CANDLEMAN vs Country Visions
CANDLEMAN vs Country Visions: CANDLEMAN costs $175K to $225K to open; Country Visions costs $169K to $169K. CANDLEMAN has 43 units, Country Visions has 109. SBA loan history: CANDLEMAN = 48 loans (43.8% default); Country Visions = 26 loans (42.3% 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.
CANDLEMAN vs Country Visions: 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
Country Visions requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($169K vs $175K for CANDLEMAN), a 4% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for CANDLEMAN versus $40K for Country Visions, CANDLEMAN has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for CANDLEMAN and 5.5% for Country Visions, giving Country Visions the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Country Visions operates 109 units to CANDLEMAN's 43, roughly 3× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
CANDLEMAN has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 48 7(a) approvals compared with 26 for Country Visions.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 43.8% for CANDLEMAN and 42.3% for Country Visions, Country Visions has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 22 (Fair) for CANDLEMAN and 31 (Fair) for Country Visions, giving Country Visions the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 22/100 | 31/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 48 | 26 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 43.8% | 42.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $175K to $225K | $169K to $169K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5.5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 43 | 109 |
Franchised Units | 43 | 109 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1992 | N/A |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1996 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 30 yrs |
Headquarters | Charleston, SC | BAKERSFIELD, CA |
Category | All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers | All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, CANDLEMAN or Country Visions?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
CANDLEMAN: $175K starting · Country Visions: $169K starting
More SBA lender confidence
CANDLEMAN
CANDLEMAN: 48 SBA loans · Country Visions: 26 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Country Visions
CANDLEMAN: 43.8% · Country Visions: 42.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
CANDLEMAN: 43 units · Country Visions: 109 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Country Visions
CANDLEMAN: 6% · Country Visions: 5.5%
More lender financing options
CANDLEMAN
CANDLEMAN: 24 unique lenders · Country Visions: 13 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
CANDLEMAN vs Country Visions: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing CANDLEMAN and Country Visions is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $169K to $225K.
CANDLEMAN has 48 SBA loans on record and Country Visions has 26. 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.
CANDLEMAN vs Country Visions, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, CANDLEMAN or Country Visions?
How much does a CANDLEMAN franchise cost compared to Country Visions?
Can I finance CANDLEMAN or Country Visions with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, CANDLEMAN or Country Visions?
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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