Buying a Wild Birds Unlimited franchise: SBA acquisition loan data
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 27 7(a) loans to buy an existing Wild Birds Unlimited (classified mostly as Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers), totaling $13.1M. The median loan was $445,300, 31% lower than the $645,250 median for all SBA-financed acquisitions. 5 of these loans were approved in the last two fiscal years.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
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What this tells a buyer
- Price range to expect. Loan size tracks purchase price. Half of Wild Birds Unlimited resale loans landed between $311,650 and $549,500.
- Lender experience exists. First Business Bank alone has financed 5 Wild Birds Unlimited resales.
- Guaranty. The SBA guaranteed 78% of the dollars lent here.
- What the file leaves out. The SBA file does not record franchisor transfer terms or fees.
Financing a Wild Birds Unlimited resale
The median SBA 7(a) loan for a Wild Birds Unlimited resale was $445,300 across 27 loans (FY2018 to FY2026). First Business Bank, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company and Stearns Bank National Association have financed the most Wild Birds Unlimited 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%.
Wild Birds Unlimited acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 2 | $403K | $201,400 | |
| FY2019 | 4 | $1.3M | $321,000 | |
| FY2020 | 1 | $325K | $325,000 | |
| FY2021 | 7 | $4.5M | $486,000 | |
| FY2022 | 4 | $2.5M | $485,150 | |
| FY2023 | 2 | $765K | $382,550 | |
| FY2024 | 2 | $956K | $478,000 | |
| FY2025 | 2 | $629K | $314,600 | |
| FY2026 | 3 | $1.7M | $583,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Fewer than 20 Wild Birds Unlimited 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.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
Lenders financing Wild Birds Unlimited resales
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Business Bank | 5 | 18.5% | $2.1M | |
| 2 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 4 | 14.8% | $3.6M | |
| 3 | Stearns Bank National Association | 3 | 11.1% | $1.1M | |
| 4 | The Bancorp Bank National Association | 3 | 11.1% | $948K | |
| 5 | BayFirst National Bank | 2 | 7.4% | $778K | |
| 6 | Busey Bank | 1 | 3.7% | $1.1M | |
| 7 | DFCU Financial | 1 | 3.7% | $583K | |
| 8 | First Bank of the Lake | 1 | 3.7% | $523K | |
| 9 | Simmons Bank | 1 | 3.7% | $499K | |
| 10 | ConnectOne Bank | 1 | 3.7% | $445K |
States where Wild Birds Unlimited units are bought
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 3 | 11.1% | $1.6M | |
| 2 | North Carolina | 3 | 11.1% | $838K | |
| 3 | Florida | 2 | 7.4% | $1.1M | |
| 4 | Michigan | 2 | 7.4% | $923K | |
| 5 | Texas | 2 | 7.4% | $844K | |
| 6 | New Mexico | 1 | 3.7% | $1.6M | |
| 7 | Colorado | 1 | 3.7% | $1.1M | |
| 8 | Virginia | 1 | 3.7% | $607K | |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 1 | 3.7% | $523K | |
| 10 | Missouri | 1 | 3.7% | $499K |
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
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How lenders classify Wild Birds Unlimited
Lenders code each loan to a NAICS industry. For Wild Birds Unlimited the codes used were:
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers | 19 | 70.4% | $9.5M | |
| 2 | All Other Miscellaneous Retailers | 4 | 14.8% | $1.3M | |
| 3 | Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers | 1 | 3.7% | $1.1M | |
| 4 | Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers | 1 | 3.7% | $312K |
Questions buyers ask
How much do buyers borrow to buy a Wild Birds Unlimited franchise?
The median SBA 7(a) loan for a Wild Birds Unlimited resale was $445,300 across 27 loans (FY2018 to FY2026). The middle half of loans ran from $311,650 to $549,500. 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 Wild Birds Unlimited acquisitions?
First Business Bank has made the most SBA acquisition loans for Wild Birds Unlimited (5, 19% of the total). First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Stearns Bank National Association, The Bancorp Bank National Association follow.
What interest rate and term do Wild Birds Unlimited acquisition loans carry?
The average initial rate at approval was 7.60% (a blend of fixed and variable loans across several rate environments, so treat it as context, not a quote). The median term was 10 years.
Is a Wild Birds Unlimited resale riskier than other SBA-financed acquisitions?
Too few Wild Birds Unlimited 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 Wild Birds Unlimited units being bought with SBA loans?
Georgia (3), North Carolina (3), Florida (2), Michigan (2), Texas (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 Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers acquisitions
- Georgia acquisitions
- North Carolina acquisitions
- Florida acquisitions
- First Business Bank
- First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company
- Stearns Bank National Association
- All franchise brands
Brand name as recorded by lenders in the SBA file: "Wild Birds Unlimited" (franchise code S1925). Figures are aggregates of public SBA data and are not provided or endorsed by the franchisor.