Which has more SBA loans, H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt Tax Service?

H&R Block has 84 SBA 7(a) historical approvals; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has 195. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has the deeper public lender track record, which generally translates into faster pre-qualification and broader lender familiarity.

What is the default rate for H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service SBA loans?

H&R Block's SBA default rate is 0.0%, versus 3.6% for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. H&R Block has the cleaner loss profile, which capital sources weigh when pricing the next deal in the brand.

When did H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service peak in SBA lending volume?

H&R Block's SBA approval peak was 2017 with 17 loans; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service's peak was 1996 with 13. A more recent peak (currently H&R Block) generally indicates fresher lender appetite and easier financing today.

Which states have the most H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service SBA loans?

H&R Block leads in NE with 7 SBA-funded units; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service leads in TX with 16. The brand that matches your operating state typically closes faster because local lenders already know the unit economics.

Side by Side Comparison

H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service

Q: Which is a better franchise investment, H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt Tax Service?

H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: compare initial investment, royalty rate, unit count, SBA lending history, default rate, and PeerSense FPI score side by side. The right answer depends on your capital, target market, and risk tolerance, not on which brand ranks higher in a list.

Q: How much does a H&R Block franchise cost compared to Jackson Hewitt Tax Service?

H&R Block requires a total initial investment of $50K to $902K while Jackson Hewitt Tax Service requires $25K to $364K. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has the lower minimum capital commitment. Franchise fee, royalty percentage, and advertising fees vary independently, see the comparison table below for the full FDD breakdown.

Quick Answer

H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: H&R Block costs $50K to $902K to open; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service costs $25K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.

H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: 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

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 7(a) approvals compared with 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. H&R Block has the most SBA funded units in NE, with 7. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service leads in TX, with 16. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer 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 SBA loss record 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.

H&R Block

Tax Preparation Services

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service

Tax Preparation Services

60 11W

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 to $902K	$25K to $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

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	2000
Years Franchising	N/A	26 yrs
Headquarters	FALLS CITY, NE	DALLAS, TX
Category	Tax Preparation Services	Tax Preparation Services
Website	hrblock.com	jacksonhewitt.com/franchise
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 SBA 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.

Franchise Financing

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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.

H&R Block has 84 SBA loans on record and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has 195. 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.

SBA Loan Guide Franchise Funding Options Best SBA Franchise Lenders All Franchises Talk to PeerSense

H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a better franchise investment, H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt Tax Service?

Compare H&R Block vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service 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 H&R Block franchise cost compared to Jackson Hewitt Tax Service?

H&R Block requires $50K to $902K in total initial investment with a $47K franchise fee. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service requires $25K to $364K with a $25K franchise fee. All numbers come from official Franchise Disclosure Document filings.

Can I finance H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt Tax Service with an SBA loan?

Both brands appear on the SBA Franchise Directory and have funded SBA 7(a) loans: H&R Block has 84 SBA loans on record; Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has 195. 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, H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt Tax Service?

H&R Block: 0.0% SBA default rate. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: 3.6% SBA default rate. Lower default rates mean lenders quote tighter rates and underwrite faster.

Compare H&R Block to other franchises Compare Jackson Hewitt Tax Service to other franchises Browse all Tax Preparation Services franchises

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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 October 2, 2026LinkedIn profile About Edward Freeman