Farmer Boys-Brea
The total investment to open a Farmer Boys-Brea franchise ranges from $360,000 to $1M. The initial franchise fee is $45,000. Ongoing royalties are 5% plus a 3% advertising fee.
What is the Farmer Boys-Brea franchise?
Farmer Boysbrea operates in the Limited Service Restaurants sector, serving consumers who want freshly prepared meals with the convenience required by busy daily schedules. Specific founding details are not publicly available. The brand has 22 total units, with 29 franchised locations and zero company owned units stated in the available information. Its structure centers on independent franchise operators rather than company owned restaurants. Limited service restaurants serve a broad market valued at over $898 billion in 2023. Within that market, Farmer Boysbrea uses a franchised operating model that can support local management and community involvement. The format is suited to customers seeking speed and substance, including people buying quick lunches and families looking for convenient dinners. The brand's stated operating scale includes 29 active locations, giving it a presence across the competitive quick service restaurant sector. Continued operation across multiple locations indicates an established system, even though detailed founding history is unavailable.
The Limited Service Restaurants industry is projected to exceed $900 billion in 2024 and is expected to post a Compound Annual Growth Rate of approximately 4.5% over the next five years. Consumer demand is supported by the desire for convenience, fresh ingredients, and flavorful food served quickly. Busy schedules among younger consumers and dual income households also increase demand for accessible dining choices. Urbanization concentrates customers in areas where localized restaurant options can serve nearby demand. Consumers continue to seek value for money, which supports the sector's expansion. Technology is another industry factor, including online ordering platforms, mobile applications, and third party delivery services. These channels contribute an estimated 15% to 20% of sales for many modern limited service brands. Franchise investors are drawn to the sector because it can offer established operating models, scalable units, and more than one revenue source. Competition is intense, but brands may create room for growth through distinct products, efficient operations, or a strong regional presence. The market remains fragmented, with no single company holding an overwhelming share. The top 50 limited service restaurant chains account for a substantial portion of sales, while thousands of smaller regional brands also generate significant economic activity and create opportunities for new unit development.
A Farmer Boysbrea investment requires review of the full initial capital requirement. The available information does not state the franchise fee, liquid capital requirement, net worth requirement, royalty, or advertising fee. Its total initial investment is stated as $360,000 to $1.00 million. That range places the concept among limited service restaurant opportunities whose initial costs can vary from $200,000 for smaller, simpler concepts to well over $1.5 million for larger build outs or multi unit commitments. Since the brand specific recurring fees are not stated, buyers may compare the opportunity with common industry royalty ranges of 4% to 8% of gross sales and advertising fee ranges of 1% to 4%. Buyers should seek the actual recurring fee terms during their review of the franchise offering and through conversations with the franchisor or existing franchisees. The $360,000 to $1.00 million initial investment generally covers leasehold improvements, equipment, initial inventory, signs, grand opening marketing, and working capital for the early operating period. Equipment and fixtures may represent 20% to 30% of total investment. Leasehold improvements may represent 30% to 50%, depending on the condition of the space and the required customization. Working capital supports payroll, utilities, supplies, and other expenses before the restaurant reaches positive cash flow. For a concept of this scale, working capital is often recommended for 3 to 6 months and may range from $30,000 to $100,000. The investment therefore calls for careful planning before a buyer commits capital to opening and operating a unit.
Farmer Boysbrea's operating model is built around the efficiency and consistency expected of a limited service restaurant. Daily responsibilities generally include supervising a compact team, preparing food, maintaining quality control, and serving customers. A typical location might employ 8 to 15 people, including a general manager, assistant managers, and front line team members. Staffing needs depend on operating hours and sales volume. Potential real estate formats include inline locations in shopping centers, end cap units with drive through capability, and freestanding buildings. Each format can affect visibility, access, and the movement of employees and customers through the operation. The specific dimensions and construction requirements would be provided in the Franchise Disclosure Document. As a general industry reference, limited service restaurants commonly occupy 1,200 to 2,500 square feet. Training would generally cover operating procedures, marketing, inventory management, point of sale systems, and human resources. Initial classroom instruction often lasts 1 to 3 weeks, followed by 2 to 4 weeks of hands on training at an operating location. This preparation is intended to help franchisees and their core managers open and run the unit. Ongoing corporate support would likely include operating reviews, marketing help for national or regional campaigns, supply chain assistance, and access to operating manuals and updates. The territory structure is not specifically detailed, but franchise systems commonly define an exclusive operating area to limit internal competition. Specific multi unit requirements are also not disclosed. Many limited service franchisors encourage or require qualified candidates to develop more than one unit, which can increase brand coverage and provide operating efficiencies for the franchisee.
Buyers must build their own financial analysis using available operating information, industry benchmarks, and local market assumptions. Results vary with location, menu pricing, brand recognition, and operating efficiency. These margins reflect food costs of 25% to 35%, labor costs of 25% to 35%, and occupancy costs of 5% to 10%. Farmer Boysbrea has a Loan Activity Score of 40, categorized as Fair. PeerSense uses the Franchise Performance Index as an independent measure of a franchise system's health and attractiveness. The score considers factors such as growth, franchisee satisfaction, financial strength, and support. A Fair score indicates a system with foundational strengths that may also have areas for improvement. It places the brand in the middle range of the broader franchise opportunity set rather than in the Good or Excellent categories. Broader demand and technology adoption in the limited service sector provide general context for potential earnings, but they do not replace a brand specific financial analysis.
