CANDLEMAN vs Crown Trophy
CANDLEMAN vs Crown Trophy: CANDLEMAN costs $175K to $225K to open; Crown Trophy costs $38K to $419K. CANDLEMAN has 43 units, Crown Trophy has 44. SBA loan history: CANDLEMAN = 48 loans (43.8% default); Crown Trophy = 57 loans (7.0% 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.
CANDLEMAN vs Crown Trophy: 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
Crown Trophy requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($38K vs $175K for CANDLEMAN), a 361% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for CANDLEMAN versus $35K for Crown Trophy. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for CANDLEMAN and 5% for Crown Trophy, giving Crown Trophy the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Crown Trophy operates 44 units to CANDLEMAN's 43. Crown Trophy has been operating 48 years (founded 1978) versus 34 for CANDLEMAN (founded 1992), a 14-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Crown Trophy has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 57 7(a) approvals compared with 48 for CANDLEMAN.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 43.8% for CANDLEMAN and 7.0% for Crown Trophy, Crown Trophy has the cleaner SBA loss record by 36.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 22 (Fair) for CANDLEMAN and 46 (Fair) for Crown Trophy, giving Crown Trophy the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 22/100 | 46/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 48 | 57 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 43.8% | 7.0% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $175K to $225K | $38K to $419K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5% |
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 | 43 | 44 |
Franchised Units | 43 | 44 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1992 | 1978 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Charleston, SC | Hawthorne, NY |
Category | All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers | All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, CANDLEMAN or Crown Trophy?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
CANDLEMAN: $175K starting · Crown Trophy: $38K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Crown Trophy
CANDLEMAN: 48 SBA loans · Crown Trophy: 57 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Crown Trophy
CANDLEMAN: 43.8% · Crown Trophy: 7.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
CANDLEMAN: 43 units · Crown Trophy: 44 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Crown Trophy
CANDLEMAN: 6% · Crown Trophy: 5%
More lender financing options
Crown Trophy
CANDLEMAN: 24 unique lenders · Crown Trophy: 37 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 Crown Trophy: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing CANDLEMAN and Crown Trophy is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $38K to $419K.
CANDLEMAN has 48 SBA loans on record and Crown Trophy has 57. 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 Crown Trophy, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, CANDLEMAN or Crown Trophy?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, CANDLEMAN or Crown Trophy?
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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; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and 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