Bath Junkie vs Relax The Back
Bath Junkie vs Relax The Back: Bath Junkie costs $40K to $137K to open; Relax The Back costs $176K to $649K. Bath Junkie has 17 units, Relax The Back has 47. SBA loan history: Bath Junkie = 27 loans (22.2% default); Relax The Back = 53 loans (18.9% 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 Junkie vs Relax The Back: 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 Junkie requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($40K vs $176K for Relax The Back), a 77% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $48K for Bath Junkie versus $30K for Relax The Back, Relax The Back has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Bath Junkie and 5% for Relax The Back, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Relax The Back operates 47 units to Bath Junkie's 17, roughly 3× the system size. Relax The Back has been operating 42 years (founded 1984) versus 31 for Bath Junkie (founded 1995), a 11-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Relax The Back has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 53 7(a) approvals compared with 27 for Bath Junkie. Bath Junkie's peak SBA year was 2005 (12 loans); Relax The Back's peak was 1995 (11 loans). Bath Junkie's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Bath Junkie deals is $94K vs $206K for Relax The Back, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 22.2% for Bath Junkie and 18.9% for Relax The Back, Relax The Back has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 22 (Fair) for Bath Junkie and 29 (Fair) for Relax The Back, giving Relax The Back the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 22/100 | 29/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 27 | 53 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 22.2% | 18.9% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $40K to $137K | $176K to $649K |
Franchise Fee | $48K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 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 | 17 | 47 |
Franchised Units | 17 | 47 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1995 | 1984 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2001 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 25 yrs |
Headquarters | EDINBURG, TX | Long Beach, TX |
Category | All Other Health | All Other Health |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2024 |
Which Is Better, Bath Junkie or Relax The Back?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Bath Junkie: $40K starting · Relax The Back: $176K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Relax The Back
Bath Junkie: 27 SBA loans · Relax The Back: 53 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Relax The Back
Bath Junkie: 22.2% · Relax The Back: 18.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Bath Junkie: 17 units · Relax The Back: 47 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Bath Junkie: 5% · Relax The Back: 5%
More lender financing options
Relax The Back
Bath Junkie: 21 unique lenders · Relax The Back: 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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About These Franchises
Bath Junkie vs Relax The Back: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Bath Junkie and Relax The Back is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $40K to $649K.
Bath Junkie has 27 SBA loans on record and Relax The Back has 53. 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 Junkie vs Relax The Back, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Bath Junkie or Relax The Back?
How much does a Bath Junkie franchise cost compared to Relax The Back?
Can I finance Bath Junkie or Relax The Back with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Bath Junkie or Relax The Back?
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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