Breadsmith vs Crave Cookies
Breadsmith vs Crave Cookies: Breadsmith costs $101K to $506K to open; Crave Cookies costs $302K to $707K. Breadsmith has 32 units, Crave Cookies has 13. SBA loan history: Breadsmith = 34 loans (5.9% default); Crave Cookies = 13 loans (7.7% 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 Crave Cookies: 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 $302K for Crave Cookies), a 67% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $49K for Breadsmith versus $30K for Crave Cookies, Crave Cookies has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Breadsmith and 6% for Crave Cookies, giving Crave Cookies the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Breadsmith operates 32 units to Crave Cookies's 13, roughly 2× the system size. Breadsmith has been operating 33 years (founded 1993) versus 7 for Crave Cookies (founded 2019), a 26-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 13 for Crave Cookies.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 5.9% for Breadsmith and 7.7% for Crave Cookies, Breadsmith has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for Breadsmith and 59 (Moderate) for Crave Cookies, giving Crave Cookies the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 59/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 34 | 13 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 5.9% | 7.7% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $101K to $506K | $302K to $707K |
Franchise Fee | $49K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 32 | 13 |
Franchised Units | 28 | 13 |
Company Owned | 4 | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1993 | 2019 |
Franchising Since | 1993 | 2023 |
Years Franchising | 33 yrs | 3 yrs |
Headquarters | APPLETON, WI | Holladay, UT |
Category | Retail Bakeries | Retail Bakeries |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2024 |
Which Is Better, Breadsmith or Crave Cookies?
Lower upfront capital required
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: $101K starting · Crave Cookies: $302K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 34 SBA loans · Crave Cookies: 13 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 5.9% · Crave Cookies: 7.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 32 units · Crave Cookies: 13 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Crave Cookies
Breadsmith: 7% · Crave Cookies: 6%
More lender financing options
Breadsmith
Breadsmith: 20 unique lenders · Crave Cookies: 12 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 Crave Cookies: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Breadsmith and Crave Cookies is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $101K to $707K.
Breadsmith has 34 SBA loans on record and Crave Cookies has 13. 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 Crave Cookies, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Breadsmith or Crave Cookies?
How much does a Breadsmith franchise cost compared to Crave Cookies?
Can I finance Breadsmith or Crave Cookies with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Breadsmith or Crave Cookies?
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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