Closet Factory vs Garage Force
Closet Factory vs Garage Force: Closet Factory costs $345K to $612K to open; Garage Force costs $89K to $227K. Closet Factory has 55 units, Garage Force has 32. SBA loan history: Closet Factory = 75 loans (16.0% default); Garage Force = 35 loans (5.7% 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.
Closet Factory vs Garage Force: 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
Garage Force requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($89K vs $345K for Closet Factory), a 288% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $59K for Closet Factory versus $50K for Garage Force, Garage Force has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6.75% for Closet Factory and 5% for Garage Force, giving Garage Force the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Closet Factory operates 55 units to Garage Force's 32. Closet Factory has been operating 43 years (founded 1983) versus 15 for Garage Force (founded 2011), a 28-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Closet Factory has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 75 7(a) approvals compared with 35 for Garage Force. Closet Factory's peak SBA year was 2000 (9 loans); Garage Force's peak was 2025 (9 loans). Garage Force's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Closet Factory has the most SBA funded units in FL, with 6. Garage Force leads in IL, with 7. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Closet Factory deals is $416K vs $150K for Garage Force, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 16.0% for Closet Factory and 5.7% for Garage Force, Garage Force has the cleaner SBA loss record by 10.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for Closet Factory and 65 (Strong) for Garage Force, giving Garage Force the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 57/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 75 | 35 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 16.0% | 5.7% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $345K to $612K | $89K to $227K |
Franchise Fee | $59K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 6.75% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 15% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 55 | 32 |
Franchised Units | 55 | 32 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1983 | 2011 |
Franchising Since | 1985 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 41 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Los Angeles, TX | Onalaska, WI |
Category | Other Building Finishing Contractors | Other Building Finishing Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Closet Factory or Garage Force?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Closet Factory: $345K starting · Garage Force: $89K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Closet Factory
Closet Factory: 75 SBA loans · Garage Force: 35 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Garage Force
Closet Factory: 16.0% · Garage Force: 5.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Closet Factory: 55 units · Garage Force: 32 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Garage Force
Closet Factory: 6.75% · Garage Force: 5%
More lender financing options
Closet Factory
Closet Factory: 27 unique lenders · Garage Force: 9 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
Closet Factory vs Garage Force: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Closet Factory and Garage Force is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $89K to $612K.
Closet Factory has 75 SBA loans on record and Garage Force has 35. 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.
Closet Factory vs Garage Force, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Closet Factory or Garage Force?
How much does a Closet Factory franchise cost compared to Garage Force?
Can I finance Closet Factory or Garage Force with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Closet Factory or Garage Force?
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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