Smashburger
4 locations
The total investment to open a Smashburger franchise ranges from $243,730 - $1.0M. The initial franchise fee is $40,000. Ongoing royalties are 5% plus a 2% advertising fee. Smashburger currently operates 4 locations (4 franchised). The top SBA 7(a) lenders for Smashburger are Fulton Bank, Enterprise Bank & Trust and First Community Bank. PeerSense FPI health score: 33/100. Data sourced from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.
$243,730 - $1.0M
$40,000
4
4 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
LimitedActive capital sources verified for Smashburger financing
SBA
7(a) Eligible
21d
Avg Funding
P+2.25%
Best Rate
No retainers · Referral fee at closing
FPI Score Breakdown
Emerging (3-9 loans)
SBA Lending Performance
SBA Default Rate
20.0%
1 of 5 loans charged off
SBA Loans
5
Total Volume
$2.5M
Active Lenders
5
States
4
Top SBA Lenders for Smashburger
What is the Smashburger franchise?
Smashburger operates within the dynamic and highly competitive Limited-Service Restaurants category, a segment of the food service industry characterized by its emphasis on speed, convenience, and consistent product delivery. The brand distinguishes itself within this expansive marketplace, aiming to capture the attention of consumers seeking quality dining experiences in a quick-service format. While specific details regarding the foundational narrative, the visionary individuals who originally conceived the brand, or the precise year of its establishment are not explicitly provided within the available data, Smashburger’s presence in the market is firmly established within the Limited-Service Restaurants framework. The company's headquarters are identified as None, CA, which may suggest a particular administrative arrangement or a decentralized operational model at the corporate level. The core mission of a brand within the Limited-Service Restaurants sector is typically to offer a streamlined ordering and preparation process, ensuring that customers receive their meals promptly without compromising on taste or quality. Smashburger’s positioning in this environment necessitates a focus on differentiation, whether through its menu offerings, preparation techniques, or overall customer interaction. The competitive landscape for Limited-Service Restaurants is vast and includes numerous established players as well as emerging concepts, all vying for consumer loyalty and market share. In such an environment, a brand like Smashburger must consistently innovate and deliver on its value proposition to maintain relevance. The FPI Score for Smashburger is 33, a metric that provides an initial quantitative assessment of its franchise potential and overall brand health within the franchising ecosystem. This score offers a benchmark for evaluating the brand's attractiveness as an investment, though the specific criteria contributing to this numerical value are not detailed. With
FPI Score
33/100
SBA Default Rate
20.0%
Active Lenders
5
Key Highlights
Franchise Financing Resources
Data Insights
Key performance metrics for Smashburger based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
20.0%
1 of 5 loans charged off
SBA Loan Volume
5 loans
Across 5 lenders
Lender Diversity
5 lenders
Avg 1.0 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Significant investment
$243,730 – $1,048,500 total
Smashburger — 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
2016
3 approvals — best year on record for Smashburger.
Top SBA State
California
2 SBA-financed Smashburger locations — the densest operator footprint.
Average Loan Size
$603K
Median $450K — use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own $Smashburger unit.
Lender Concentration
38.5%
Moderately Spread
Share of Smashburger approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.
Smashburger's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 2016 (3 approvals). The last five fiscal years account for 60% of cumulative volume ($1.4M approved). Operator density is highest in California with 2 SBA-financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $603K, with the median at $450K. Lender mix is moderately spread: the top three SBA lenders account for 38.5% of approvals — meaningful choice exists but specific lenders carry the brand.
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,523
Principal & Interest only
Locations
Smashburger — unit breakdown
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