Crumbl Cookies vs Smallcakes Cupcakery
Crumbl Cookies vs Smallcakes Cupcakery: Crumbl Cookies costs $816K–$1.4M to open; Smallcakes Cupcakery costs $63K–$350K. Crumbl Cookies has 253 units, Smallcakes Cupcakery has 28. SBA loan history: Crumbl Cookies = 290 loans (0.0% default); Smallcakes Cupcakery = 31 loans (3.2% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Crumbl Cookies vs Smallcakes Cupcakery — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Smallcakes Cupcakery requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($63K vs $816K for Crumbl Cookies), a 1196% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Crumbl Cookies versus $62K for Smallcakes Cupcakery — Crumbl Cookies has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Crumbl Cookies and 4% for Smallcakes Cupcakery, giving Smallcakes Cupcakery the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Crumbl Cookies operates 253 units to Smallcakes Cupcakery's 28 — roughly 9× the system size. Smallcakes Cupcakery has been operating 18 years (founded 2008) versus 9 for Crumbl Cookies (founded 2017) — a 9-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Crumbl Cookies has the deeper SBA lending track record with 290 historical 7(a) approvals versus 31 for Smallcakes Cupcakery. Crumbl Cookies's peak SBA year was 2022 (81 loans); Smallcakes Cupcakery's peak was 2023 (7 loans). Smallcakes Cupcakery's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Crumbl Cookies concentrates in CA (33 SBA-funded units) while Smallcakes Cupcakery leads in IN (4) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Crumbl Cookies deals is $576K vs $193K for Smallcakes Cupcakery — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Crumbl Cookies and 3.2% for Smallcakes Cupcakery — Crumbl Cookies has the cleaner historical loss profile by 3.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 72 (Strong) for Crumbl Cookies and 65 (Strong) for Smallcakes Cupcakery, giving Crumbl Cookies the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 72/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 290 | 31 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 3.2% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $816K – $1.4M | $63K – $350K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $62K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 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 | 253 | 28 |
Franchised Units | 253 | 28 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 5 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2017 | 2008 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Lindon, UT | Bogart, GA |
Category | Baked Goods Stores | Baked Goods Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better — Crumbl Cookies or Smallcakes Cupcakery?
Lower upfront capital required
Smallcakes Cupcakery
Crumbl Cookies: $816K starting · Smallcakes Cupcakery: $63K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies: 290 SBA loans · Smallcakes Cupcakery: 31 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies: 0.0% · Smallcakes Cupcakery: 3.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies: 253 units · Smallcakes Cupcakery: 28 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Smallcakes Cupcakery
Crumbl Cookies: 8% · Smallcakes Cupcakery: 4%
More lender financing options
Crumbl Cookies
Crumbl Cookies: 90 unique lenders · Smallcakes Cupcakery: 23 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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Crumbl Cookies vs Smallcakes Cupcakery: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Crumbl Cookies and Smallcakes Cupcakery is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $63K to $1.4M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Crumbl Cookies with 290 SBA loans and Smallcakes Cupcakery with 31. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.