Iga Food Stores vs Save - A - Lot
Iga Food Stores vs Save - A - Lot: Iga Food Stores costs $147K to $1.4M to open; Save - A - Lot costs $140K to $775K. Iga Food Stores has 45 units, Save - A - Lot has 37. SBA loan history: Iga Food Stores = 49 loans (12.2% default); Save - A - Lot = 41 loans (7.3% 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.
Iga Food Stores vs Save - A - Lot: 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
Save - A - Lot requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($140K vs $147K for Iga Food Stores), a 5% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Iga Food Stores operates 45 units to Save - A - Lot's 37. Iga Food Stores has been operating 100 years (founded 1926) versus 49 for Save - A - Lot (founded 1977), a 51-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Iga Food Stores has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 49 7(a) approvals compared with 41 for Save - A - Lot. Iga Food Stores's peak SBA year was 2009 (9 loans); Save - A - Lot's peak was 2012 (5 loans). Save - A - Lot's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Iga Food Stores has the most SBA funded units in OH, with 9. Save - A - Lot leads in MI, with 9. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Iga Food Stores deals is $672K vs $439K for Save - A - Lot, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 12.2% for Iga Food Stores and 7.3% for Save - A - Lot, Save - A - Lot has the cleaner SBA loss record by 4.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 26 (Fair) for Iga Food Stores and 40 (Fair) for Save - A - Lot, giving Save - A - Lot the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 26/100 | 40/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 49 | 41 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 12.2% | 7.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $147K to $1.4M | $140K to $775K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | 1% | N/A |
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 | 45 | 37 |
Franchised Units | 45 | 37 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1926 | 1977 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | CINCINNATI, OH | Benzonia, MI |
Category | Supermarkets | Supermarkets |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Iga Food Stores or Save - A - Lot?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Iga Food Stores: $147K starting · Save - A - Lot: $140K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Iga Food Stores
Iga Food Stores: 49 SBA loans · Save - A - Lot: 41 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Save - A - Lot
Iga Food Stores: 12.2% · Save - A - Lot: 7.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Iga Food Stores: 45 units · Save - A - Lot: 37 units
More lender financing options
Iga Food Stores
Iga Food Stores: 34 unique lenders · Save - A - Lot: 28 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
Iga Food Stores vs Save - A - Lot: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Iga Food Stores and Save - A - Lot is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $140K to $1.4M.
Iga Food Stores has 49 SBA loans on record and Save - A - Lot has 41. 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.
Iga Food Stores vs Save - A - Lot, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Iga Food Stores or Save - A - Lot?
How much does a Iga Food Stores franchise cost compared to Save - A - Lot?
Can I finance Iga Food Stores or Save - A - Lot with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Iga Food Stores or Save - A - Lot?
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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 LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman