Buying a Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchise: SBA acquisition loan data
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 10 7(a) loans to buy an existing Bruster's Real Ice Cream (classified mostly as Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars), totaling $7M. The median loan was $569,550, 12% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions.
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What this tells a buyer
- Price range to expect. Loan size tracks purchase price. Half of Bruster's Real Ice Cream resale loans landed between $357,750 and $940,500.
- Lender experience exists. United Community Bank alone has financed 2 Bruster's Real Ice Cream resales.
- Guaranty. The SBA guaranteed 75% of the dollars lent here.
- What the file leaves out. The SBA file does not record franchisor transfer terms or fees.
Financing a Bruster's Real Ice Cream resale
The median SBA 7(a) loan for a Bruster's Real Ice Cream resale was $569,550 across 10 loans (FY2018 to FY2026). United Community Bank, Pinnacle Bank and Fifth Third Bank have financed the most Bruster's Real Ice Cream resales. Too few of these loans are old enough to measure a charge-off rate; the average for all SBA acquisition loans is 3.5%.
Bruster's Real Ice Cream acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 3 | $2M | $441,000 | |
| FY2019 | 1 | $295K | $294,500 | |
| FY2020 | 1 | $762K | $762,000 | |
| FY2021 | 1 | $332K | $332,000 | |
| FY2022 | 3 | $3.5M | $1,000,000 | |
| FY2023 | 0 | $0 | - | |
| FY2024 | 1 | $138K | $138,000 | |
| FY2025 | 0 | $0 | - | |
| FY2026 | 0 | $0 | - |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Fewer than 20 Bruster's Real Ice Cream acquisition loans are old enough to measure losses reliably, so no charge-off rate is shown. The benchmark across all SBA acquisition loans in the FY2018 to FY2021 cohort is 3.5% by count. Non-acquisition 7(a) loans (every other stated purpose) approved FY2018 to FY2021 charged off at 6.2%.
"Charged off" is the SBA's final loss action on a defaulted loan after collection efforts. It lags default by a year or more, which is why only older cohorts are measured. It is not the same as a delinquency rate, and loans still outstanding can still fail. See charge-off in the glossary.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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Lenders financing Bruster's Real Ice Cream resales
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Community Bank | 2 | 20.0% | $2.9M | |
| 2 | Pinnacle Bank | 1 | 10.0% | $1M | |
| 3 | Fifth Third Bank | 1 | 10.0% | $762K | |
| 4 | TowneBank | 1 | 10.0% | $698K | |
| 5 | BayFirst National Bank | 1 | 10.0% | $441K | |
| 6 | Northwest Bank | 1 | 10.0% | $435K | |
| 7 | SouthState Bank, National Association | 1 | 10.0% | $332K | |
| 8 | PNC Bank, National Association | 1 | 10.0% | $295K | |
| 9 | Bank of Travelers Rest | 1 | 10.0% | $138K |
States where Bruster's Real Ice Cream units are bought
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | 3 | 30.0% | $2M | |
| 2 | North Carolina | 3 | 30.0% | $1.5M | |
| 3 | Georgia | 2 | 20.0% | $2.8M | |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | 2 | 20.0% | $730K |
That draft favors the seller. We review it for the buyer, line by line.
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How lenders classify Bruster's Real Ice Cream
Lenders code each loan to a NAICS industry. For Bruster's Real Ice Cream the codes used were:
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars | 7 | 70.0% | $5.8M | |
| 2 | All Other Specialty Food Retailers | 2 | 20.0% | $767K | |
| 3 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 1 | 10.0% | $441K |
Questions buyers ask
How much do buyers borrow to buy a Bruster's Real Ice Cream franchise?
The median SBA 7(a) loan for a Bruster's Real Ice Cream resale was $569,550 across 10 loans (FY2018 to FY2026). The middle half of loans ran from $357,750 to $940,500. The loan excludes the buyer's equity and any seller note and may include working capital, so the price is usually higher than the loan.
Which banks finance Bruster's Real Ice Cream acquisitions?
United Community Bank has made the most SBA acquisition loans for Bruster's Real Ice Cream (2, 20% of the total). Pinnacle Bank, Fifth Third Bank, TowneBank follow.
What interest rate and term do Bruster's Real Ice Cream acquisition loans carry?
The average initial rate at approval was 6.30% (a blend of fixed and variable loans across several rate environments, so treat it as context, not a quote). The median term was 15 years.
Is a Bruster's Real Ice Cream resale riskier than other SBA-financed acquisitions?
Too few Bruster's Real Ice Cream acquisition loans are old enough to measure. The benchmark for all SBA acquisition loans is 3.5% charged off in the FY2018 to FY2021 cohort.
Where are Bruster's Real Ice Cream units being bought with SBA loans?
South Carolina (3), North Carolina (3), Georgia (2), Pennsylvania (2). State counts follow where the brand has units and where SBA lending is most active generally; see the state pages for the overall picture.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
Submit Transaction DetailsAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
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Related
- All Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars acquisitions
- South Carolina acquisitions
- North Carolina acquisitions
- Georgia acquisitions
- United Community Bank
- Pinnacle Bank
- Fifth Third Bank
- All franchise brands
Brand name as recorded by lenders in the SBA file: "Bruster's Real Ice Cream" (franchise code S0263). Figures are aggregates of public SBA data and are not provided or endorsed by the franchisor.