Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: Al & Ed's Autosound #8 costs $119K to $169K to open; Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut costs $49K to $105K. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has 7 units, Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut has 48. SBA loan history: Al & Ed's Autosound #8 = 9 loans (11.1% default); Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut = 65 loans (33.8% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($49K vs $119K for Al & Ed's Autosound #8), a 143% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Al & Ed's Autosound #8 versus $54K for Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut operates 48 units to Al & Ed's Autosound #8's 7, roughly 7× the system size. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has been operating 72 years (founded 1954) versus 41 for Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut (founded 1985), a 31-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 65 7(a) approvals compared with 9 for Al & Ed's Autosound #8. Al & Ed's Autosound #8's peak SBA year was 2003 (6 loans); Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut's peak was 1995 (27 loans). Al & Ed's Autosound #8's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 9. Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut leads in TX, with 26. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Al & Ed's Autosound #8 deals is $146K vs $82K for Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.1% for Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and 33.8% for Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has the cleaner SBA loss record by 22.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 26 (Fair) for Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and 21 (Fair) for Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut, giving Al & Ed's Autosound #8 the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 26/100 | 21/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 9 | 65 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.1% | 33.8% |
Peer Tier | emerging | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $119K to $169K | $49K to $105K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $54K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 7 | 48 |
Franchised Units | 7 | 48 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 7 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1954 | 1985 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | LOS ANGELES, CA | DALLAS, TX |
Category | Automotive Parts | Automotive Parts |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: $119K starting · Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: $49K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 9 SBA loans · Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: 65 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Al & Ed's Autosound #8
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 11.1% · Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: 33.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 7 units · Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: 48 units
More lender financing options
Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut
Al & Ed's Autosound #8: 3 unique lenders · Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: 31 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Al & Ed's Autosound #8 and Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $49K to $169K.
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 has 9 SBA loans on record and Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut has 65. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Al & Ed's Autosound #8 vs Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut?
How much does a Al & Ed's Autosound #8 franchise cost compared to Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut?
Can I finance Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Al & Ed's Autosound #8 or Alta Mere Window Tinting & Aut?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman