My Eye Lab vs Pearle Vision
My Eye Lab vs Pearle Vision: My Eye Lab costs $350K to $539K to open; Pearle Vision costs $50K to $481K. My Eye Lab has 29 units, Pearle Vision has 128. SBA loan history: My Eye Lab = 31 loans (6.5% default); Pearle Vision = 172 loans (7.6% 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.
My Eye Lab vs Pearle Vision: 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
Pearle Vision requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $350K for My Eye Lab), a 600% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Pearle Vision operates 128 units to My Eye Lab's 29, roughly 4× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Pearle Vision has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 172 7(a) approvals compared with 31 for My Eye Lab. My Eye Lab's peak SBA year was 2021 (12 loans); Pearle Vision's peak was 1999 (18 loans). My Eye Lab's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. My Eye Lab has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 16. Pearle Vision leads in IL, with 27. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded My Eye Lab deals is $442K vs $255K for Pearle Vision, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 6.5% for My Eye Lab and 7.6% for Pearle Vision, My Eye Lab has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 38 (Fair) for My Eye Lab and 43 (Fair) for Pearle Vision, giving Pearle Vision the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 38/100 | 43/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 31 | 172 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 6.5% | 7.6% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $350K to $539K | $50K to $481K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $30K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 7% |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 29 | 128 |
Franchised Units | 29 | 128 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1961 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | AUSTIN, TX | CHICAGO, IL |
Category | Offices of Optometrists | Offices of Optometrists |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, My Eye Lab or Pearle Vision?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
My Eye Lab: $350K starting · Pearle Vision: $50K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Pearle Vision
My Eye Lab: 31 SBA loans · Pearle Vision: 172 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
My Eye Lab
My Eye Lab: 6.5% · Pearle Vision: 7.6%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
My Eye Lab: 29 units · Pearle Vision: 128 units
More lender financing options
Pearle Vision
My Eye Lab: 19 unique lenders · Pearle Vision: 52 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
My Eye Lab vs Pearle Vision: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing My Eye Lab and Pearle Vision is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $50K to $539K.
My Eye Lab has 31 SBA loans on record and Pearle Vision has 172. 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.
My Eye Lab vs Pearle Vision, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, My Eye Lab or Pearle Vision?
How much does a My Eye Lab franchise cost compared to Pearle Vision?
Can I finance My Eye Lab or Pearle Vision with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, My Eye Lab or Pearle Vision?
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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