 |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1964 | 1998 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2010 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 16 yrs |
Headquarters | Scottsdale, AZ | Omaha, NE |
Category | Snack | Snack |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Blimpie or Scooter's Coffee?
Lower upfront capital required
Blimpie
Blimpie: $242K starting · Scooter's Coffee: $692K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Blimpie
Blimpie: 658 SBA loans · Scooter's Coffee: 342 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Scooter's Coffee
Blimpie: 24.3% · Scooter's Coffee: 0.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Scooter's Coffee
Blimpie: 582 units · Scooter's Coffee: 849 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Blimpie: 6% · Scooter's Coffee: 6%
More lender financing options
Blimpie
Blimpie: 197 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
Blimpie vs Scooter's Coffee: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Blimpie 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 $242K to $1.5M.
Blimpie has 658 SBA loans on record and Scooter's Coffee has 342. 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.
Blimpie vs Scooter's Coffee, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Blimpie or Scooter's Coffee?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Blimpie or Scooter's Coffee?
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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