Which has more SBA loans, H&R Block or Liberty Tax?

H&R Block has 84 SBA 7(a) historical approvals; Liberty Tax has 287. Liberty Tax 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 Liberty Tax SBA loans?

H&R Block's SBA default rate is 0.0%, versus 9.4% for Liberty Tax. 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 Liberty Tax peak in SBA lending volume?

H&R Block's SBA approval peak was 2017 with 17 loans; Liberty Tax's peak was 2015 with 26. 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 Liberty Tax SBA loans?

H&R Block leads in NE with 7 SBA-funded units; Liberty Tax leads in TX with 32. 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 Liberty Tax

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

H&R Block vs Liberty Tax: 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 Liberty Tax?

H&R Block requires a total initial investment of $50K to $902K while Liberty Tax requires $42K to $79K. Liberty Tax 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 Liberty Tax: H&R Block costs $50K to $902K to open; Liberty Tax costs $42K to $79K. H&R Block has 127 units, Liberty Tax has 220. SBA loan history: H&R Block = 84 loans (0.0% default); Liberty Tax = 287 loans (9.4% 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 Liberty Tax: 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

Liberty Tax requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($42K vs $50K for H&R Block), a 17% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $47K for H&R Block versus $40K for Liberty Tax, Liberty Tax has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 12% for H&R Block and 14% for Liberty Tax, giving H&R Block the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.

System Scale & Tenure

On scale, Liberty Tax operates 220 units to H&R Block's 127. H&R Block has been operating 71 years (founded 1955) versus 29 for Liberty Tax (founded 1997), a 42-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.

SBA Lending Profile

Liberty Tax has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 287 7(a) approvals compared with 84 for H&R Block. H&R Block's peak SBA year was 2017 (17 loans); Liberty Tax's peak was 2015 (26 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. Liberty Tax leads in TX, with 32. 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 $154K for Liberty Tax, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.

Risk Signal

SBA default rates are 0.0% for H&R Block and 9.4% for Liberty Tax, H&R Block has the cleaner SBA loss record by 9.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for H&R Block and 60 (Moderate) for Liberty Tax, giving Liberty Tax the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.

H&R Block

Tax Preparation Services

Liberty Tax

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	287
SBA Volume	–	–
Default Rate	0.0%	9.4%
Peer Tier	established	major

Investment & Costs

Total Investment	$50K to $902K	$42K to $79K
Franchise Fee	$47K	$40K
Royalty Rate	12%	14%
Ad Fund	N/A	5%
Liquid Capital	N/A	$50K
Net Worth Required	N/A	$100K

Financial Performance (Item 19)

Item 19 Status

Not Disclosed

Disclosed

System Size & Operations

Total Units	127	220
Franchised Units	127	220
Company Owned	–	–
Term Length	10 yrs	5 yrs

Brand Information

Year Founded	1955	1997
Franchising Since	N/A	1997
Years Franchising	N/A	29 yrs
Headquarters	FALLS CITY, NE	BROOKELAND, TX
Category	Tax Preparation Services	Tax Preparation Services
Website	hrblock.com	libertytax.com
FDD Year	2025	2025

Which Is Better, H&R Block or Liberty Tax?

Lower upfront capital required

Liberty Tax

H&R Block: $50K starting · Liberty Tax: $42K starting

More SBA lender confidence

Liberty Tax

H&R Block: 84 SBA loans · Liberty Tax: 287 SBA loans

Lower SBA default rate

H&R Block

H&R Block: 0.0% · Liberty Tax: 9.4%

Larger system & brand presence

Liberty Tax

H&R Block: 127 units · Liberty Tax: 220 units

Lower ongoing royalty load

H&R Block

H&R Block: 12% · Liberty Tax: 14%

More lender financing options

Liberty Tax

H&R Block: 49 unique lenders · Liberty Tax: 117 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 Liberty Tax: Franchise Funding Comparison

Comparing H&R Block and Liberty Tax is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $42K to $902K.

H&R Block has 84 SBA loans on record and Liberty Tax has 287. 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 Liberty Tax, Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a better franchise investment, H&R Block or Liberty Tax?

Compare H&R Block vs Liberty Tax 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 Liberty Tax?

H&R Block requires $50K to $902K in total initial investment with a $47K franchise fee. Liberty Tax requires $42K to $79K with a $40K franchise fee. All numbers come from official Franchise Disclosure Document filings.

Can I finance H&R Block or Liberty Tax 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; Liberty Tax has 287. 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 Liberty Tax?

H&R Block: 0.0% SBA default rate. Liberty Tax: 9.4% SBA default rate. Lower default rates mean lenders quote tighter rates and underwrite faster.

Compare H&R Block to other franchises Compare Liberty Tax 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