CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Painting
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Painting: CertaPro Painters costs $50K to $919K to open; Five Star Painting costs $77K to $185K. CertaPro Painters has 214 units, Five Star Painting has 245. SBA loan history: CertaPro Painters = 142 loans (4.2% default); Five Star Painting = 75 loans (14.7% 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 Painting: 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
CertaPro Painters requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $77K for Five Star Painting), a 35% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $65K for CertaPro Painters versus $45K for Five Star Painting, Five Star Painting has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for CertaPro Painters and 6% for Five Star Painting, giving CertaPro Painters the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Five Star Painting operates 245 units to CertaPro Painters's 214.
SBA Lending Profile
CertaPro Painters has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 142 7(a) approvals compared with 75 for Five Star Painting. CertaPro Painters's peak SBA year was 2023 (18 loans); Five Star Painting's peak was 2019 (15 loans). CertaPro Painters's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in FL. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded CertaPro Painters deals is $360K vs $155K for Five Star Painting, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.2% for CertaPro Painters and 14.7% for Five Star Painting, CertaPro Painters has the cleaner SBA loss record by 10.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 80 (Excellent) for CertaPro Painters and 59 (Moderate) for Five Star Painting, giving CertaPro Painters the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 80/100 | 59/100 |
Health Tier | Excellent | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 142 | 75 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.2% | 14.7% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $50K to $919K | $77K to $185K |
Franchise Fee | $65K | $45K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $200K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 214 | 245 |
Franchised Units | 214 | 245 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1992 | N/A |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2007 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 19 yrs |
Headquarters | Audubon, PA | CHARLESTON, SC |
Category | Painting | Painting |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, CertaPro Painters or Five Star Painting?
Lower upfront capital required
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: $50K starting · Five Star Painting: $77K starting
More SBA lender confidence
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 142 SBA loans · Five Star Painting: 75 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 4.2% · Five Star Painting: 14.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Five Star Painting
CertaPro Painters: 214 units · Five Star Painting: 245 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 5% · Five Star Painting: 6%
More lender financing options
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 71 unique lenders · Five Star Painting: 18 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 Painting: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing CertaPro Painters and Five Star Painting is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $50K to $919K.
CertaPro Painters has 142 SBA loans on record and Five Star Painting has 75. 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.
CertaPro Painters vs Five Star Painting, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, CertaPro Painters or Five Star Painting?
How much does a CertaPro Painters franchise cost compared to Five Star Painting?
Can I finance CertaPro Painters or Five Star Painting with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, CertaPro Painters or Five Star Painting?
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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; 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