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Side by Side Comparison

Shell Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station

Quick Answer

Shell Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station: Shell Service Station costs $114K to $1.8M to open; Sunoco Service Station costs $50K to $867K. Shell Service Station has 390 units, Sunoco Service Station has 135. SBA loan history: Shell Service Station = 311 loans (5.5% default); Sunoco Service Station = 145 loans (8.3% 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.

Shell Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station: 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

Sunoco Service Station requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $114K for Shell Service Station), a 129% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Shell Service Station versus $26K for Sunoco Service Station, Sunoco Service Station has the lower entry fee.

System Scale & Tenure

On scale, Shell Service Station operates 390 units to Sunoco Service Station's 135, roughly 3× the system size.

SBA Lending Profile

Shell Service Station has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 311 7(a) approvals compared with 145 for Sunoco Service Station. Shell Service Station's peak SBA year was 2017 (35 loans); Sunoco Service Station's peak was 2007 (16 loans). Shell Service Station's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Shell Service Station has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 143. Sunoco Service Station leads in PA, with 42. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Shell Service Station deals is $786K vs $445K for Sunoco Service Station, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.

Risk Signal

SBA default rates are 5.5% for Shell Service Station and 8.3% for Sunoco Service Station, Shell Service Station has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 43 (Fair) for Shell Service Station and 36 (Fair) for Sunoco Service Station, giving Shell Service Station the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.

Shell Service Station
Shell Service Station

Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores

43 5W
Sunoco Service Station
Sunoco Service Station

Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores

36

Health & Performance

FPI Score
43/100
36/100
Health Tier
Fair
Fair
Confidence
N/A
N/A
Lending Trend
Declining
Declining

SBA Lending

SBA Loans
311
145
SBA Volume
–
–
Default Rate
5.5%
8.3%
Peer Tier
major
major

Investment & Costs

Total Investment
$114K to $1.8M
$50K to $867K
Franchise Fee
$50K
$26K
Royalty Rate
N/A
N/A
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
390
135
Franchised Units
390
135
Company Owned
–
–
Term Length
N/A
N/A

Brand Information

Year Founded
N/A
2018
Franchising Since
N/A
N/A
Years Franchising
N/A
N/A
Headquarters
LOS ANGELES, CA
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Category
Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
Website
FDD Year
N/A
N/A

Which Is Better, Shell Service Station or Sunoco Service Station?

Lower upfront capital required

Tie

Shell Service Station: $114K starting · Sunoco Service Station: $50K starting

More SBA lender confidence

Shell Service Station

Shell Service Station: 311 SBA loans · Sunoco Service Station: 145 SBA loans

Lower SBA default rate

Shell Service Station

Shell Service Station: 5.5% · Sunoco Service Station: 8.3%

Larger system & brand presence

Tie

Shell Service Station: 390 units · Sunoco Service Station: 135 units

More lender financing options

Shell Service Station

Shell Service Station: 132 unique lenders · Sunoco Service Station: 55 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.

Franchise Financing

Need Funding for Shell Service Station or Sunoco Service Station?

PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.

500+

SBA Lenders & Capital Sources

$0

Retainers or Consulting Fees

SBA 7(a)

10% Down Franchise Loans

About These Franchises

Shell Service Station

No description available.

Sunoco Service Station

No description available.

Shell Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station: Franchise Funding Comparison

Comparing Shell Service Station and Sunoco Service Station is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $50K to $1.8M.

Shell Service Station has 311 SBA loans on record and Sunoco Service Station has 145. 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.

Shell Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station, Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a better franchise investment, Shell Service Station or Sunoco Service Station?
Compare Shell Service Station vs Sunoco Service Station franchise costs, FDD data, royalty rates, unit counts, and SBA lending history side by side above. The best franchise depends on your capital, market, and risk tolerance, not a single ranking. Use the decision matrix above to see which brand wins on each financing dimension.
How much does a Shell Service Station franchise cost compared to Sunoco Service Station?
Shell Service Station requires $114K to $1.8M in total initial investment with a $50K franchise fee. Sunoco Service Station requires $50K to $867K with a $26K franchise fee. All numbers come from official Franchise Disclosure Document filings.
Can I finance Shell Service Station or Sunoco Service Station with an SBA loan?
Both brands appear on the SBA Franchise Directory and have funded SBA 7(a) loans: Shell Service Station has 311 SBA loans on record; Sunoco Service Station has 145. SBA 7(a) is the most common franchise financing vehicle, offering up to $5M with 10% down. PeerSense routes your deal to lenders who have already approved the brand.
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Shell Service Station or Sunoco Service Station?
Shell Service Station: 5.5% SBA default rate. Sunoco Service Station: 8.3% SBA default rate. Lower default rates mean lenders quote tighter rates and underwrite faster.

Talk to PeerSense

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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