Atax vs Supporting Strategies
Atax vs Supporting Strategies: Atax costs $13K to $33K to open; Supporting Strategies costs $72K to $269K. Atax has 6 units, Supporting Strategies has 9. SBA loan history: Atax = 7 loans (0.0% default); Supporting Strategies = 10 loans (10.0% 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.
Atax vs Supporting Strategies: 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
Atax requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($13K vs $72K for Supporting Strategies), a 83% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for Atax versus $60K for Supporting Strategies, Atax has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Supporting Strategies operates 9 units to Atax's 6. Atax has been operating 40 years (founded 1986) versus 22 for Supporting Strategies (founded 2004), a 18-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Supporting Strategies has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 10 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for Atax. Atax's peak SBA year was 2020 (2 loans); Supporting Strategies's peak was 2016 (3 loans). Atax's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Atax has the most SBA funded units in NY, with 5. Supporting Strategies leads in CA, with 2. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Atax deals is $40K vs $162K for Supporting Strategies, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Atax and 10.0% for Supporting Strategies, Atax has the cleaner SBA loss record by 10.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 54 (Moderate) for Atax and 39 (Fair) for Supporting Strategies, giving Atax the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 54/100 | 39/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 7 | 10 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 10.0% |
Peer Tier | emerging | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $13K to $33K | $72K to $269K |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $60K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 1% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 6 | 9 |
Franchised Units | 6 | 9 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1986 | 2004 |
Franchising Since | 2019 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 7 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | BRONX, NY | Beverly, MA |
Category | Other Accounting Services | Other Accounting Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2023 |
Which Is Better, Atax or Supporting Strategies?
Lower upfront capital required
Atax
Atax: $13K starting · Supporting Strategies: $72K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Supporting Strategies
Atax: 7 SBA loans · Supporting Strategies: 10 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Atax
Atax: 0.0% · Supporting Strategies: 10.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Supporting Strategies
Atax: 6 units · Supporting Strategies: 9 units
More lender financing options
Supporting Strategies
Atax: 5 unique lenders · Supporting Strategies: 7 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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About These Franchises
Atax vs Supporting Strategies: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Atax and Supporting Strategies is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $13K to $269K.
Atax has 7 SBA loans on record and Supporting Strategies has 10. 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.
Atax vs Supporting Strategies, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Atax or Supporting Strategies?
How much does a Atax franchise cost compared to Supporting Strategies?
Can I finance Atax or Supporting Strategies with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Atax or Supporting Strategies?
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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