Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop vs Philly Pretzel Factory
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop vs Philly Pretzel Factory: Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop costs $190K to $353K to open; Philly Pretzel Factory costs $134K to $496K. Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has 12 units, Philly Pretzel Factory has 34. SBA loan history: Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop = 15 loans (0.0% default); Philly Pretzel Factory = 40 loans (5.0% 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.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop vs Philly Pretzel Factory: 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
Philly Pretzel Factory requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($134K vs $190K for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop), a 42% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $59K for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop versus $35K for Philly Pretzel Factory, Philly Pretzel Factory has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Philly Pretzel Factory operates 34 units to Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop's 12, roughly 3× the system size. Philly Pretzel Factory has been operating 28 years (founded 1998) versus 13 for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop (founded 2013), a 15-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Philly Pretzel Factory has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 40 7(a) approvals compared with 15 for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop and 5.0% for Philly Pretzel Factory, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has the cleaner SBA loss record by 5.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 46 (Fair) for Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop and 46 (Fair) for Philly Pretzel Factory.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 46/100 | 46/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 15 | 40 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 5.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $190K to $353K | $134K to $496K |
Franchise Fee | $59K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 12 | 34 |
Franchised Units | 12 | 34 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2013 | 1998 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | FORNEY, TX | Bensalem, PA |
Category | Retail Bakeries | Retail Bakeries |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop or Philly Pretzel Factory?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: $190K starting · Philly Pretzel Factory: $134K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Philly Pretzel Factory
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 15 SBA loans · Philly Pretzel Factory: 40 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 0.0% · Philly Pretzel Factory: 5.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 12 units · Philly Pretzel Factory: 34 units
More lender financing options
Philly Pretzel Factory
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop: 8 unique lenders · Philly Pretzel Factory: 26 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
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop vs Philly Pretzel Factory: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop and Philly Pretzel Factory is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $134K to $496K.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop has 15 SBA loans on record and Philly Pretzel Factory has 40. 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.
Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop vs Philly Pretzel Factory, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop or Philly Pretzel Factory?
How much does a Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop franchise cost compared to Philly Pretzel Factory?
Can I finance Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop or Philly Pretzel Factory with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop or Philly Pretzel Factory?
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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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