Convenience America vs Dairy Mart
Convenience America vs Dairy Mart: Convenience America costs $64K to $192K to open; Dairy Mart costs $15K to $261K. Convenience America has 4 units, Dairy Mart has 10. SBA loan history: Convenience America = 8 loans (37.5% default); Dairy Mart = 11 loans (9.1% 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.
Convenience America vs Dairy Mart: 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
Dairy Mart requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($15K vs $64K for Convenience America), a 323% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Dairy Mart operates 10 units to Convenience America's 4, roughly 3× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Dairy Mart has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 11 7(a) approvals compared with 8 for Convenience America. Convenience America's peak SBA year was 2001 (3 loans); Dairy Mart's peak was 2002 (2 loans). Dairy Mart's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Convenience America has the most SBA funded units in NJ, with 5. Dairy Mart leads in MA, with 2. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Convenience America deals is $119K vs $134K for Dairy Mart, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 37.5% for Convenience America and 9.1% for Dairy Mart, Dairy Mart has the cleaner SBA loss record by 28.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 16 (Fair) for Convenience America and 35 (Fair) for Dairy Mart, giving Dairy Mart the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 16/100 | 35/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 8 | 11 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 37.5% | 9.1% |
Peer Tier | emerging | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $64K to $192K | $15K to $261K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $18K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 7% |
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 | 4 | 10 |
Franchised Units | 4 | 10 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 2002 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | UNION (UNIONBURY), NJ | Columbus, KY |
Category | Convenience Stores | Convenience Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Convenience America or Dairy Mart?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Convenience America: $64K starting · Dairy Mart: $15K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Dairy Mart
Convenience America: 8 SBA loans · Dairy Mart: 11 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Dairy Mart
Convenience America: 37.5% · Dairy Mart: 9.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Convenience America: 4 units · Dairy Mart: 10 units
More lender financing options
Dairy Mart
Convenience America: 4 unique lenders · Dairy Mart: 10 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
Convenience America vs Dairy Mart: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Convenience America and Dairy Mart is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $15K to $261K.
Convenience America has 8 SBA loans on record and Dairy Mart has 11. 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.
Convenience America vs Dairy Mart, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Convenience America or Dairy Mart?
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Can I finance Convenience America or Dairy Mart with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Convenience America or Dairy Mart?
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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