Clothes Mentor vs Lillians Shoppes
Clothes Mentor vs Lillians Shoppes: Clothes Mentor costs $305K to $429K to open; Lillians Shoppes costs $30K to $75K. Clothes Mentor has 113 units, Lillians Shoppes has 5. SBA loan history: Clothes Mentor = 66 loans (3.0% default); Lillians Shoppes = 7 loans (0.0% 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.
Clothes Mentor vs Lillians Shoppes: 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
Lillians Shoppes requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $305K for Clothes Mentor), a 909% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Clothes Mentor versus $18K for Lillians Shoppes, Lillians Shoppes has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 4% for Clothes Mentor and 8% for Lillians Shoppes, giving Clothes Mentor the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Clothes Mentor operates 113 units to Lillians Shoppes's 5, roughly 23× the system size. Clothes Mentor has been operating 25 years (founded 2001) versus 21 for Lillians Shoppes (founded 2005), a 4-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Clothes Mentor has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 66 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for Lillians Shoppes.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 3.0% for Clothes Mentor and 0.0% for Lillians Shoppes, Lillians Shoppes has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 51 (Moderate) for Clothes Mentor and 46 (Fair) for Lillians Shoppes, giving Clothes Mentor the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 51/100 | 46/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 66 | 7 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 3.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $305K to $429K | $30K to $75K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $18K |
Royalty Rate | 4% | 8% |
Ad Fund | 5% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 113 | 5 |
Franchised Units | 113 | 5 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2001 | 2005 |
Franchising Since | 2006 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 20 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Minnetonka, MN | GRUNDY CENTER, IA |
Category | Women's Clothing Stores | Women's Clothing Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Clothes Mentor or Lillians Shoppes?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Clothes Mentor: $305K starting · Lillians Shoppes: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Clothes Mentor
Clothes Mentor: 66 SBA loans · Lillians Shoppes: 7 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Lillians Shoppes
Clothes Mentor: 3.0% · Lillians Shoppes: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Clothes Mentor: 113 units · Lillians Shoppes: 5 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Clothes Mentor
Clothes Mentor: 4% · Lillians Shoppes: 8%
More lender financing options
Clothes Mentor
Clothes Mentor: 30 unique lenders · Lillians Shoppes: 4 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
Clothes Mentor vs Lillians Shoppes: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Clothes Mentor and Lillians Shoppes is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $30K to $429K.
Clothes Mentor has 66 SBA loans on record and Lillians Shoppes has 7. 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.
Clothes Mentor vs Lillians Shoppes, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Clothes Mentor or Lillians Shoppes?
How much does a Clothes Mentor franchise cost compared to Lillians Shoppes?
Can I finance Clothes Mentor or Lillians Shoppes with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Clothes Mentor or Lillians Shoppes?
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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