Buying a Super 8 franchise: SBA acquisition loan data
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 140 7(a) loans to buy an existing Super 8 (classified mostly as Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels), totaling $294M. The median loan was $1,953,000, 203% higher than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions. Volume rose 23% from FY2024 to FY2026. 31 of these loans were approved in the last two fiscal years.
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What this tells a buyer
- Price range to expect. Loan size tracks purchase price. Half of Super 8 resale loans landed between $1,454,000 and $2,526,250.
- Lender experience exists. GBank alone has financed 46 Super 8 resales.
- Guaranty. The SBA guaranteed 76% of the dollars lent here.
- What the file leaves out. The SBA file does not record franchisor transfer terms or fees.
Financing a Super 8 resale
The median SBA 7(a) loan for a Super 8 resale was $1,953,000 across 140 loans (FY2018 to FY2026). GBank, United Midwest Savings Bank National Association and First Western SBLC, LLC d/b/a Peachtree Group have financed the most Super 8 resales. Of 66 seasoned loans (FY2018 to FY2021), none were charged off, against the 3.5% average for all SBA acquisition loans.
Super 8 acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 15 | $36M | $2,125,000 | |
| FY2019 | 19 | $33M | $1,775,000 | |
| FY2020 | 9 | $19.9M | $2,426,000 | |
| FY2021 | 23 | $42.9M | $1,621,000 | |
| FY2022 | 17 | $43.1M | $2,495,000 | |
| FY2023 | 13 | $27.1M | $2,100,000 | |
| FY2024 | 13 | $29.2M | $1,950,000 | |
| FY2025 | 15 | $29.3M | $1,900,600 | |
| FY2026 | 16 | $33.9M | $2,009,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 66 Super 8 acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), none have been charged off by the SBA. 44 have already been paid in full.
For comparison, Super 8 has none charged off, against the 3.5% average across all SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in the same cohort. 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.
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Lenders financing Super 8 resales
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GBank | 46 | 32.9% | $99.5M | |
| 2 | United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 8 | 5.7% | $15.7M | |
| 3 | First Western SBLC, LLC d/b/a Peachtree Group | 8 | 5.7% | $11M | |
| 4 | US Metro Bank | 7 | 5.0% | $15.1M | |
| 5 | Celtic Bank Corporation | 7 | 5.0% | $13.7M | |
| 6 | Open Bank | 6 | 4.3% | $18.7M | |
| 7 | The Huntington National Bank | 5 | 3.6% | $7.2M | |
| 8 | Hanover Community Bank | 4 | 2.9% | $10M | |
| 9 | Centerstone SBA Lending, Inc. | 4 | 2.9% | $9.1M | |
| 10 | Hanmi Bank | 4 | 2.9% | $7.1M |
States where Super 8 units are bought
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | 13 | 9.3% | $28.4M | |
| 2 | North Carolina | 12 | 8.6% | $29.8M | |
| 3 | Virginia | 11 | 7.9% | $22M | |
| 4 | Indiana | 9 | 6.4% | $17.8M | |
| 5 | Texas | 8 | 5.7% | $13.9M | |
| 6 | Georgia | 7 | 5.0% | $13.8M | |
| 7 | Ohio | 7 | 5.0% | $12.7M | |
| 8 | Mississippi | 6 | 4.3% | $15.4M | |
| 9 | Iowa | 6 | 4.3% | $10.9M | |
| 10 | Missouri | 6 | 4.3% | $8.5M |
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Questions buyers ask
How much do buyers borrow to buy a Super 8 franchise?
The median SBA 7(a) loan for a Super 8 resale was $1,953,000 across 140 loans (FY2018 to FY2026). The middle half of loans ran from $1,454,000 to $2,526,250. 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 Super 8 acquisitions?
GBank has made the most SBA acquisition loans for Super 8 (46, 33% of the total). United Midwest Savings Bank National Association, First Western SBLC, LLC d/b/a Peachtree Group, US Metro Bank follow.
What interest rate and term do Super 8 acquisition loans carry?
The average initial rate at approval was 7.16% (a blend of fixed and variable loans across several rate environments, so treat it as context, not a quote). The median term was 25 years.
Is a Super 8 resale riskier than other SBA-financed acquisitions?
In the seasoned cohort (FY2018 to FY2021), none charged off, against the 3.5% average for all SBA acquisition loans.
Where are Super 8 units being bought with SBA loans?
Illinois (13), North Carolina (12), Virginia (11), Indiana (9), Texas (8). State counts follow where the brand has units and where SBA lending is most active generally; see the state pages for the overall picture.
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Related
- All Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels acquisitions
- Illinois acquisitions
- North Carolina acquisitions
- Virginia acquisitions
- GBank
- United Midwest Savings Bank National Association
- First Western SBLC, LLC d/b/a Peachtree Group
- All franchise brands
Brand name as recorded by lenders in the SBA file: "Super 8 by Wyndhan / Super 8" (franchise code S1645). Figures are aggregates of public SBA data and are not provided or endorsed by the franchisor.