How much do lenders finance for a Tim Hortons franchise?

The median SBA loan approved for a Tim Hortons franchise is $349,700, with the middle 80% of loans between $100,000 and $707,000. That is the financed portion only - it excludes the buyer's equity injection. SBA lenders typically want that injection at 10% or more of total project cost for a business acquisition or new franchise unit.

Which lenders finance Tim Hortons franchises?

By dollars approved, the most active SBA lenders for Tim Hortons have been Fulton Bank, Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Hanover Community Bank, First Merchants Bank. Many franchise brands also maintain their own preferred-lender lists, and those may differ from who has historically approved the most volume.

How long are Tim Hortons SBA loans?

The median term is 10 yr. SBA 7(a) terms run up to 10 years for working capital and equipment, and up to 25 years when the loan is secured by real estate - so a longer median usually means the loans included property.

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Franchise financing

Financing a Tim Hortons franchise

SBA lenders have approved 39 loans against the Tim Hortons brand since FY2010, totalling $18.4M. The median approval was $349,700, counted from loans lenders approved rather than projections in a disclosure document.

Rank by loan count

#574

of 1,651 brands

Loans approved

FY2010 onward

Median loan

$349,700

Typical range

$100K-$707K

Middle 80% of loans

Median term

10 yr

Charge-off rate

Cohort too small

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA data, as of 2026-06-30. Approvals from FY2010 onward. How we calculate this.

Lenders

Who financed Tim Hortons

Lender	Loans	Approved
Fulton Bank	1	$3.4M
Michigan Certified Development Corporation	4	$2.1M
Hanover Community Bank	1	$2.0M
First Merchants Bank	1	$1.7M
KeyBank	6	$1.2M
Waterford Bank	3	$1.1M
Isabella Bank	3	$991K
Citizens Bank	2	$980K

Geography

Where Tim Hortons units were financed

State	Loans	Share
Michigan	22
New York	12
New Jersey	2
North Dakota	1
Virginia	1
Delaware	1

The industry codes most often recorded on Tim Hortons loans: Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Baked Goods Retailers (445291). Each industry page lists the lenders and other brands in the same line of business.

Approvals by fiscal year

’13

’14

’15

’17

’18

’20

’21

’24

’25

Loan count by fiscal year - a rough proxy for how fast the brand was opening units. Final bar is a partial year.

Loan sizes

Under $50K
3%
$50K - $150K
18%
$150K - $350K
31%
$350K - $1M
41%
$1M - $2M
5%
Over $2M
3%

Financing a franchise unit

Guidant Financial

Funds business and franchise buyers through 401(k) rollovers (ROBS), SBA loans, and portfolio lending, often combining them in one structure. Rollover structures are common among franchise buyers because they can supply the equity injection an SBA loan requires without taking on a second loan to do it.

Check options with Guidant Financial

Approved referral partner. We may be paid when a reader we refer starts an application. It changes nothing about the figures on this page. Those come from the SBA’s federal file.

An SBA 7(a) lender

An SBA 7(a) lender and marketplace for loans up to $500,000, plus bank term loans and custom financing. You apply on their site - we do not take applications and never see your information.

Check options with SmartBiz

We may be paid if you apply through this link. It does not change what we publish, and no lender can buy a place in our rankings. Details.

Financing a Tim Hortons: common questions

How much do lenders finance for a Tim Hortons franchise?: The median SBA loan approved for a Tim Hortons franchise is $349,700, with the middle 80% of loans between $100,000 and $707,000. That is the financed portion only - it excludes the buyer's equity injection. SBA lenders typically want that injection at 10% or more of total project cost for a business acquisition or new franchise unit.
Which lenders finance Tim Hortons franchises?: By dollars approved, the most active SBA lenders for Tim Hortons have been Fulton Bank, Michigan Certified Development Corporation, Hanover Community Bank, First Merchants Bank. Many franchise brands also maintain their own preferred-lender lists, and those may differ from who has historically approved the most volume.
How long are Tim Hortons SBA loans?: The median term is 10 yr. SBA 7(a) terms run up to 10 years for working capital and equipment, and up to 25 years when the loan is secured by real estate - so a longer median usually means the loans included property.

Compare other brands

Median loan size and charge-off rate across every franchise in the SBA record.

SBA lenders for franchises

Lenders ranked by franchise loans made, with the brands each one financed.

How SBA 7(a) works

The programme most franchise buyers use, explained end to end.

Buying a franchise with an SBA loan

Equity injection, the franchise directory, and what lenders check.

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