BATH FITTERS vs The Grout Medic
BATH FITTERS vs The Grout Medic: BATH FITTERS costs $54K to $452K to open; The Grout Medic costs $102K to $175K. BATH FITTERS has 8 units, The Grout Medic has 69. SBA loan history: BATH FITTERS = 9 loans (0.0% default); The Grout Medic = 15 loans (0.0% 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.
BATH FITTERS vs The Grout Medic: 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 $102K for The Grout Medic), a 47% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for BATH FITTERS versus $65K for The Grout Medic, BATH FITTERS has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, The Grout Medic operates 69 units to BATH FITTERS's 8, roughly 9× the system size. The Grout Medic has been operating 8 years (founded 2018) versus 2 for BATH FITTERS (founded 2024), a 6-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
The Grout Medic has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 15 7(a) approvals compared with 9 for BATH FITTERS.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for BATH FITTERS and 0.0% for The Grout Medic. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 47 (Fair) for BATH FITTERS and 54 (Moderate) for The Grout Medic, giving The Grout Medic the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 47/100 | 54/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 9 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | emerging | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $54K to $452K | $102K to $175K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $65K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
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 | 69 |
Franchised Units | 8 | 69 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2024 | 2018 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2021 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 5 yrs |
Headquarters | Colorado, CO | N/A |
Category | Other Building Finishing Contractors | Other Building Finishing Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, BATH FITTERS or The Grout Medic?
Lower upfront capital required
BATH FITTERS
BATH FITTERS: $54K starting · The Grout Medic: $102K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The Grout Medic
BATH FITTERS: 9 SBA loans · The Grout Medic: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
BATH FITTERS: 0.0% · The Grout Medic: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
The Grout Medic
BATH FITTERS: 8 units · The Grout Medic: 69 units
More lender financing options
BATH FITTERS
BATH FITTERS: 8 unique lenders · The Grout Medic: 6 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 The Grout Medic: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing BATH FITTERS and The Grout Medic 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 The Grout Medic has 15. 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 The Grout Medic, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, BATH FITTERS or The Grout Medic?
How much does a BATH FITTERS franchise cost compared to The Grout Medic?
Can I finance BATH FITTERS or The Grout Medic with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, BATH FITTERS or The Grout Medic?
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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