Citgo Service Station vs TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL
Citgo Service Station vs TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: Citgo Service Station costs $141K to $1.3M to open; TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL costs $156K to $824K. Citgo Service Station has 111 units, TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL has 65. SBA loan history: Citgo Service Station = 111 loans (13.5% default); TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL = 77 loans (26.0% 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.
Citgo Service Station vs TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: 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
Citgo Service Station requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($141K vs $156K for TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL), a 10% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Citgo Service Station versus $30K for TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL, Citgo Service Station has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Citgo Service Station operates 111 units to TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL's 65. Citgo Service Station has been operating 61 years (founded 1965) versus 5 for TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL (founded 2021), a 56-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Citgo Service Station has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 111 7(a) approvals compared with 77 for TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 13.5% for Citgo Service Station and 26.0% for TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL, Citgo Service Station has the cleaner SBA loss record by 12.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 28 (Fair) for Citgo Service Station and 28 (Fair) for TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 28/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 111 | 77 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 13.5% | 26.0% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $141K to $1.3M | $156K to $824K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 4% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $250K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 111 | 65 |
Franchised Units | 111 | 65 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1965 | 2021 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Chicago, IL | Scottsdale, AZ |
Category | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2024 |
Which Is Better, Citgo Service Station or TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Citgo Service Station: $141K starting · TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: $156K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Citgo Service Station
Citgo Service Station: 111 SBA loans · TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: 77 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Citgo Service Station
Citgo Service Station: 13.5% · TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: 26.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Citgo Service Station: 111 units · TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: 65 units
More lender financing options
Citgo Service Station
Citgo Service Station: 64 unique lenders · TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: 35 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 TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Citgo Service Station and TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $141K to $1.3M.
Citgo Service Station has 111 SBA loans on record and TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL has 77. 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 TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Citgo Service Station or TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL?
How much does a Citgo Service Station franchise cost compared to TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL?
Can I finance Citgo Service Station or TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Citgo Service Station or TACO TIME INTERNATIONAL?
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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