SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · ARKANSAS
MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS franchise in Arkansas: what the public record shows
Franchisees of MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS in Arkansas have taken 5 SBA loans since 1991 (average $111,720)— too few resolved loans in-state to publish a local failure rate (we require a resolved cohort, never extrapolate), so the brand's national rate of 19.3% is the better guide. Its latest FDD Item 20 state table reports 29 franchised outlets in Arkansas (fiscal 2025) — about 0.94 per 100k residents.
Loans in AR
5
Resolved
5
Local charge-off
thin
National charge-off
19.3%
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = AR. Charge-off rate = charged-off ÷ (charged-off + paid-in-full); open loans excluded. A local rate is published only when the resolved cohort clears our floor of 30 loans.
| Fiscal year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 32 | 0 |
| 2024 | 31 | 0 |
| 2025 | 29 | 0 |
| System | Loans in AR | Local charge-off | Units in AR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | 34 | 6.5% | 240 |
| Firehouse Subs | 14 | 0.0% | 19 |
| DAIRY QUEEN | 9 | thin | — |
| Matco Tools | 8 | thin | — |
| Western Sizzlin Steak House | 8 | thin | — |
| Culligan | 6 | thin | 3 |
| GLO Tanning | 6 | thin | 10 |
| Radioshack | 6 | thin | — |
| Sears Catalog Store | 6 | thin | — |
| Buffalo Wild Wings (F/K/a Bw-3 (Buffalo Wings | 5 | thin | — |
| Pizza Inn | 5 | thin | — |
Same sector, same state, same public records — how MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS compares to the systems a buyer in Arkansas would actually be choosing between. Local rates under 10 resolved loans are marked thin, not hidden.
A broker is paid by the franchisor to place you. An independent CPA is paid by you — and the job is pressure-testing MERLE NORMAN COSMETICS's numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.
Talk to an independent CPA before you buy →