Cookies In Bloom vs Sweet Factory
Cookies In Bloom vs Sweet Factory: Cookies In Bloom costs $25K to $75K to open; Sweet Factory costs $80K to $501K. Cookies In Bloom has 6 units, Sweet Factory has 7. SBA loan history: Cookies In Bloom = 7 loans (14.3% default); Sweet Factory = 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.
Cookies In Bloom vs Sweet Factory: 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
Cookies In Bloom requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $80K for Sweet Factory), a 69% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for Cookies In Bloom versus $35K for Sweet Factory, Cookies In Bloom has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Sweet Factory operates 7 units to Cookies In Bloom's 6. Sweet Factory has been operating 40 years (founded 1986) versus 37 for Cookies In Bloom (founded 1989), a 3-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Sweet Factory has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 7 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for Cookies In Bloom. Cookies In Bloom's peak SBA year was 2005 (4 loans); Sweet Factory's peak was 2009 (2 loans). Sweet Factory's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Cookies In Bloom has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 3. Sweet Factory leads in CA, with 6. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Cookies In Bloom deals is $53K vs $258K for Sweet Factory, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 14.3% for Cookies In Bloom and 0.0% for Sweet Factory, Sweet Factory has the cleaner SBA loss record by 14.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 26 (Fair) for Cookies In Bloom and 45 (Fair) for Sweet Factory, giving Sweet Factory the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 26/100 | 45/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 7 | 7 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 14.3% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | emerging | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $25K to $75K | $80K to $501K |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
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 | 6 | 7 |
Franchised Units | 6 | 7 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1989 | 1986 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | CYPRESS, TX | Brea, CA |
Category | Confectionery | Confectionery |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Cookies In Bloom or Sweet Factory?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Cookies In Bloom: $25K starting · Sweet Factory: $80K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Tie
Cookies In Bloom: 7 SBA loans · Sweet Factory: 7 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Sweet Factory
Cookies In Bloom: 14.3% · Sweet Factory: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Cookies In Bloom: 6 units · Sweet Factory: 7 units
More lender financing options
Cookies In Bloom
Cookies In Bloom: 6 unique lenders · Sweet Factory: 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
Cookies In Bloom vs Sweet Factory: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Cookies In Bloom and Sweet Factory is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $501K.
Cookies In Bloom has 7 SBA loans on record and Sweet Factory 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.
Cookies In Bloom vs Sweet Factory, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Cookies In Bloom or Sweet Factory?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Cookies In Bloom or Sweet Factory?
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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
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