Key West Inn vs Sunbelt Business Brokers
Key West Inn vs Sunbelt Business Brokers: Key West Inn costs $390K–$1.2M to open; Sunbelt Business Brokers costs $61K–$115K. Key West Inn has 8 units, Sunbelt Business Brokers has 130. SBA loan history: Key West Inn = 8 loans (0.0% default); Sunbelt Business Brokers = 8 loans (12.5% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Key West Inn vs Sunbelt Business Brokers — 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
Sunbelt Business Brokers requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($61K vs $390K for Key West Inn), a 535% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $15K for Key West Inn versus $50K for Sunbelt Business Brokers — Key West Inn has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 2% for Key West Inn and 4% for Sunbelt Business Brokers, giving Key West Inn the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Sunbelt Business Brokers operates 130 units to Key West Inn's 8 — roughly 16× the system size. Sunbelt Business Brokers has been operating 48 years (founded 1978) versus 37 for Key West Inn (founded 1989) — a 11-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Sunbelt Business Brokers has the deeper SBA lending track record with 8 historical 7(a) approvals versus 8 for Key West Inn. Key West Inn's peak SBA year was 2002 (2 loans); Sunbelt Business Brokers's peak was 2026 (2 loans). Sunbelt Business Brokers's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Key West Inn concentrates in AL (7 SBA-funded units) while Sunbelt Business Brokers leads in CA (2) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Key West Inn deals is $721K vs $912K for Sunbelt Business Brokers — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Key West Inn and 12.5% for Sunbelt Business Brokers — Key West Inn has the cleaner historical loss profile by 12.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 41 (Fair) for Key West Inn and 50 (Moderate) for Sunbelt Business Brokers, giving Sunbelt Business Brokers the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 41/100 | 50/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 8 | 8 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 12.5% |
Peer Tier | emerging | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $390K – $1.2M | $61K – $115K |
Franchise Fee | $15K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 2% | 4% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 4% |
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 | 8 | 130 |
Franchised Units | 8 | 129 |
Company-Owned | — | 1 |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1989 | 1978 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2006 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 20 yrs |
Headquarters | CHILDERSBURG, AL | Independence, OH |
Category | Hotels | All Other Business Support Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better — Key West Inn or Sunbelt Business Brokers?
Lower upfront capital required
Sunbelt Business Brokers
Key West Inn: $390K starting · Sunbelt Business Brokers: $61K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Tie
Key West Inn: 8 SBA loans · Sunbelt Business Brokers: 8 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Key West Inn
Key West Inn: 0.0% · Sunbelt Business Brokers: 12.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Sunbelt Business Brokers
Key West Inn: 8 units · Sunbelt Business Brokers: 130 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Key West Inn
Key West Inn: 2% · Sunbelt Business Brokers: 4%
More lender financing options
Sunbelt Business Brokers
Key West Inn: 5 unique lenders · Sunbelt Business Brokers: 7 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
Key West Inn vs Sunbelt Business Brokers: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Key West Inn and Sunbelt Business Brokers is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $61K to $1.2M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Key West Inn with 8 SBA loans and Sunbelt Business Brokers with 8. 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.