How to Finance a Ford’s Garage Franchise: Multi-Unit Burger Bars
By Chris Cornella
A Ford’s Garage franchise loan usually funds a large, full-service restaurant with a bar, not a small counter-service shop. Lenders focus on the build-out, the themed interior, bar and kitchen equipment, a liquor license and working capital to staff a busy dining room.
Below we cover what is publicly known about the brand, its franchise sales process, its SBA Franchise Directory listing and how buyers typically structure a Ford’s Garage franchise loan for a new restaurant, a multi-unit commitment or a resale.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Ford’s Garage; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document and website can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, and buyers should review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Ford’s Garage Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a full-service burger and craft beer restaurant designed to look like a 1920s service station.
- Origins: the first restaurant opened in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2012, and the company says it began franchising in 2015.
- Franchisor: Vintage Hospitality Group, LLC, based in Tampa, Florida.
- System size: 33 restaurants as of December 31, 2025, 32 franchised and 1 affiliate-owned, according to the brand’s franchising page.
- Development model: the franchise process ends with executed multi-unit development and franchise agreements, followed by funding.
- Fees and investment: the initial fee, royalty, marketing contribution and Item 7 investment range are disclosed in the current FDD, which buyers receive during the sales process.
- Financial performance: the brand publishes an Item 19 excerpt, so the FDD includes financial performance representations.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S6548, with a note about lease documents when real estate secures the loan.
What Is Ford’s Garage?
Ford’s Garage opened its first restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2012. The dining room is built around a 1920s service station theme: classic vehicles and automotive memorabilia, servers in auto shop uniforms, and a hand-hammered copper bar top in every location. The company describes itself as an official licensee of the automaker whose name it shares.
The menu centers on all-American favorites, led by Black Angus burgers and a craft beer program. That makes it a casual dining concept with a meaningful alcohol component, unlike most quick-service burger brands.
The company’s location list shows restaurants in Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. The company has also highlighted a restaurant built on a car dealership’s property.
Ford’s Garage Franchise Costs
Ford’s Garage does not publish its fee schedule or investment range on its franchising page. The figures appear in the FDD, which the company sends during the second stage of its process. Read Items 5, 6 and 7 closely before you request financing, because a lender will build its sources and uses statement from them.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 states the fee per restaurant and any development fee charged under a multi-unit agreement. Ask whether development fees are credited toward individual restaurant fees, because that changes how much cash you need at signing versus at each opening.
Real estate and build-out. Usually the largest cost: a themed dining room with a central bar, vintage vehicles and a full kitchen requires extensive construction. Our article on financing a restaurant build-out explains how lenders handle contractor draws and cost overruns.
Equipment, furniture and decor. Expect a commercial kitchen line, bar equipment, draft beer systems, refrigeration, point-of-sale technology, dining furniture and the signature decor package.
Opening costs and working capital. Opening inventory, pre-opening payroll and training, the liquor license and operating reserves all belong in the budget.
Before you meet with a lender, organize the Item 7 table into these categories:
- Initial franchise fee and any development fee
- Lease deposits, or land and building if you will own the site
- Construction, architecture and permits
- Kitchen, bar and draft beer equipment
- Furniture, fixtures, signage and the themed decor package
- Liquor license, opening inventory, training and grand-opening marketing
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, any brand marketing contribution, required local advertising, technology fees, transfer and renewal fees, and any remodel obligations. Because royalty and marketing fees are typically calculated on gross sales, they come out before the restaurant pays rent, food, beverage and labor costs.
A lender subtracts these fees from projected sales when it calculates cash available for debt service, so show every fee line separately in your projections.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
Ford’s Garage does not publish net worth or liquidity minimums on its franchising page, so confirm them with the company. It does publish its process:
- Request information: an introduction call to identify a territory of interest.
- Alignment and the FDD: after both sides agree on the vision, the company sends the FDD for signature of receipt.
- Application: candidates submit financial information and a business plan.
- Meet the team: an in-market meeting and a discovery day in Tampa with restaurant visits, leading to an executed term sheet or letter of intent.
- Approval: management approval, executed multi-unit development and franchise agreements, then funding.
Because a business plan is due at the application stage, talk with a financing specialist before you apply so the same plan supports both the franchisor’s review and your Ford’s Garage franchise loan request.
Ways to Own a Ford’s Garage
A new restaurant under a development agreement. Most new owners will commit to a territory and a schedule of openings. Lenders generally finance each restaurant as it is built rather than the whole schedule at once, so you need a plan for the equity behind each opening. Our overview of area development agreement financing covers how those schedules are funded.
Buying an existing restaurant. With most restaurants franchised, resales can occur. A buyer gets operating history that a lender can underwrite, but needs franchisor transfer approval and should review remaining term and any required updates. See our guide to buying a franchise resale.
A dealership-site restaurant. The company has promoted a restaurant on a car dealership’s property. Who owns the land and who holds the lease affects collateral and SBA documentation, so review that structure early.
Financing Options for a Ford’s Garage Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. The SBA 7(a) program can fund construction, equipment, the franchise fee, working capital and, in some cases, real estate in one loan. Because Ford’s Garage is on the SBA Franchise Directory, a qualified borrower can be considered for it.
SBA 504 loans. When an owner will buy land and build a freestanding restaurant, or buy an existing building, SBA 504 financing is designed for owner-occupied real estate and long-lived equipment.
Conventional term loans. Experienced multi-unit operators sometimes use conventional business loans, particularly for second and later restaurants supported by the cash flow of existing units.
Equipment financing. The kitchen line, walk-in coolers, ice machines, bar equipment, draft beer systems and POS hardware can be financed separately from the build-out. Learn more about restaurant equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. A full-service opening means hiring and training a large front- and back-of-house team before sales stabilize. A reserve or line of credit, discussed on our restaurant working capital page, can cover payroll, inventory and seasonal swings in tourist markets.
