Champion Auto Store vs NAPA Auto Parts
Champion Auto Store vs NAPA Auto Parts: Champion Auto Store costs $86K to $249K to open; NAPA Auto Parts costs $75K to $850K. Champion Auto Store has 17 units, NAPA Auto Parts has 215. SBA loan history: Champion Auto Store = 22 loans (18.2% default); NAPA Auto Parts = 193 loans (6.7% 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.
Champion Auto Store vs NAPA Auto Parts: 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
NAPA Auto Parts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($75K vs $86K for Champion Auto Store), a 15% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, NAPA Auto Parts operates 215 units to Champion Auto Store's 17, roughly 13× the system size. NAPA Auto Parts has been operating 101 years (founded 1925) versus 6 for Champion Auto Store (founded 2020), a 95-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
NAPA Auto Parts has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 193 7(a) approvals compared with 22 for Champion Auto Store. Champion Auto Store's peak SBA year was 1997 (5 loans); NAPA Auto Parts's peak was 2014 (23 loans). NAPA Auto Parts's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in MN. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Champion Auto Store deals is $167K vs $342K for NAPA Auto Parts, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 18.2% for Champion Auto Store and 6.7% for NAPA Auto Parts, NAPA Auto Parts has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 33 (Fair) for Champion Auto Store and 43 (Fair) for NAPA Auto Parts, giving NAPA Auto Parts the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 33/100 | 43/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 22 | 193 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 18.2% | 6.7% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $86K to $249K | $75K to $850K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
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 | 17 | 215 |
Franchised Units | 17 | 215 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2020 | 1925 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1936 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 90 yrs |
Headquarters | COTTAGE GROVE, MN | Atlanta, GA |
Category | Automotive Parts | Automotive Parts |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Champion Auto Store or NAPA Auto Parts?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Champion Auto Store: $86K starting · NAPA Auto Parts: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
NAPA Auto Parts
Champion Auto Store: 22 SBA loans · NAPA Auto Parts: 193 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
NAPA Auto Parts
Champion Auto Store: 18.2% · NAPA Auto Parts: 6.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Champion Auto Store: 17 units · NAPA Auto Parts: 215 units
More lender financing options
NAPA Auto Parts
Champion Auto Store: 14 unique lenders · NAPA Auto Parts: 131 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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Champion Auto Store vs NAPA Auto Parts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Champion Auto Store and NAPA Auto Parts is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $75K to $850K.
Champion Auto Store has 22 SBA loans on record and NAPA Auto Parts has 193. 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.
Champion Auto Store vs NAPA Auto Parts, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Champion Auto Store or NAPA Auto Parts?
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Can I finance Champion Auto Store or NAPA Auto Parts with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Champion Auto Store or NAPA Auto Parts?
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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
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