Bricks And Minifigs vs Wild Birds Unlimited
Bricks And Minifigs vs Wild Birds Unlimited: Bricks And Minifigs costs $241K to $570K to open; Wild Birds Unlimited costs $26K to $240K. Bricks And Minifigs has 9 units, Wild Birds Unlimited has 137. SBA loan history: Bricks And Minifigs = 11 loans (18.2% default); Wild Birds Unlimited = 161 loans (2.5% 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.
Bricks And Minifigs vs Wild Birds Unlimited: 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
Wild Birds Unlimited requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($26K vs $241K for Bricks And Minifigs), a 845% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Bricks And Minifigs versus $38K for Wild Birds Unlimited, Wild Birds Unlimited has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Bricks And Minifigs and 4% for Wild Birds Unlimited, giving Wild Birds Unlimited the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Wild Birds Unlimited operates 137 units to Bricks And Minifigs's 9, roughly 15× the system size. Wild Birds Unlimited has been operating 45 years (founded 1981) versus 16 for Bricks And Minifigs (founded 2010), a 29-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Wild Birds Unlimited has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 161 7(a) approvals compared with 11 for Bricks And Minifigs. Bricks And Minifigs's peak SBA year was 2017 (5 loans); Wild Birds Unlimited's peak was 2023 (13 loans). Wild Birds Unlimited's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Bricks And Minifigs has the most SBA funded units in WA, with 3. Wild Birds Unlimited leads in TX, with 18. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Bricks And Minifigs deals is $116K vs $217K for Wild Birds Unlimited, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 18.2% for Bricks And Minifigs and 2.5% for Wild Birds Unlimited, Wild Birds Unlimited has the cleaner SBA loss record by 15.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 22 (Fair) for Bricks And Minifigs and 68 (Strong) for Wild Birds Unlimited, giving Wild Birds Unlimited the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 22/100 | 68/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 11 | 161 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 18.2% | 2.5% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $241K to $570K | $26K to $240K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $38K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 4% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $50K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 9 | 137 |
Franchised Units | 9 | 137 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2010 | 1981 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Orem, WA | AMARILLO, TX |
Category | Hobby, Toy, | Hobby, Toy, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Bricks And Minifigs or Wild Birds Unlimited?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Bricks And Minifigs: $241K starting · Wild Birds Unlimited: $26K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Wild Birds Unlimited
Bricks And Minifigs: 11 SBA loans · Wild Birds Unlimited: 161 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Wild Birds Unlimited
Bricks And Minifigs: 18.2% · Wild Birds Unlimited: 2.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Bricks And Minifigs: 9 units · Wild Birds Unlimited: 137 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Wild Birds Unlimited
Bricks And Minifigs: 6% · Wild Birds Unlimited: 4%
More lender financing options
Wild Birds Unlimited
Bricks And Minifigs: 2 unique lenders · Wild Birds Unlimited: 74 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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Bricks And Minifigs vs Wild Birds Unlimited: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Bricks And Minifigs and Wild Birds Unlimited is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $26K to $570K.
Bricks And Minifigs has 11 SBA loans on record and Wild Birds Unlimited has 161. 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.
Bricks And Minifigs vs Wild Birds Unlimited, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Bricks And Minifigs or Wild Birds Unlimited?
How much does a Bricks And Minifigs franchise cost compared to Wild Birds Unlimited?
Can I finance Bricks And Minifigs or Wild Birds Unlimited with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Bricks And Minifigs or Wild Birds Unlimited?
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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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