Medicap Pharmacy vs MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL
Medicap Pharmacy vs MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: Medicap Pharmacy costs $50K to $409K to open; MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL costs $4K to $26K. Medicap Pharmacy has 96 units, MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL has 101. SBA loan history: Medicap Pharmacy = 131 loans (3.8% default); MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL = 116 loans (6.0% 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.
Medicap Pharmacy vs MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: 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
MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($4K vs $50K for Medicap Pharmacy), a 1281% spread. Ongoing royalty load is 3% for Medicap Pharmacy and 3% for MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL operates 101 units to Medicap Pharmacy's 96. MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL has been operating 56 years (founded 1970) versus 55 for Medicap Pharmacy (founded 1971), a 1-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Medicap Pharmacy has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 131 7(a) approvals compared with 116 for MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 3.8% for Medicap Pharmacy and 6.0% for MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL, Medicap Pharmacy has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 54 (Moderate) for Medicap Pharmacy and 48 (Fair) for MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL, giving Medicap Pharmacy the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 54/100 | 48/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 131 | 116 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 3.8% | 6.0% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $50K to $409K | $4K to $26K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 3% | 3% |
Ad Fund | 0.5% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 96 | 101 |
Franchised Units | 96 | 101 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1971 | 1970 |
Franchising Since | 2025 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 1 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | ATLANTIC, IA | Dublin, OH |
Category | Pharmacies | Pharmacies |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Medicap Pharmacy or MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL?
Lower upfront capital required
MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL
Medicap Pharmacy: $50K starting · MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: $4K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Medicap Pharmacy
Medicap Pharmacy: 131 SBA loans · MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: 116 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Medicap Pharmacy
Medicap Pharmacy: 3.8% · MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: 6.0%
Larger system & brand presence
MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL
Medicap Pharmacy: 96 units · MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: 101 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Medicap Pharmacy: 3% · MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: 3%
More lender financing options
Medicap Pharmacy
Medicap Pharmacy: 61 unique lenders · MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: 54 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
Medicap Pharmacy vs MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Medicap Pharmacy and MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $4K to $409K.
Medicap Pharmacy has 131 SBA loans on record and MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL has 116. 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.
Medicap Pharmacy vs MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Medicap Pharmacy or MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL?
How much does a Medicap Pharmacy franchise cost compared to MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL?
Can I finance Medicap Pharmacy or MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Medicap Pharmacy or MEDICINE SHOPPE INTERNATIONAL?
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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