Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King
Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King: Jimmy John's costs $25K–$366K to open; Smoothie King costs $312K–$1.4M. Jimmy John's has 2,689 units, Smoothie King has 529. SBA loan history: Jimmy John's = 1,071 loans (4.3% default); Smoothie King = 707 loans (8.2% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Jimmy John's requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $312K for Smoothie King), a 92% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Jimmy John's versus $30K for Smoothie King — Smoothie King has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Jimmy John's and 6% for Smoothie King — equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Jimmy John's operates 2,689 units to Smoothie King's 529 — roughly 5× the system size. Smoothie King has been operating 53 years (founded 1973) versus 43 for Jimmy John's (founded 1983) — a 10-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Jimmy John's has the deeper SBA lending track record with 1,071 historical 7(a) approvals versus 707 for Smoothie King. Jimmy John's's peak SBA year was 2015 (127 loans); Smoothie King's peak was 2016 (43 loans). Smoothie King's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Jimmy John's concentrates in IL (92 SBA-funded units) while Smoothie King leads in TX (195) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Jimmy John's deals is $433K vs $272K for Smoothie King — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.3% for Jimmy John's and 8.2% for Smoothie King — Jimmy John's has the cleaner historical loss profile by 3.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 58 (Moderate) for Jimmy John's and 68 (Strong) for Smoothie King, giving Smoothie King the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 58/100 | 68/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 1,071 | 707 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 4.3% | 8.2% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $25K – $366K | $312K – $1.4M |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 4.5% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 2,689 | 529 |
Franchised Units | 2,647 | 529 |
Company-Owned | 42 | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1983 | 1973 |
Franchising Since | 2017 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 9 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Atlanta, GA | Dallas, TX |
Category | Limited-Service Restaurants | Limited-Service Restaurants |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better — Jimmy John's or Smoothie King?
Lower upfront capital required
Jimmy John's
Jimmy John's: $25K starting · Smoothie King: $312K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Jimmy John's
Jimmy John's: 1,071 SBA loans · Smoothie King: 707 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Jimmy John's
Jimmy John's: 4.3% · Smoothie King: 8.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Jimmy John's
Jimmy John's: 2,689 units · Smoothie King: 529 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Jimmy John's: 6% · Smoothie King: 6%
More lender financing options
Jimmy John's
Jimmy John's: 232 unique lenders · Smoothie King: 169 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
Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Jimmy John's and Smoothie King is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $1.4M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Jimmy John's with 1,071 SBA loans and Smoothie King with 707. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.