Fastest Labs vs Unishippers
Fastest Labs vs Unishippers: Fastest Labs costs $100K to $200K to open; Unishippers costs $100K to $200K. Fastest Labs has 31 units, Unishippers has 27. SBA loan history: Fastest Labs = 37 loans (2.7% default); Unishippers = 33 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.
Fastest Labs vs Unishippers: 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
Unishippers requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $100K for Fastest Labs), a 0% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Fastest Labs versus $34K for Unishippers, Unishippers has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Fastest Labs and 5% for Unishippers, giving Unishippers the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fastest Labs operates 31 units to Unishippers's 27. Unishippers has been operating 39 years (founded 1987) versus 9 for Fastest Labs (founded 2017), a 30-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Fastest Labs has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 37 7(a) approvals compared with 33 for Unishippers. Fastest Labs's peak SBA year was 2021 (7 loans); Unishippers's peak was 2024 (3 loans). Unishippers's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Fastest Labs has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 8. Unishippers leads in CA, 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 Fastest Labs deals is $151K vs $241K for Unishippers, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 2.7% for Fastest Labs and 0.0% for Unishippers, Unishippers has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 75 (Strong) for Fastest Labs and 79 (Strong) for Unishippers, giving Unishippers the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 75/100 | 79/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 37 | 33 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 2.7% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $100K to $200K | $100K to $200K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $34K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 1% |
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 | 31 | 27 |
Franchised Units | 31 | 27 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2017 | 1987 |
Franchising Since | 2017 | 1987 |
Years Franchising | 9 yrs | 39 yrs |
Headquarters | San Antonio, TX | Salt Lake City, UT |
Category | Business Services | Business Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Fastest Labs or Unishippers?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Fastest Labs: $100K starting · Unishippers: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fastest Labs
Fastest Labs: 37 SBA loans · Unishippers: 33 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Unishippers
Fastest Labs: 2.7% · Unishippers: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Fastest Labs
Fastest Labs: 31 units · Unishippers: 27 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Unishippers
Fastest Labs: 7% · Unishippers: 5%
More lender financing options
Unishippers
Fastest Labs: 19 unique lenders · Unishippers: 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
Fastest Labs vs Unishippers: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Fastest Labs and Unishippers is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $200K.
Fastest Labs has 37 SBA loans on record and Unishippers has 33. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Both brands have an established underwriting path, though the lender that fits a specific deal still depends on its size, location and the buyer.
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.
Fastest Labs vs Unishippers, Frequently Asked Questions
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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