Cabinet Iq vs The Designery
Cabinet Iq vs The Designery: Cabinet Iq costs $45K to $576K to open; The Designery costs $50K to $454K. Cabinet Iq has 12 units, The Designery has 7. SBA loan history: Cabinet Iq = 17 loans (0.0% default); The Designery = 13 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.
Cabinet Iq vs The Designery: 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
Cabinet Iq requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($45K vs $50K for The Designery), a 10% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $60K for Cabinet Iq versus $55K for The Designery, The Designery has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Cabinet Iq and 1% for The Designery, giving The Designery the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Cabinet Iq operates 12 units to The Designery's 7. The Designery has been operating 19 years (founded 2007) versus 10 for Cabinet Iq (founded 2016), a 9-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Cabinet Iq has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 17 7(a) approvals compared with 13 for The Designery. Cabinet Iq's peak SBA year was 2025 (12 loans); The Designery's peak was 2025 (9 loans). The Designery'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 Cabinet Iq deals is $292K vs $274K for The Designery, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Cabinet Iq and 0.0% for The Designery. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 69 (Strong) for Cabinet Iq and 66 (Strong) for The Designery, giving Cabinet Iq the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 69/100 | 66/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 17 | 13 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $45K to $576K | $50K to $454K |
Franchise Fee | $60K | $55K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 1% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 12 | 7 |
Franchised Units | 12 | 7 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2016 | 2007 |
Franchising Since | 2022 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 4 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | SUGAR LAND, TX | Huntersville, NC |
Category | Finish Carpentry Contractors | Finish Carpentry Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Cabinet Iq or The Designery?
Lower upfront capital required
Cabinet Iq
Cabinet Iq: $45K starting · The Designery: $50K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Cabinet Iq
Cabinet Iq: 17 SBA loans · The Designery: 13 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Cabinet Iq: 0.0% · The Designery: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Cabinet Iq
Cabinet Iq: 12 units · The Designery: 7 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Designery
Cabinet Iq: 6% · The Designery: 1%
More lender financing options
Cabinet Iq
Cabinet Iq: 7 unique lenders · The Designery: 3 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
Cabinet Iq vs The Designery: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Cabinet Iq and The Designery is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $45K to $576K.
Cabinet Iq has 17 SBA loans on record and The Designery has 13. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.
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.
Cabinet Iq vs The Designery, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Cabinet Iq or The Designery?
How much does a Cabinet Iq franchise cost compared to The Designery?
Can I finance Cabinet Iq or The Designery with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Cabinet Iq or The Designery?
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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