Ethan Allen vs La-Z-Boy
Ethan Allen vs La-Z-Boy: Ethan Allen costs $387K to $1.4M to open; La-Z-Boy costs $100K to $2.2M. Ethan Allen has 8 units, La-Z-Boy has 19. SBA loan history: Ethan Allen = 9 loans (0.0% default); La-Z-Boy = 13 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.
Ethan Allen vs La-Z-Boy: 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
La-Z-Boy requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $387K for Ethan Allen), a 287% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, La-Z-Boy operates 19 units to Ethan Allen's 8, roughly 2× the system size. La-Z-Boy has been operating 99 years (founded 1927) versus 94 for Ethan Allen (founded 1932), a 5-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
La-Z-Boy has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 13 7(a) approvals compared with 9 for Ethan Allen. Ethan Allen's peak SBA year was 1996 (3 loans); La-Z-Boy's peak was 2015 (4 loans). La-Z-Boy's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Ethan Allen has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 3. La-Z-Boy leads in WA, 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 Ethan Allen deals is $843K vs $1.1M for La-Z-Boy, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Ethan Allen and 0.0% for La-Z-Boy. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 51 (Moderate) for Ethan Allen and 46 (Fair) for La-Z-Boy, giving Ethan Allen the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 51/100 | 46/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 9 | 13 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | emerging | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $387K to $1.4M | $100K to $2.2M |
Franchise Fee | N/A | N/A |
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 | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 8 | 19 |
Franchised Units | 8 | 19 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1932 | 1927 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | WATSONVILLE, CA | Monroe, GA |
Category | Furniture Stores | Furniture Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Ethan Allen or La-Z-Boy?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Ethan Allen: $387K starting · La-Z-Boy: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
La-Z-Boy
Ethan Allen: 9 SBA loans · La-Z-Boy: 13 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Ethan Allen: 0.0% · La-Z-Boy: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Ethan Allen: 8 units · La-Z-Boy: 19 units
More lender financing options
La-Z-Boy
Ethan Allen: 8 unique lenders · La-Z-Boy: 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
Ethan Allen vs La-Z-Boy: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Ethan Allen and La-Z-Boy is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $2.2M.
Ethan Allen has 9 SBA loans on record and La-Z-Boy has 13. 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.
Ethan Allen vs La-Z-Boy, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Ethan Allen or La-Z-Boy?
How much does a Ethan Allen franchise cost compared to La-Z-Boy?
Can I finance Ethan Allen or La-Z-Boy with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Ethan Allen or La-Z-Boy?
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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