Convenient Food Mart vs Save - A - Lot
Convenient Food Mart vs Save - A - Lot: Convenient Food Mart costs $36K to $213K to open; Save - A - Lot costs $140K to $775K. Convenient Food Mart has 22 units, Save - A - Lot has 37. SBA loan history: Convenient Food Mart = 32 loans (18.8% default); Save - A - Lot = 41 loans (7.3% 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.
Convenient Food Mart vs Save - A - Lot: 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
Convenient Food Mart requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($36K vs $140K for Save - A - Lot), a 75% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Save - A - Lot operates 37 units to Convenient Food Mart's 22. Convenient Food Mart has been operating 68 years (founded 1958) versus 49 for Save - A - Lot (founded 1977), a 19-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Save - A - Lot has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 41 7(a) approvals compared with 32 for Convenient Food Mart. Convenient Food Mart's peak SBA year was 1995 (6 loans); Save - A - Lot's peak was 2012 (5 loans). Save - A - Lot's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Convenient Food Mart has the most SBA funded units in OH, with 23. Save - A - Lot leads in MI, with 9. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Convenient Food Mart deals is $122K vs $439K for Save - A - Lot, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 18.8% for Convenient Food Mart and 7.3% for Save - A - Lot, Save - A - Lot has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 23 (Fair) for Convenient Food Mart and 40 (Fair) for Save - A - Lot, giving Save - A - Lot the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 23/100 | 40/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 32 | 41 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 18.8% | 7.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $36K to $213K | $140K to $775K |
Franchise Fee | $41K | 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 | 22 | 37 |
Franchised Units | 22 | 37 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1958 | 1977 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | MENTOR, OH | Benzonia, MI |
Category | Supermarkets | Supermarkets |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Convenient Food Mart or Save - A - Lot?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Convenient Food Mart: $36K starting · Save - A - Lot: $140K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Save - A - Lot
Convenient Food Mart: 32 SBA loans · Save - A - Lot: 41 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Save - A - Lot
Convenient Food Mart: 18.8% · Save - A - Lot: 7.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Convenient Food Mart: 22 units · Save - A - Lot: 37 units
More lender financing options
Save - A - Lot
Convenient Food Mart: 14 unique lenders · Save - A - Lot: 28 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
Convenient Food Mart vs Save - A - Lot: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Convenient Food Mart and Save - A - Lot is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $36K to $775K.
Convenient Food Mart has 32 SBA loans on record and Save - A - Lot has 41. 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.
Convenient Food Mart vs Save - A - Lot, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Convenient Food Mart or Save - A - Lot?
How much does a Convenient Food Mart franchise cost compared to Save - A - Lot?
Can I finance Convenient Food Mart or Save - A - Lot with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Convenient Food Mart or Save - A - Lot?
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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