Cornwell vs Cornwell Quality Tools
Cornwell vs Cornwell Quality Tools: Cornwell costs $175K to $319K to open; Cornwell Quality Tools costs $43K to $150K. Cornwell has 90 units, Cornwell Quality Tools has 12. SBA loan history: Cornwell = 99 loans (29.3% default); Cornwell Quality Tools = 15 loans (13.3% 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.
Cornwell vs Cornwell Quality Tools: 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
Cornwell Quality Tools requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($43K vs $175K for Cornwell), a 307% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Cornwell operates 90 units to Cornwell Quality Tools's 12, roughly 8× the system size. Cornwell Quality Tools has been operating 107 years (founded 1919) versus 107 for Cornwell (founded 1919), a 0-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Cornwell has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 99 7(a) approvals compared with 15 for Cornwell Quality Tools. Cornwell's peak SBA year was 2002 (17 loans); Cornwell Quality Tools's peak was 2020 (4 loans). Cornwell Quality Tools's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Cornwell has the most SBA funded units in OH, with 13. Cornwell Quality Tools leads in IL, 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 Cornwell deals is $66K vs $101K for Cornwell Quality Tools, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 29.3% for Cornwell and 13.3% for Cornwell Quality Tools, Cornwell Quality Tools has the cleaner SBA loss record by 16.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 28 (Fair) for Cornwell and 54 (Moderate) for Cornwell Quality Tools, giving Cornwell Quality Tools the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 28/100 | 54/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 99 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 29.3% | 13.3% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $175K to $319K | $43K to $150K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $50K |
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 | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 90 | 12 |
Franchised Units | 90 | 12 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1919 | 1919 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Wadsworth, OH | CORRALES, NM |
Category | Hardware Merchant Wholesalers | Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2016 |
Which Is Better, Cornwell or Cornwell Quality Tools?
Lower upfront capital required
Cornwell Quality Tools
Cornwell: $175K starting · Cornwell Quality Tools: $43K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Cornwell
Cornwell: 99 SBA loans · Cornwell Quality Tools: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Cornwell Quality Tools
Cornwell: 29.3% · Cornwell Quality Tools: 13.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Cornwell
Cornwell: 90 units · Cornwell Quality Tools: 12 units
More lender financing options
Cornwell
Cornwell: 43 unique lenders · Cornwell Quality Tools: 11 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
Cornwell vs Cornwell Quality Tools: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Cornwell and Cornwell Quality Tools is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $43K to $319K.
Cornwell has 99 SBA loans on record and Cornwell Quality Tools has 15. 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.
Cornwell vs Cornwell Quality Tools, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Cornwell or Cornwell Quality Tools?
How much does a Cornwell franchise cost compared to Cornwell Quality Tools?
Can I finance Cornwell or Cornwell Quality Tools with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Cornwell or Cornwell Quality Tools?
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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