H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: H&R Block costs $50K–$902K to open; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service costs $25K–$364K. H&R Block has 127 units, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has 158. SBA loan history: H&R Block = 84 loans (0.0% default); Jackson Hewitt Tax Service = 195 loans (3.6% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service — 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
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $50K for H&R Block), a 98% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $47K for H&R Block versus $25K for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service — Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 12% for H&R Block and 15% for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, giving H&R Block the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service operates 158 units to H&R Block's 127. H&R Block has been operating 71 years (founded 1955) versus 44 for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (founded 1982) — a 27-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has the deeper SBA lending track record with 195 historical 7(a) approvals versus 84 for H&R Block. H&R Block's peak SBA year was 2017 (17 loans); Jackson Hewitt Tax Service's peak was 1996 (13 loans). H&R Block's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, H&R Block concentrates in NE (7 SBA-funded units) while Jackson Hewitt Tax Service leads in TX (16) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded H&R Block deals is $391K vs $343K for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for H&R Block and 3.6% for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service — H&R Block has the cleaner historical loss profile by 3.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for H&R Block and 60 (Moderate) for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, giving Jackson Hewitt Tax Service the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 57/100 | 60/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 84 | 195 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 3.6% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $50K – $902K | $25K – $364K |
Franchise Fee | $47K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 12% | 15% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 6.5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 127 | 158 |
Franchised Units | 127 | 158 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1955 | 1982 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | FALLS CITY, NE | DALLAS, TX |
Category | Tax Preparation Services | Tax Preparation Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better — H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt Tax Service?
Lower upfront capital required
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
H&R Block: $50K starting · Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: $25K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
H&R Block: 84 SBA loans · Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: 195 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
H&R Block
H&R Block: 0.0% · Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: 3.6%
Larger system & brand presence
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
H&R Block: 127 units · Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: 158 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
H&R Block
H&R Block: 12% · Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: 15%
More lender financing options
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service
H&R Block: 49 unique lenders · Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: 86 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
H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $902K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — H&R Block with 84 SBA loans and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service with 195. 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.