BATH FITTERS vs Garage Force
BATH FITTERS vs Garage Force: BATH FITTERS costs $54K to $452K to open; Garage Force costs $89K to $227K. BATH FITTERS has 8 units, Garage Force has 32. SBA loan history: BATH FITTERS = 9 loans (0.0% default); Garage Force = 35 loans (5.7% 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.
BATH FITTERS vs Garage Force: 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
BATH FITTERS requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($54K vs $89K for Garage Force), a 39% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for BATH FITTERS versus $50K for Garage Force, BATH FITTERS has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Garage Force operates 32 units to BATH FITTERS's 8, roughly 4× the system size. Garage Force has been operating 15 years (founded 2011) versus 2 for BATH FITTERS (founded 2024), a 13-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Garage Force has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 35 7(a) approvals compared with 9 for BATH FITTERS. BATH FITTERS's peak SBA year was 2011 (1 loans); Garage Force's peak was 2025 (9 loans). Garage Force's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. BATH FITTERS has the most SBA funded units in CO, with 2. Garage Force leads in IL, with 7. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded BATH FITTERS deals is $244K vs $150K for Garage Force, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for BATH FITTERS and 5.7% for Garage Force, BATH FITTERS has the cleaner SBA loss record by 5.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 47 (Fair) for BATH FITTERS and 65 (Strong) for Garage Force, giving Garage Force the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 47/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 9 | 35 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 5.7% |
Peer Tier | emerging | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $54K to $452K | $89K to $227K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
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 | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 8 | 32 |
Franchised Units | 8 | 32 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2024 | 2011 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2014 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 12 yrs |
Headquarters | Colorado, CO | Onalaska, WI |
Category | Other Building Finishing Contractors | Other Building Finishing Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, BATH FITTERS or Garage Force?
Lower upfront capital required
BATH FITTERS
BATH FITTERS: $54K starting · Garage Force: $89K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Garage Force
BATH FITTERS: 9 SBA loans · Garage Force: 35 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
BATH FITTERS
BATH FITTERS: 0.0% · Garage Force: 5.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Garage Force
BATH FITTERS: 8 units · Garage Force: 32 units
More lender financing options
Garage Force
BATH FITTERS: 8 unique lenders · Garage Force: 9 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
BATH FITTERS vs Garage Force: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing BATH FITTERS and Garage Force is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $54K to $452K.
BATH FITTERS has 9 SBA loans on record and Garage Force has 35. 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.
BATH FITTERS vs Garage Force, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, BATH FITTERS or Garage Force?
How much does a BATH FITTERS franchise cost compared to Garage Force?
Can I finance BATH FITTERS or Garage Force with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, BATH FITTERS or Garage Force?
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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