Pet Supplies Plus vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA
Pet Supplies Plus vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: Pet Supplies Plus costs $350K to $959K to open; WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA costs $95K to $195K. Pet Supplies Plus has 187 units, WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA has 40. SBA loan history: Pet Supplies Plus = 240 loans (2.1% 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.
Pet Supplies Plus 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
WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($95K vs $350K for Pet Supplies Plus), a 269% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Pet Supplies Plus versus $25K for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 2% for Pet Supplies Plus and 4.5% for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, giving Pet Supplies Plus the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Pet Supplies Plus operates 187 units to WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA's 40, roughly 5× the system size. WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA has been operating 41 years (founded 1985) versus 38 for Pet Supplies Plus (founded 1988), a 3-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Pet Supplies Plus has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 240 7(a) approvals compared with 44 for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 2.1% for Pet Supplies Plus and 18.2% for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, Pet Supplies Plus has the cleaner SBA loss record by 16.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 70 (Strong) for Pet Supplies Plus and 28 (Fair) for WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, giving Pet Supplies Plus the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 70/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 240 | 44 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 2.1% | 18.2% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $350K to $959K | $95K to $195K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 2% | 4.5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $200K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $600K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 187 | 40 |
Franchised Units | 187 | 40 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1988 | 1985 |
Franchising Since | 2022 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 4 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | EDISON, NJ | Glen Echo, MD |
Category | Pet | Pet |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Pet Supplies Plus or WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Pet Supplies Plus: $350K starting · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: $95K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Pet Supplies Plus
Pet Supplies Plus: 240 SBA loans · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 44 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Pet Supplies Plus
Pet Supplies Plus: 2.1% · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 18.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Pet Supplies Plus: 187 units · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 40 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Pet Supplies Plus
Pet Supplies Plus: 2% · WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: 4.5%
More lender financing options
Pet Supplies Plus
Pet Supplies Plus: 67 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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About These Franchises
Pet Supplies Plus vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Pet Supplies Plus 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 $95K to $959K.
Pet Supplies Plus has 240 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.
Pet Supplies Plus vs WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Pet Supplies Plus or WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA?
How much does a Pet Supplies Plus franchise cost compared to WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA?
Can I finance Pet Supplies Plus or WILD BIRD CENTERS OF AMERICA with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Pet Supplies Plus 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; 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