Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland
Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland: Do It Best Hardware costs $100K–$1.1M to open; Slumberland costs $110K–$1.1M. Do It Best Hardware has 49 units, Slumberland has 28. SBA loan history: Do It Best Hardware = 37 loans (21.6% default); Slumberland = 40 loans (2.5% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland: 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
Do It Best Hardware requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $110K for Slumberland), a 9% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $74K for Do It Best Hardware versus $35K for Slumberland, Slumberland has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Do It Best Hardware operates 49 units to Slumberland's 28. Slumberland has been operating 59 years (founded 1967) versus 10 for Do It Best Hardware (founded 2016), a 49-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Slumberland has the deeper SBA lending track record with 40 historical 7(a) approvals versus 37 for Do It Best Hardware. Do It Best Hardware's peak SBA year was 2016 (11 loans); Slumberland's peak was 2021 (5 loans). Slumberland's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Do It Best Hardware concentrates in MN (10 SBA-funded units) while Slumberland leads in WI (9). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Do It Best Hardware deals is $485K vs $483K for Slumberland, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 21.6% for Do It Best Hardware and 2.5% for Slumberland, Slumberland has the cleaner historical loss profile by 19.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 20 (Fair) for Do It Best Hardware and 51 (Moderate) for Slumberland, giving Slumberland the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 20/100 | 51/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 37 | 40 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 21.6% | 2.5% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $100K – $1.1M | $110K – $1.1M |
Franchise Fee | $74K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 1% |
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 | 49 | 28 |
Franchised Units | 49 | 28 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 15 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2016 | 1967 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Bloomington, MN | Fergus Falls, MN |
Category | Home Centers | Home Centers |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Do It Best Hardware or Slumberland?
Lower upfront capital required
Do It Best Hardware
Do It Best Hardware: $100K starting · Slumberland: $110K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Slumberland
Do It Best Hardware: 37 SBA loans · Slumberland: 40 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Slumberland
Do It Best Hardware: 21.6% · Slumberland: 2.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Do It Best Hardware
Do It Best Hardware: 49 units · Slumberland: 28 units
More lender financing options
Do It Best Hardware
Do It Best Hardware: 31 unique lenders · Slumberland: 24 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
Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Do It Best Hardware and Slumberland is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $1.1M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Do It Best Hardware with 37 SBA loans and Slumberland with 40. 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.
Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland, Frequently Asked Questions
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