CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions: CertaPro Painters costs $50K–$919K to open; Five Star Bath Solutions costs $49K–$389K. CertaPro Painters has 214 units, Five Star Bath Solutions has 50. SBA loan history: CertaPro Painters = 142 loans (4.2% default); Five Star Bath Solutions = 70 loans (4.3% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Five Star Bath Solutions requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($49K vs $50K for CertaPro Painters), a 3% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $65K for CertaPro Painters versus $30K for Five Star Bath Solutions, Five Star Bath Solutions has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for CertaPro Painters and 5% for Five Star Bath Solutions, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, CertaPro Painters operates 214 units to Five Star Bath Solutions's 50, roughly 4× the system size. CertaPro Painters has been operating 34 years (founded 1992) versus 30 for Five Star Bath Solutions (founded 1996), a 4-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
CertaPro Painters has the deeper SBA lending track record with 142 historical 7(a) approvals versus 70 for Five Star Bath Solutions. CertaPro Painters's peak SBA year was 2023 (18 loans); Five Star Bath Solutions's peak was 2025 (26 loans). Five Star Bath Solutions's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, CertaPro Painters concentrates in FL (11 SBA-funded units) while Five Star Bath Solutions leads in CA (10). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded CertaPro Painters deals is $360K vs $211K for Five Star Bath Solutions, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.2% for CertaPro Painters and 4.3% for Five Star Bath Solutions, CertaPro Painters has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 80 (Excellent) for CertaPro Painters and 84 (Excellent) for Five Star Bath Solutions, giving Five Star Bath Solutions the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 80/100 | 84/100 |
Health Tier | Excellent | Excellent |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 142 | 70 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.2% | 4.3% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $50K – $919K | $49K – $389K |
Franchise Fee | $65K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | $50K |
Net Worth Required | $200K | $100K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 214 | 50 |
Franchised Units | 214 | 50 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 11 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1992 | 1996 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2002 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 24 yrs |
Headquarters | Audubon, PA | HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA |
Category | Painting | Painting |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, CertaPro Painters or Five Star Bath Solutions?
Lower upfront capital required
Five Star Bath Solutions
CertaPro Painters: $50K starting · Five Star Bath Solutions: $49K starting
More SBA lender confidence
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 142 SBA loans · Five Star Bath Solutions: 70 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 4.2% · Five Star Bath Solutions: 4.3%
Larger system & brand presence
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 214 units · Five Star Bath Solutions: 50 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
CertaPro Painters: 5% · Five Star Bath Solutions: 5%
More lender financing options
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 71 unique lenders · Five Star Bath Solutions: 15 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
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing CertaPro Painters and Five Star Bath Solutions is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $49K to $919K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, CertaPro Painters with 142 SBA loans and Five Star Bath Solutions with 70. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions, Frequently Asked Questions
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