Chemdry vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care
Chemdry vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: Chemdry costs $68K to $207K to open; Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care costs $27K to $488K. Chemdry has 1,099 units, Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care has 12. SBA loan history: Chemdry = 113 loans (23.9% default); Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care = 15 loans (13.3% 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.
Chemdry vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 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
Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($27K vs $68K for Chemdry), a 154% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Chemdry operates 1,099 units to Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care's 12, roughly 92× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Chemdry has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 113 7(a) approvals compared with 15 for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care. Chemdry's peak SBA year was 2017 (10 loans); Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care's peak was 2012 (2 loans). Chemdry's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Chemdry has the most SBA funded units in UT, with 13. Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care leads in AR, with 3. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Chemdry deals is $119K vs $226K for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 23.9% for Chemdry and 13.3% for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care has the cleaner SBA loss record by 10.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 41 (Fair) for Chemdry and 28 (Fair) for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, giving Chemdry the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 41/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 113 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 23.9% | 13.3% |
Peer Tier | major | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $68K to $207K | $27K to $488K |
Franchise Fee | $24K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 2.5% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 3% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 1,099 | 12 |
Franchised Units | 1,099 | 12 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | N/A |
Franchising Since | 1978 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 48 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | MA | Springdale, AR |
Category | Carpet | Carpet |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Chemdry or Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Chemdry: $68K starting · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: $27K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Chemdry
Chemdry: 113 SBA loans · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care
Chemdry: 23.9% · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 13.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Chemdry: 1,099 units · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 12 units
More lender financing options
Chemdry
Chemdry: 66 unique lenders · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 14 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
Chemdry vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Chemdry and Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $27K to $488K.
Chemdry has 113 SBA loans on record and Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care has 15. 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.
Chemdry vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Chemdry or Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care?
How much does a Chemdry franchise cost compared to Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care?
Can I finance Chemdry or Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Chemdry or Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care?
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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