LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A&W Restaurants Inc., which is celebrating its 90th anniversary by introducing a new state-of-the-art drive-in concept, has been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for listing on the SBA Franchise Registry, the company has announced. The action will expedite the process for new and existing A&W franchisees to obtain loans to start or expand their businesses with the A&W Restaurant brand.
The Franchise Registry, operated by Fran Data in partnership with the SBA, is an online national registry of franchise systems whose new and existing franchisees receive streamlined loan processing. Fewer than 30 percent of all franchise systems qualify to be listed on the registry. Applicants must submit their franchise contracts to ensure compliance with strict SBA criteria.
"In this challenging credit environment, we want to give our franchisees every advantage to secure financing for their new drive-in asset," said Ben Butler, A&W Restaurants president. "We believe getting on the SBA Registry is a major step in that effort."
A&W has targeted a number of markets for growth, including Michigan, Minnesota and other Midwest markets.
