FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Sterling Optical.
Based on 2022 FDD · 1 filing in corpus
This page is using 2022 FDD source data. Verify the franchisor's current FDD before relying on costs, fees, or Item 19.
Cost and profit at a glance
Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Sterling Optical franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $33K – $2.1M. The franchisor does not provide enough Item 19 data for a clean profit estimate. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.
Quick fee read: 14% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.
Sterling Optical requires a total initial investment of $33K to $2.1M (midpoint approximately $1.1M), The ongoing fee burden is 14% (8% royalty plus 6% advertising fund). This is in line with industry norms of approximately 15.5%.
Sterling Optical does not publicly disclose Item 19 financial performance data in their FDD. This is a significant transparency gap — franchisees must rely on validation calls and personal research rather than audited financial representations. Prospective buyers should demand current unit-level financials from existing operators during due diligence.
Sterling Optical operates approximately 95 franchised units. The SBA 7(a) loan default rate of 0.0% is well below the industry average of approximately 7.2%, indicating strong franchisee financial outcomes.
Prospective franchisees should verify all figures against the most recent FDD, conduct validation calls with multiple existing franchisees, and consult with a franchise attorney before signing any agreement.
Analysis based on 2022 FDD filing. FDDIQ Editorial Team · Methodology
Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.
Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.
Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2013-2016). 3 loans across 2 states.
Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.
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