KFC Corp. has been added to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Franchise Registry, a list of franchise systems that have had their agreements reviewed by the administration.
KFC's presence on the registry will help expedite the loan process for its new and existing franchisees if they want to launch or expand their business.
The registry is a national listing of approved franchise systems whose franchisees receive expedited loan processing when applying for financial assistance from the SBA. The centralized review process also allows the SBA to make consistent eligibility decisions for such assistance.
Scott Haner, director of franchising for KFC, said the company being added to the SBA registry is a big advantage for franchisees.
"We want to give our franchisees every possible edge in securing financing for new restaurants," he said. "In today’s economic and credit environment, any step you can take to assist franchisees with meeting their growth plans is vitally important."
More than 80 percent of the 5,000-plus KFC restaurants in the U.S. are operated by franchisees. Less than 30 percent of all franchise systems qualify for the SBA Franchise Registry.
Other Yum! Brands Long John Silver's and A&W are also listed on the registry.
