Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland
Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland: Do It Best Hardware costs $100K to $1.1M to open; Slumberland costs $110K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland: 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
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 7(a) approvals compared with 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. Do It Best Hardware has the most SBA funded units in MN, with 10. Slumberland leads in WI, 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 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 SBA loss record 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 to $1.1M | $110K to $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 | 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 | 2001 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 25 yrs |
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
Tie
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 SBA default rate
Slumberland
Do It Best Hardware: 21.6% · Slumberland: 2.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
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.
Do It Best Hardware has 37 SBA loans on record and Slumberland has 40. 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.
Do It Best Hardware vs Slumberland, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Do It Best Hardware or Slumberland?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Do It Best Hardware or Slumberland?
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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