Breadsmith vs Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop
Breadsmith vs Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: Breadsmith costs $101K to $506K to open; Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop costs $190K to $353K. Breadsmith has 32 units, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has 12. SBA loan history: Breadsmith = 34 loans (5.9% default); Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop = 15 loans (0.0% 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.
Breadsmith vs Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 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
Breadsmith requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($101K vs $190K for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop), a 47% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $49K for Breadsmith versus $59K for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, Breadsmith has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Breadsmith operates 32 units to Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop's 12, roughly 3× the system size. Breadsmith has been operating 33 years (founded 1993) versus 13 for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop (founded 2013), a 20-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Breadsmith has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 34 7(a) approvals compared with 15 for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop. Breadsmith's peak SBA year was 1996 (7 loans); Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop's peak was 2020 (5 loans). Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Breadsmith has the most SBA funded units in WI, with 13. Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop leads in TX, with 12. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Breadsmith deals is $153K vs $281K for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 5.9% for Breadsmith and 0.0% for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has the cleaner SBA loss record by 5.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for Breadsmith and 46 (Fair) for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, giving Breadsmith the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 46/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 34 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 5.9% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $101K to $506K | $190K to $353K |
Franchise Fee | $49K | $59K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 2% | 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 | 32 | 12 |
Franchised Units | 28 | 12 |
Company Owned | 4 | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1993 | 2013 |
Franchising Since | 1993 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 33 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | APPLETON, WI | FORNEY, TX |
Category | Retail Bakeries | Retail Bakeries |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Breadsmith or Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Breadsmith: $101K starting · Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: $190K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 34 SBA loans · Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop
Breadsmith: 5.9% · Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Breadsmith: 32 units · Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 12 units
More lender financing options
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 20 unique lenders · Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 8 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
Breadsmith vs Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Breadsmith and Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $101K to $506K.
Breadsmith has 34 SBA loans on record and Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has 15. 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.
Breadsmith vs Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Breadsmith or Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop?
How much does a Breadsmith franchise cost compared to Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop?
Can I finance Breadsmith or Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Breadsmith or Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop?
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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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