I Sold It vs Uptown Cheapskate
I Sold It vs Uptown Cheapskate: I Sold It costs $53K to $110K to open; Uptown Cheapskate costs $176K to $300K. I Sold It has 4 units, Uptown Cheapskate has 90. SBA loan history: I Sold It = 7 loans (42.9% default); Uptown Cheapskate = 108 loans (2.8% 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 Sold It vs Uptown Cheapskate: 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 Sold It requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($53K vs $176K for Uptown Cheapskate), a 70% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $32K for I Sold It versus $25K for Uptown Cheapskate, Uptown Cheapskate has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Uptown Cheapskate operates 90 units to I Sold It's 4, roughly 23× the system size. I Sold It has been operating 25 years (founded 2001) versus 18 for Uptown Cheapskate (founded 2008), a 7-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Uptown Cheapskate has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 108 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for I Sold It. I Sold It's peak SBA year was 2006 (4 loans); Uptown Cheapskate's peak was 2025 (15 loans). Uptown Cheapskate's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. I Sold It has the most SBA funded units in MA, with 1. Uptown Cheapskate leads in TX, with 27. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded I Sold It deals is $79K vs $425K for Uptown Cheapskate, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 42.9% for I Sold It and 2.8% for Uptown Cheapskate, Uptown Cheapskate has the cleaner SBA loss record by 40.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 17 (Fair) for I Sold It and 68 (Strong) for Uptown Cheapskate, giving Uptown Cheapskate the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 17/100 | 68/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 7 | 108 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 42.9% | 2.8% |
Peer Tier | emerging | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $53K to $110K | $176K to $300K |
Franchise Fee | $32K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 0.5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $75K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $200K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 4 | 90 |
Franchised Units | 4 | 90 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2001 | 2008 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2008 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 18 yrs |
Headquarters | GA | DALLAS, TX |
Category | Used Merchandise Stores | Used Merchandise Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, I Sold It or Uptown Cheapskate?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
I Sold It: $53K starting · Uptown Cheapskate: $176K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Uptown Cheapskate
I Sold It: 7 SBA loans · Uptown Cheapskate: 108 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Uptown Cheapskate
I Sold It: 42.9% · Uptown Cheapskate: 2.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
I Sold It: 4 units · Uptown Cheapskate: 90 units
More lender financing options
Uptown Cheapskate
I Sold It: 6 unique lenders · Uptown Cheapskate: 25 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
I Sold It vs Uptown Cheapskate: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing I Sold It and Uptown Cheapskate is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $53K to $300K.
I Sold It has 7 SBA loans on record and Uptown Cheapskate has 108. 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.
I Sold It vs Uptown Cheapskate, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, I Sold It or Uptown Cheapskate?
How much does a I Sold It franchise cost compared to Uptown Cheapskate?
Can I finance I Sold It or Uptown Cheapskate with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, I Sold It or Uptown Cheapskate?
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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