Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King
Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King: Jimmy John's costs $25K to $366K to open; Smoothie King costs $312K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King: 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
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 7(a) approvals compared with 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. Jimmy John's has the most SBA funded units in IL, with 92. Smoothie King leads in TX, with 195. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer 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 SBA loss record 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 to $366K | $312K to $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 | 10 yrs |
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 | 2025 | 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 SBA 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.
Jimmy John's has 1,071 SBA loans on record and Smoothie King has 707. 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.
Jimmy John's vs Smoothie King, Frequently Asked Questions
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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