Tastings vs Wine Design
Tastings vs Wine Design: Tastings costs $25K to $547K to open; Wine Design costs $58K to $156K. Tastings has 2 units, Wine Design has 6. SBA loan history: Tastings = 7 loans (57.1% default); Wine Design = 9 loans (22.2% 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.
Tastings vs Wine Design: 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
Tastings requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $58K for Wine Design), a 57% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Tastings versus $25K for Wine Design. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Tastings and 6% for Wine Design, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Wine Design operates 6 units to Tastings's 2, roughly 3× the system size. Tastings has been operating 24 years (founded 2002) versus 16 for Wine Design (founded 2010), a 8-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Wine Design has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 9 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for Tastings. Tastings's peak SBA year was 2008 (5 loans); Wine Design's peak was 2019 (4 loans). Wine Design's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Tastings has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 4. Wine Design leads in NC, with 3. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Tastings deals is $274K vs $114K for Wine Design, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 57.1% for Tastings and 22.2% for Wine Design, Wine Design has the cleaner SBA loss record by 34.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 20 (Fair) for Tastings and 19 (Fair) for Wine Design, giving Tastings the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 20/100 | 19/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 7 | 9 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 57.1% | 22.2% |
Peer Tier | emerging | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $25K to $547K | $58K to $156K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
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 | 2 | 6 |
Franchised Units | 2 | 6 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | ARLINGTON, TX | FAYETTEVILLE, NC |
Category | Drinking Places | Drinking Places |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Tastings or Wine Design?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Tastings: $25K starting · Wine Design: $58K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Wine Design
Tastings: 7 SBA loans · Wine Design: 9 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Wine Design
Tastings: 57.1% · Wine Design: 22.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Tastings: 2 units · Wine Design: 6 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Tastings: 6% · Wine Design: 6%
More lender financing options
Wine Design
Tastings: 2 unique lenders · Wine Design: 8 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
Tastings vs Wine Design: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Tastings and Wine Design is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $547K.
Tastings has 7 SBA loans on record and Wine Design has 9. 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.
Tastings vs Wine Design, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Tastings or Wine Design?
How much does a Tastings franchise cost compared to Wine Design?
Can I finance Tastings or Wine Design with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Tastings or Wine Design?
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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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