Natures Pet Marketearthwise vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA
Natures Pet Marketearthwise vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: Natures Pet Marketearthwise costs $28K to $332K to open; WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA costs $95K to $195K. Natures Pet Marketearthwise has 10 units, WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA has 40. SBA loan history: Natures Pet Marketearthwise = 14 loans (7.1% default); WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA = 44 loans (18.2% 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.
Natures Pet Marketearthwise vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 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
Natures Pet Marketearthwise requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($28K vs $95K for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA), a 70% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA operates 40 units to Natures Pet Marketearthwise's 10, roughly 4× the system size. WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA has been operating 41 years (founded 1985) versus 21 for Natures Pet Marketearthwise (founded 2005), a 20-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 44 7(a) approvals compared with 14 for Natures Pet Marketearthwise.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.1% for Natures Pet Marketearthwise and 18.2% for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, Natures Pet Marketearthwise has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 46 (Fair) for Natures Pet Marketearthwise and 28 (Fair) for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, giving Natures Pet Marketearthwise the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 46/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 14 | 44 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.1% | 18.2% |
Peer Tier | growing | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $28K to $332K | $95K to $195K |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $25K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 4.5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
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 | 10 | 40 |
Franchised Units | 10 | 40 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2005 | 1985 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Woodinville, WA | Glen Echo, MD |
Category | Pet | Pet |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Natures Pet Marketearthwise or WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Natures Pet Marketearthwise: $28K starting · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: $95K starting
More SBA lender confidence
WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA
Natures Pet Marketearthwise: 14 SBA loans · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 44 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Natures Pet Marketearthwise
Natures Pet Marketearthwise: 7.1% · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 18.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Natures Pet Marketearthwise: 10 units · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 40 units
More lender financing options
WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA
Natures Pet Marketearthwise: 10 unique lenders · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 28 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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Natures Pet Marketearthwise vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Natures Pet Marketearthwise and WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $28K to $332K.
Natures Pet Marketearthwise has 14 SBA loans on record and WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA has 44. 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.
Natures Pet Marketearthwise vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Natures Pet Marketearthwise or WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA?
How much does a Natures Pet Marketearthwise franchise cost compared to WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA?
Can I finance Natures Pet Marketearthwise or WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Natures Pet Marketearthwise or WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA?
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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
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