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Side-by-Side Comparison

Exxon vs Shell Service Station

Quick Answer

Exxon vs Shell Service Station: Exxon costs $65K$1.4M to open; Shell Service Station costs $114K$1.8M. Exxon has 204 units, Shell Service Station has 390. SBA loan history: Exxon = 170 loans (6.5% default); Shell Service Station = 311 loans (5.5% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.

Exxon vs Shell Service Station: 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

Exxon requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($65K vs $114K for Shell Service Station), a 43% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Exxon versus $50K for Shell Service Station.

System Scale & Tenure

On scale, Shell Service Station operates 390 units to Exxon's 204.

SBA Lending Profile

Shell Service Station has the deeper SBA lending track record with 311 historical 7(a) approvals versus 170 for Exxon. Exxon's peak SBA year was 1994 (15 loans); Shell Service Station's peak was 2017 (35 loans). Shell Service Station's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Exxon concentrates in TX (61 SBA-funded units) while Shell Service Station leads in CA (143). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Exxon deals is $661K vs $786K for Shell Service Station, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.

Risk Signal

SBA default rates are 6.5% for Exxon and 5.5% for Shell Service Station, Shell Service Station has the cleaner historical loss profile by 1.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 42 (Fair) for Exxon and 43 (Fair) for Shell Service Station, giving Shell Service Station the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.

Exxon
Exxon

Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores

42
Shell Service Station
Shell Service Station

Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores

43 5W

Health & Performance

FPI Score
42/100
43/100
Health Tier
Fair
Fair
Confidence
N/A
N/A
Lending Trend
Declining
Declining

SBA Lending

SBA Loans
170
311
SBA Volume
Default Rate
6.5%
5.5%
Peer Tier
major
major

Investment & Costs

Total Investment
$65K$1.4M
$114K$1.8M
Franchise Fee
$50K
$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
Not Disclosed
Not Disclosed

System Size & Operations

Total Units
204
390
Franchised Units
204
390
Company-Owned
Term Length
N/A
N/A

Brand Information

Year Founded
2008
N/A
Franchising Since
N/A
N/A
Years Franchising
N/A
N/A
Headquarters
HOUSTON, TX
LOS ANGELES, CA
Category
Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
Website
FDD Year
N/A
N/A

Which Is Better, Exxon or Shell Service Station?

Lower upfront capital required

Exxon

Exxon: $65K starting · Shell Service Station: $114K starting

More SBA lender confidence

Shell Service Station

Exxon: 170 SBA loans · Shell Service Station: 311 SBA loans

Lower historical default rate

Shell Service Station

Exxon: 6.5% · Shell Service Station: 5.5%

Larger system & brand presence

Shell Service Station

Exxon: 204 units · Shell Service Station: 390 units

More lender financing options

Shell Service Station

Exxon: 86 unique lenders · Shell Service Station: 132 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.

Franchise Financing

Need Funding for Exxon or Shell Service Station?

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500+

SBA Lenders & Capital Sources

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Retainers or Consulting Fees

SBA 7(a)

10% Down Franchise Loans

About These Franchises

Exxon

No description available.

Shell Service Station

No description available.

Exxon vs Shell Service Station: Franchise Funding Comparison

Comparing Exxon and Shell Service Station is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $65K to $1.8M.

Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Exxon with 170 SBA loans and Shell Service Station with 311. 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.

Exxon vs Shell Service Station, Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a better franchise investment, Exxon or Shell Service Station?
Compare Exxon vs Shell Service Station franchise costs, FDD data, royalty rates, unit counts, and SBA lending history side by side above. The best franchise depends on your capital, market, and risk tolerance, not a single ranking. Use the decision matrix above to see which brand wins on each financing dimension.
How much does a Exxon franchise cost compared to Shell Service Station?
Exxon requires $65K–$1.4M in total initial investment with a $50K franchise fee. Shell Service Station requires $114K–$1.8M with a $50K franchise fee. All numbers come from official Franchise Disclosure Document filings.
Can I finance Exxon or Shell Service Station with an SBA loan?
Both brands appear on the SBA Franchise Directory and have funded SBA 7(a) loans: Exxon has 170 SBA loans on record; Shell Service Station has 311. SBA 7(a) is the most common franchise financing vehicle, offering up to $5M with 10% down. PeerSense routes your deal to lenders who have already approved the brand.
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Exxon or Shell Service Station?
Exxon: 6.5% historical SBA default rate. Shell Service Station: 5.5% historical SBA default rate. Lower default rates mean lenders quote tighter rates and underwrite faster.

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