Farmer Boysbrea has 29 franchised units and 22 total units stated in the available information, indicating a measurable presence in the Limited Service Restaurants sector. The stated unit structure includes 29 active franchised locations and zero company owned units, reflecting a pure franchise model. This approach may reduce the franchisor's need for direct unit capital, while placing greater responsibility for new unit growth on recruiting and supporting franchise partners. At this size, meaningful expansion would generally depend on selecting markets with room for development and attracting qualified operators who can manage more than one location. The Loan Activity Score of 40, or Fair, suggests that growth may be steady rather than explosive, with an emphasis on sustainable development instead of uncontrolled expansion. Industry demand for locally sourced ingredients and customizable menu choices gives Farmer Boysbrea potential ways to refine its offering. A limited service brand's competitive position commonly depends on a menu that fits local preferences, operating processes that support speed and consistency, a recognizable identity, and real estate that provides visibility and access. Farmer Boysbrea's ability to stand out would depend on its product offering and customer experience being strong enough to generate repeat visits and positive word of mouth. Digital ordering, third party delivery, and digital marketing are also relevant to restaurant growth. Third party delivery can account for 10% to 25% of sales for many brands. A franchise system that adopts these tools effectively may extend its reach, improve convenience, support unit economics, and attract additional customers.
The intended Farmer Boysbrea franchisee would generally bring operating ability, financial capacity, and customer service experience in food service. Experience managing or owning a restaurant, especially in a high volume setting, would be useful. Candidates should be able to lead and motivate a team of 8 to 15 employees while following the established operating system. Specific liquid capital and net worth requirements are not available. However, the $360,000 to $1.00 million initial investment indicates a need for substantial personal financial resources to cover construction, initial inventory, and working capital without excessive strain. Community involvement can help a neighborhood restaurant build its first customer base and develop long term loyalty. Farmer Boysbrea may also favor candidates who want to develop more than one location. Although multi unit development is not expressly identified as a requirement, owners of several units may gain efficiencies in management, marketing, and supply chain activity while contributing more to overall market coverage. Available territories would likely be selected as expansion areas by the franchisor, with attention to customer demographics, traffic, and visibility. The period from signing the franchise agreement to opening can vary with real estate acquisition, permits, construction, and training. A typical timeframe is 6 to 12 months. The exact franchise agreement term is not available. Standard franchise agreements commonly run for 10 to 20 years and may include renewal options, giving franchisees time to build equity and pursue a return on their investment.
Farmer Boysbrea offers a limited service restaurant opportunity with 29 franchised units, 22 total units stated in the available information, and a Loan Activity Score of 40, categorized as Fair. The broader industry exceeds $900 billion in projected 2024 market value and benefits from demand for convenience, quality, and value. Farmer Boysbrea's total initial investment is $360,000 to $1.00 million, a substantial commitment that may suit an owner operator or operating team with adequate financial resources and restaurant experience. The stated structure includes zero company owned units and centers expansion on franchise partners. Training and ongoing corporate support are expected components of the operating relationship, while the buyer should confirm the exact services, fees, territory protections, and other obligations in the franchise documents. Urbanization, online ordering, mobile applications, and digital delivery channels are among the broader factors that may support future sector growth. A buyer considering the opportunity should compare the investment with local demand, staffing needs, real estate costs, working capital requirements, and the financial results that can reasonably be supported by the planned location. PeerSense provides independent franchise information for evaluating opportunities such as Farmer Boysbrea and does not act as a lender.
Loan Activity Score
40/100
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
Active Lenders
9
According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, Farmer Boys-Brea has 29 locations, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 9 lenders made 31 loans to franchisees of Farmer Boys-Brea. PeerSense calculates Farmer Boys-Brea's score as 40 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity.
Franchising since 1981 · 29 locations
$360,000 to $1M
$45,000
29
29 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
FairDistinct lenders in public SBA records for Farmer Boys-Brea
31
Total SBA loans
$734K
Average loan size
Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025
Referral fee at closing
SBA Lending Activity for Farmer Boys-Brea
Loan Activity Score Breakdown
Established (25 to 99 loans)
Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.
Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.
Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.
FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.
Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.
SBA Lending Performance
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
vs 10.3% peer avg
SBA Loans
31
Total Volume
$22.7M
Active Lenders
9
States
1
vs. SBA Sector Average
SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors
Key Highlights
Franchise Financing Resources
Data Insights
Key performance metrics for Farmer Boys-Brea based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
10.3% below peer avg
SBA Loan Volume
31 loans
Across 9 lenders
Lender Diversity
9 lenders
Avg 3.4 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Significant investment
$360,000 to $1,000,000 total
Farmer Boys-Brea: Deep SBA Data
Brand specific metrics derived directly from SBA 7(a) approval records: peak lending year, leading state, average loan size, and lender concentration. PeerSense computes these per brand so capital advisors and prospective franchisees can benchmark this opportunity against the rest of the franchise universe.
Peak SBA Year
2002
8 approvals. The best year on record for Farmer Boys-Brea.
Top SBA State
California
31 SBA financed Farmer Boys-Brea locations, the densest operator footprint.
Average Loan Size
$734K
Median $750K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own Farmer Boys-Brea unit.
Lender Concentration
74.2%
Concentrated
Share of Farmer Boys-Brea approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.
Farmer Boys-Brea's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 2002 (8 approvals). Operator density is highest in California with 31 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $734K, with the median at $750K. Lender mix is concentrated: the top three SBA lenders account for 74.2% of approvals. Credit decisions concentrate with a small group of incumbents.
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,727
Principal & Interest only
Indicative only, as of October 1, 2026. Not a quote, commitment or offer of credit. Final pricing, leverage and terms are determined by the lender at underwriting, after full transaction materials are reviewed. PeerSense sources the file. The lender sets pricing. What these terms mean.
Locations
Farmer Boys-Brea, unit breakdown
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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