CertaPro Painters vs Lime Painting
CertaPro Painters vs Lime Painting: CertaPro Painters costs $50K–$919K to open; Lime Painting costs $125K–$162K. CertaPro Painters has 214 units, Lime Painting has 22. SBA loan history: CertaPro Painters = 142 loans (4.2% default); Lime Painting = 30 loans (6.7% 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 Lime Painting — 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
CertaPro Painters requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $125K for Lime Painting), a 60% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $65K for CertaPro Painters versus $50K for Lime Painting — Lime Painting has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for CertaPro Painters and 7% for Lime Painting, giving CertaPro Painters the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, CertaPro Painters operates 214 units to Lime Painting's 22 — roughly 10× the system size. CertaPro Painters has been operating 34 years (founded 1992) versus 13 for Lime Painting (founded 2013) — a 21-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 30 for Lime Painting.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.2% for CertaPro Painters and 6.7% for Lime Painting — CertaPro Painters has the cleaner historical loss profile by 2.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 80 (Excellent) for CertaPro Painters and 76 (Strong) for Lime Painting, giving CertaPro Painters the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 80/100 | 76/100 |
Health Tier | Excellent | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 142 | 30 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 4.2% | 6.7% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $50K – $919K | $125K – $162K |
Franchise Fee | $65K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | $50K |
Net Worth Required | $200K | $150K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 214 | 22 |
Franchised Units | 214 | 22 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1992 | 2013 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2007 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 19 yrs |
Headquarters | Audubon, PA | Greenwood Village, CO |
Category | Painting | Painting |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2025 |
Which Is Better — CertaPro Painters or Lime Painting?
Lower upfront capital required
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: $50K starting · Lime Painting: $125K starting
More SBA lender confidence
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 142 SBA loans · Lime Painting: 30 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 4.2% · Lime Painting: 6.7%
Larger system & brand presence
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 214 units · Lime Painting: 22 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 5% · Lime Painting: 7%
More lender financing options
CertaPro Painters
CertaPro Painters: 71 unique lenders · Lime Painting: 7 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 Lime Painting: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing CertaPro Painters and Lime 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.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — CertaPro Painters with 142 SBA loans and Lime Painting with 30. 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.