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ApplePie Capital franchise financing review
Last updated:
Term loans and more for new and established franchisees in all 50 states.
finder.com’s rating: 3.4 / 5.0
★★★★★
- Best for funding large expenses for a franchise
- Pick something else if you need under $100,000
$100,000
Min. Amount
$10,000,000
Max. Amount
Details
| Product Name | ApplePie Core business loans |
|---|---|
| Min. Amount | $100,000 |
| Max. Amount | $10,000,000 |
| Loan Term | 60 to 120 months |
| Min. Credit Score | 660 |
| APR | 6.5% to 9% |
| Requirements | Operate an eligible franchise, 660+ credit score, personal assets to fully secure the loan, additional based on financing type |
Expert review
Review by
Anna Serio
anna.serio@finder.comAnna Serio is a trusted lending expert and certified Commercial Loan Officer who's published more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. A former editor of a newspaper in Beirut, Anna writes about personal, student, business and car loans. Today, digital publications like Business Insider, CNBC and the Simple Dollar feature her professional commentary, and she earned an Expert Contributor in Finance badge from review site Best Company in 2020.
Expert review
ApplePie Capital offers financing tailored to franchises with competitive rates that stop below where many other business lenders start. It directly funds loans for both new and established franchises and can help connect your business with an SBA lender or equipment financing.
But it’s ideal not for small expenses. Its loans start at $100,000 — and you’ll need strong personal credit and assets to qualify. Its connection service might not be worth it, since its broker fees are relatively steep.
How much will this loan cost me?
ApplePie Capital loans came with rates from 6.5% to 9%, including an origination fee of 3.5% to 5% as of September, 2019. But weren’t able to verify if these rates, terms or any other details have changed since.
There are no prepayment penalties, so your franchise can save on interest by paying off the loan before its term of five to 10 years is up. You can borrow between $100,000 and $10,000,000. Use the calculator below to find out how much your loan might cost.
Business loan calculator
See how much you'll pay
| Your loan |
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| Loan amount |
$ |
| Loan terms (in years) |
| Interest rate |
$% |
Fill out the form and click on “Calculate” to see your
estimated monthly payment.
or
Based on your loan terms…
You can expect to pay back
$
per month
This breaks down to…
$
in
principaland
$
in
interest
charged, with a total cost of $Compare business loans now
How it works
Generally, only borrowers that have near-perfect credit and have been profitable years will get the most competitive rates and terms. On average, franchises qualify for APRs between 7% and 8%. But if you just barely meet the minimum requirements, you might expect a rate closer to 9%.
What do I need to qualify?
To be eligible for financing with ApplePie, you must meet the following criteria:
- Operate an eligible franchise
- Have a personal credit score of 660 or higher
- Be able to make a 20% down payment — only applicable to financing a new unit
- Have a personal net worth equal to the loan amount
- Be profitable for the past six months — only applicable to financing an existing unit
ApplePie Core requires you to put a lien on your business’s assets and a sign a personal guarantee. Franchise operators are also required to take out a temporary life insurance policy with ApplePie listed as the beneficiary.
What information do I need to apply?
The information you’ll need varies widely depending on your franchise, personal assets and what type of financing you’re applying for. You might expect to be asked for some or all of the following:
- Business and personal bank statements
- Business and personal tax returns
- Franchise agreement
- Balance sheet
- Profit and loss statement
- Pay stubs
- List of your personal assets and liabilities
Typically, it takes about a week to gather all of the documents you’ll need to submit along with your application.
What industries does ApplePie Capital work with?
ApplePie Capital only works with the franchise industry. But it doesn’t specify if any specific types of franchises are ineligible. If your franchisor doesn’t currently have a partnership with ApplePie Capital, reach out to see if it’s eligible.
What other types of financing does ApplePie offer.
In addition to its core program, ApplePie also works as a connection service to help your business find term loans, SBA loan and equipment financing. It partners with over 50 SBA lenders, banks and other providers.
To use the connection service, ApplePie charges a broker fee of $2,500 on top of the other loan fees from your lender. SBA loans also come with a guarantee fee of 2% to 3% of the loan amount. SBA loans can run as high as $5 million.
Pros and Cons
ApplePie Capital isn’t right for every franchise. It’s personalized service might be great for some, but it isn’t ideal if you need money right away.
Pros
- Works with entrepreneurs
- Specializes in franchises
- Low maximum APR of 9%
- Loans up to $10,000,000
- Direct lender and connection service
Cons
- New unit financing requires down payment
- Turnaround as long as a month
- Broker fee of $2,500
- No loans under $100,000
- Few customer reviews
Compare more business financing options
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Is ApplePie Capital Legit?
Yes, ApplePie Capital is a legitimate lender. It’s a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA), a trade organization that works to advocate, educate and promote excellence for franchises in the US. Entrepreneur also named it “Top Franchise Supplier” in 2019.
It also takes steps to make sure that your information is safe. This includes using SSL encryption to protect any personal details you submit online.
ApplePie Capital reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 1 out of 5 stars, based on 1 customer reviews |
| BBB customer complaints | 1 customer complaints |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 12 October 2020 |
Not exactly. It only has one negative review on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) — and none on Trustpilot or other similar forums. This doesn’t necessarily mean anything, as customers often only write reviews when they have a very negative or positive experience. But it makes it hard to know what kind of customer experience to expect.
How do I apply?
You can apply for a loan through ApplePie Capital online or by calling 800-720-0241. Follow these steps to apply online.
- Go to ApplePie Capital’s website and click Get Started.
- Select the type of financing you want to apply for
- Fill out the required fields with information about you and your franchise. Read the disclosures, then hit Next.
- Fill out the short form about your personal financial information and click Submit Inquiry.
- Wait for an ApplePie Capital representative to get in touch with you and discuss your options.
- Log in to your account and fill out an additional form with your and your business’s assets, as well as your personal information.
- Go over your application with an ApplePie Capital representative. Discuss your franchise’s loan options and find out what documents and additional information you need to submit.
- Submit required documents and information.
- Review and sign your loan documents.
What happens after I apply?
Submitting your application alone can take a week. After that, you’ll be in contact with ApplePie to verify information on your application and submit documents.
It takes an average of 30 to 45 days to receive your funds. If you’re applying for a loan through the SBA program, it can take between two and four months.
How do repayments work with ApplePie?
ApplePie Core loans come with monthly repayments — and so do most bank and SBA loans of that size. Whichever lender you go with, consider asking if you can sign up for automatic repayments. Then you won’t have to take time out of work to make them each month.
Check your bank account and your loan balance regularly. If your business can afford to make additional payments, you can save on interest. And if you notice anything wrong, reach out to your lender as soon as you can.
See how other financing options for franchises stack up, or compare other business loans.
Frequently asked questions
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