CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions: CertaPro Painters costs $50K to $919K to open; Five Star Bath Solutions costs $49K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Bath Solutions: 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
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 7(a) approvals compared with 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. CertaPro Painters has the most SBA funded units in FL, with 11. Five Star Bath Solutions leads in CA, with 10. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer 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 SBA loss record 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 to $919K | $49K to $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 | Disclosed | 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 SBA 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.
Need Funding for CertaPro Painters or Five Star Bath Solutions?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
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.
CertaPro Painters has 142 SBA loans on record and Five Star Bath Solutions has 70. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Both brands have an established underwriting path, though the lender that fits a specific deal still depends on its size, location and the buyer.
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
Which is a better franchise investment, CertaPro Painters or Five Star Bath Solutions?
How much does a CertaPro Painters franchise cost compared to Five Star Bath Solutions?
Can I finance CertaPro Painters or Five Star Bath Solutions with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, CertaPro Painters or Five Star Bath Solutions?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
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; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and 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