Franchise Funding
Questions Answered

It depends on your credit, liquid capital, retirement account balance, risk tolerance, and how fast you need to fund. Most franchise buyers use a combination of 2–3 sources. Al will walk you through all four options — 401(k)/IRA rollover (ROBS), SBA loans, unsecured business credit lines, and personal term loans — and recommend the right mix for your situation.

It varies by funding type. SBA loans typically require a 10–30% cash injection plus about 10% in reserves. 401(k) rollover (ROBS) uses your retirement funds — no personal cash required beyond that. Unsecured credit lines and personal term loans generally don't require any down payment. Many buyers use ROBS to cover their SBA cash injection without taxes or early withdrawal penalties.

You still have options — they just look different. ROBS rollover has no credit requirements since you're using your own retirement funds. If your credit is in the low-to-mid 600s, we can often use a bridge loan strategy: pay down credit card balances first, which boosts your score and unlocks better terms on the main funding. Al also partners with reputable credit repair firms when that's the right path. What we don't do is promise options that don't actually exist.

Your initial consultation and soft-pull pre-qualification are free. Fees after that depend on scope. ROBS setup is $4,995 (plus Tenet Financial Group's ongoing admin fee). For SBA, unsecured credit lines, and personal loans, fees vary by deal size and complexity. You'll know every number before you commit to anything — no hidden costs, no surprises.

The initial pre-qualification uses a soft pull — no impact whatsoever. Hard inquiries only happen when you move forward with an actual application, and Al tells you before that happens. When multiple hard inquiries are needed (common for unsecured credit lines), we time and batch them to minimize score impact.

For ROBS rollovers, Tenet Financial Group takes over ongoing administration — annual plan valuations, IRS compliance, record-keeping, and support for the life of your plan. For SBA loans and credit lines, the lender handles loan servicing going forward. Al stays available for questions and additional funding rounds as your franchise grows — many clients come back for a second unit, a bridge loan for cash flow, or refinance strategy a few years in.

Yes — most franchise buyers we work with are first-time business owners. The franchise model itself is designed for buyers without prior business ownership experience. Lenders understand this and have specific products (SBA 7(a), unsecured lines, ROBS) designed for first-time owners. Al has funded thousands of first-time franchise buyers since 2009.

No. Many buyers call Al before they've signed an FDD. If you haven't picked a concept yet, Al can refer you to Best Bet Franchise Consultants(also his business) for franchise matching at no cost to you. Starting the funding conversation early often changes which franchises make sense — knowing your capital budget up front saves you from falling in love with something you can't afford.

Both. New buyers use our funding to open their first franchise. Existing owners use us for expansion (second or third unit), recapitalization, working capital, equipment financing, or refinancing. The funding options are the same — SBA, credit lines, ROBS, personal loans — they just get applied differently depending on your stage.

Three things. One: Al has purchased and run 2 franchise concepts himself — most brokers have never signed an FDD. Two:he's certified across every funding type (ROBS, unsecured credit lines, SBA loans) — you don't need three different brokers. Three: Al handles your loan packaging personally rather than handing you off to processors. His approval rate is near-perfect because his work is actually his work.