Citgo Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station
Citgo Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station: Citgo Service Station costs $141K to $1.3M to open; Sunoco Service Station costs $50K to $867K. Citgo Service Station has 111 units, Sunoco Service Station has 135. SBA loan history: Citgo Service Station = 111 loans (13.5% default); Sunoco Service Station = 145 loans (8.3% 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.
Citgo Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station: 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
Sunoco Service Station requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $141K for Citgo Service Station), a 182% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Citgo Service Station versus $26K for Sunoco Service Station, Citgo Service Station has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Sunoco Service Station operates 135 units to Citgo Service Station's 111. Citgo Service Station has been operating 61 years (founded 1965) versus 8 for Sunoco Service Station (founded 2018), a 53-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Sunoco Service Station has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 145 7(a) approvals compared with 111 for Citgo Service Station. Citgo Service Station's peak SBA year was 2008 (9 loans); Sunoco Service Station's peak was 2007 (16 loans). Citgo Service Station's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Citgo Service Station has the most SBA funded units in IL, with 25. Sunoco Service Station leads in PA, with 42. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Citgo Service Station deals is $626K vs $445K for Sunoco Service Station, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 13.5% for Citgo Service Station and 8.3% for Sunoco Service Station, Sunoco Service Station has the cleaner SBA loss record by 5.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 28 (Fair) for Citgo Service Station and 36 (Fair) for Sunoco Service Station, giving Sunoco Service Station the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 28/100 | 36/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 111 | 145 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 13.5% | 8.3% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $141K to $1.3M | $50K to $867K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $26K |
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 | 111 | 135 |
Franchised Units | 111 | 135 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1965 | 2018 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Chicago, IL | PHILADELPHIA, PA |
Category | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Citgo Service Station or Sunoco Service Station?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Citgo Service Station: $141K starting · Sunoco Service Station: $50K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Sunoco Service Station
Citgo Service Station: 111 SBA loans · Sunoco Service Station: 145 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Sunoco Service Station
Citgo Service Station: 13.5% · Sunoco Service Station: 8.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Citgo Service Station: 111 units · Sunoco Service Station: 135 units
More lender financing options
Citgo Service Station
Citgo Service Station: 64 unique lenders · Sunoco Service Station: 55 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
Citgo Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Citgo Service Station and Sunoco Service Station is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $50K to $1.3M.
Citgo Service Station has 111 SBA loans on record and Sunoco Service Station has 145. 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.
Citgo Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Citgo Service Station or Sunoco Service Station?
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Can I finance Citgo Service Station or Sunoco Service Station with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Citgo Service Station or Sunoco Service Station?
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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