Seller financing on resales. A selling franchisee may agree to carry part of the price. Any seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA rules may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Ford’s Garage Franchisees
SBA lenders generally require a franchise brand to appear on the SBA Franchise Directory before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to one of its franchisees. Ford’s Garage is listed under code S6548. A listing does not approve any borrower; it means the franchise relationship has been reviewed for SBA eligibility.
What the directory note means. The note says that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Rider and Collateral Assignment Rights may not be executed. Those documents give the franchisor rights connected to a leased site, such as taking over the lease if the franchise ends. When the borrower owns the property and pledges it as collateral, there is no third-party lease for them to attach to, so they are not used. This matters for owner-built freestanding restaurants and for some dealership-site arrangements.
Loan size. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. A project that includes land and building may suit a 504 loan instead.
Application tips. Assemble the FDD, signed agreements, the lease or purchase contract, construction bids, equipment quotes, projections and personal financial statements. Our SBA loan calculator can help you estimate payments for planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate a Ford’s Garage Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Expect a review of credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, with personal guarantees from significant owners.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders want enough cash for the equity injection plus reserves, and a plan for funding future openings.
Industry and management experience. Full-service restaurant and bar experience carries significant weight, including that of any operating partner.
Business plan and projections. Projections should reflect a full-service labor model, food and beverage cost, ramp-up, all FDD fees and occupancy costs, with clearly explained assumptions.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders review the term, renewal, transfer conditions, development schedule and default provisions. Our article on how lenders read a Franchise Disclosure Document explains which items matter most.
Site and real estate. Lease length should cover the loan term; owned real estate needs an appraisal and environmental review.
Historical financials for resales. Several years of profit and loss statements and tax returns are standard.
The Build-Out, Bar and Equipment
The themed interior is part of what guests pay for, but decor and leasehold improvements have little resale value, so lenders fund them through a term or SBA loan rather than equipment financing. The bar adds a liquor license whose cost and availability vary widely by state and city. Kitchen and bar equipment carry collateral value, so owners often finance them separately and let the main Ford’s Garage franchise loan cover construction, the fee and working capital.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Ford’s Garage’s process names executed multi-unit development agreements as part of approval, so most owners should plan for more than one restaurant from the start.
Funding the schedule. A development agreement sets opening dates, but financing usually happens one restaurant at a time, often after the first is performing, so plan the equity for later openings in advance.
Real-World Scenarios
An experienced operator with a multi-unit commitment. A restaurant operator signs a development agreement for a metro area. The first restaurant is funded with an SBA 7(a) loan covering construction, the fee and working capital, plus separate equipment financing. The second is financed after the first has a track record.
An owner-built freestanding restaurant. A franchisee buys a pad site and builds a freestanding restaurant using SBA 504 financing. Because the property secures the loan, the directory note means the lease rider and collateral assignment are not executed.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing a development schedule without a funding plan for each opening
- Underestimating the cost of the themed build-out and decor
- Leaving the liquor license out of the budget or timeline
- Thin working capital for a large full-service team
- Signing a lease shorter than the loan term
For more pitfalls, read the restaurant loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Ford’s Garage Franchise
Step 1: Request information. Use the introductory call to identify a territory and confirm current financial requirements.
Step 2: Review the FDD with advisors. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 17 and 19 and the development agreement with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Build your plan with a financing specialist. Prepare the business plan and sources and uses statement before the application stage.
Step 4: Secure a site. Negotiate the lease or purchase and gather construction bids and equipment quotes.
Step 5: Apply and close. Submit the loan request, then align closing, contractor draws and the liquor license with your opening date.
Ford’s Garage Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Ford’s Garage?
The current FDD discloses the estimated initial investment in Item 7. Because each restaurant is a large, full-service, themed building with a bar, it is a substantial investment, and the cost depends heavily on whether you lease or own the site.
What is the Ford’s Garage franchise fee?
The fee is disclosed in Item 5 of the FDD, along with any development fee for a multi-unit agreement. The company does not publish it on its franchising page.
Is Ford’s Garage eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. Ford’s Garage is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S6548, so qualified borrowers can be considered for SBA 7(a) and 504 financing.
Do I have to open more than one restaurant?
The company’s process lists executed multi-unit development agreements as part of approval, so expect to discuss a multi-unit commitment. Confirm the minimum with the franchisor.
Can I buy an existing Ford’s Garage?
Resales can occur, subject to franchisor approval. Lenders underwrite the restaurant’s historical financials, which can make financing more straightforward than a new build.
Does Ford’s Garage provide financing?
Check Item 10 of the current FDD, which discloses whether the franchisor offers any financing. Most owners arrange their own loans.
How long is the franchise term?
Item 17 of the FDD sets the term, renewal and transfer conditions. Lenders compare the remaining term with the loan’s repayment period.
What documents do I need for a loan?
Expect the FDD, signed agreements, a business plan with projections, the lease or purchase contract, bids, quotes, tax returns and a personal financial statement.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
Yes. The company publishes an Item 19 excerpt on its franchising page. Review the full Item 19, including its notes and assumptions, rather than relying on a summary.
Can a first-time owner get a Ford’s Garage franchise loan?
It is possible, but full-service restaurant and bar experience weighs heavily with the franchisor and lenders, so first-time owners often partner with an experienced operator.
Final Thoughts
A Ford’s Garage franchise loan combines a construction project, an equipment purchase and a working capital plan. Owners who prepare their business plan early, budget realistically for the build-out and bar, and plan the equity behind every scheduled opening put themselves in the strongest position with lenders.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment, working capital and real estate. Learn more about our franchise financing and restaurant financing solutions.
