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Side by Side Comparison

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt vs Swensen's Ice Cream Factory

Quick Answer

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt vs Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: I Can't Believe It's Yogurt costs $43K to $126K to open; Swensen's Ice Cream Factory costs $90K to $190K. I Can't Believe It's Yogurt has 18 units, Swensen's Ice Cream Factory has 7. SBA loan history: I Can't Believe It's Yogurt = 26 loans (30.8% default); Swensen's Ice Cream Factory = 11 loans (36.4% 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.

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt vs Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: 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

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($43K vs $90K for Swensen's Ice Cream Factory), a 53% spread.

System Scale & Tenure

On scale, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt operates 18 units to Swensen's Ice Cream Factory's 7, roughly 3× the system size.

SBA Lending Profile

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 26 7(a) approvals compared with 11 for Swensen's Ice Cream Factory. I Can't Believe It's Yogurt's peak SBA year was 1995 (11 loans); Swensen's Ice Cream Factory's peak was 1994 (3 loans). I Can't Believe It's Yogurt's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded I Can't Believe It's Yogurt deals is $84K vs $123K for Swensen's Ice Cream Factory, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.

Risk Signal

SBA default rates are 30.8% for I Can't Believe It's Yogurt and 36.4% for Swensen's Ice Cream Factory, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt has the cleaner SBA loss record by 5.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 36 (Fair) for I Can't Believe It's Yogurt and 30 (Fair) for Swensen's Ice Cream Factory, giving I Can't Believe It's Yogurt the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt

Dairy Product Wholesalers

36 7W
Swensen's Ice Cream Factory
Swensen's Ice Cream Factory

Dairy Product Wholesalers

30

Health & Performance

FPI Score
36/100
30/100
Health Tier
Fair
Limited
Confidence
N/A
N/A
Lending Trend
N/A
N/A

SBA Lending

SBA Loans
26
11
SBA Volume
–
–
Default Rate
30.8%
36.4%
Peer Tier
established
growing

Investment & Costs

Total Investment
$43K to $126K
$90K to $190K
Franchise Fee
$49K
N/A
Royalty Rate
N/A
6%
Ad Fund
N/A
3%
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
18
7
Franchised Units
18
7
Company Owned
–
–
Term Length
N/A
10 yrs

Brand Information

Year Founded
N/A
1948
Franchising Since
N/A
N/A
Years Franchising
N/A
N/A
Headquarters
SAN ANTONIO, TX
FORT WORTH, TX
Category
Dairy Product Wholesalers
Dairy Product Wholesalers
Website
icantbelieveitsnotbutter.com
swensensicecream.com/franchise
FDD Year
N/A
N/A

Which Is Better, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt or Swensen's Ice Cream Factory?

Lower upfront capital required

Tie

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt: $43K starting · Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: $90K starting

More SBA lender confidence

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt: 26 SBA loans · Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: 11 SBA loans

Lower SBA default rate

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt: 30.8% · Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: 36.4%

Larger system & brand presence

Tie

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt: 18 units · Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: 7 units

More lender financing options

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt: 21 unique lenders · Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: 9 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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About These Franchises

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt

No description available.

Full Profile

Swensen's Ice Cream Factory

No description available.

Full Profile

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt vs Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: Franchise Funding Comparison

Comparing I Can't Believe It's Yogurt and Swensen's Ice Cream Factory is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $43K to $190K.

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt has 26 SBA loans on record and Swensen's Ice Cream Factory has 11. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.

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

I Can't Believe It's Yogurt vs Swensen's Ice Cream Factory, Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a better franchise investment, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt or Swensen's Ice Cream Factory?
Compare I Can't Believe It's Yogurt vs Swensen's Ice Cream Factory 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 I Can't Believe It's Yogurt franchise cost compared to Swensen's Ice Cream Factory?
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt requires $43K to $126K in total initial investment with a $49K franchise fee. Swensen's Ice Cream Factory requires $90K to $190K with a N/A franchise fee. All numbers come from official Franchise Disclosure Document filings.
Can I finance I Can't Believe It's Yogurt or Swensen's Ice Cream Factory with an SBA loan?
Both brands appear on the SBA Franchise Directory and have funded SBA 7(a) loans: I Can't Believe It's Yogurt has 26 SBA loans on record; Swensen's Ice Cream Factory has 11. 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, I Can't Believe It's Yogurt or Swensen's Ice Cream Factory?
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt: 30.8% SBA default rate. Swensen's Ice Cream Factory: 36.4% SBA default rate. Lower default rates mean lenders quote tighter rates and underwrite faster.
Compare I Can't Believe It's Yogurt to other franchises Compare Swensen's Ice Cream Factory to other franchises Browse all Dairy Product Wholesalers 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; 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