Creative Colors vs Maaco
Creative Colors vs Maaco: Creative Colors costs $101K to $123K to open; Maaco costs $100K to $1.4M. Creative Colors has 73 units, Maaco has 467. SBA loan history: Creative Colors = 12 loans (0.0% default); Maaco = 608 loans (12.5% 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.
Creative Colors vs Maaco: 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
Maaco requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $101K for Creative Colors), a 1% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $60K for Creative Colors versus $47K for Maaco, Maaco has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7.5% for Creative Colors and 4% for Maaco, giving Maaco the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Maaco operates 467 units to Creative Colors's 73, roughly 6× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Maaco has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 608 7(a) approvals compared with 12 for Creative Colors. Creative Colors's peak SBA year was 2025 (2 loans); Maaco's peak was 1997 (46 loans). Creative Colors's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Creative Colors has the most SBA funded units in MI, with 2. Maaco leads in CA, with 69. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Creative Colors deals is $238K vs $370K for Maaco, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Creative Colors and 12.5% for Maaco, Creative Colors has the cleaner SBA loss record by 12.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 42 (Fair) for Creative Colors and 52 (Moderate) for Maaco, giving Maaco the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 42/100 | 52/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 12 | 608 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 12.5% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $101K to $123K | $100K to $1.4M |
Franchise Fee | $60K | $47K |
Royalty Rate | 7.5% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 1% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 73 | 467 |
Franchised Units | 70 | 467 |
Company Owned | 3 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1972 |
Franchising Since | 1991 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 35 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | MI | LAKEWOOD, NJ |
Category | Automotive Body, Paint, | Automotive Body, Paint, |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Creative Colors or Maaco?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Creative Colors: $101K starting · Maaco: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Maaco
Creative Colors: 12 SBA loans · Maaco: 608 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Creative Colors
Creative Colors: 0.0% · Maaco: 12.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Creative Colors: 73 units · Maaco: 467 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Maaco
Creative Colors: 7.5% · Maaco: 4%
More lender financing options
Maaco
Creative Colors: 6 unique lenders · Maaco: 188 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
Creative Colors vs Maaco: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Creative Colors and Maaco is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $1.4M.
Creative Colors has 12 SBA loans on record and Maaco has 608. 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.
Creative Colors vs Maaco, Frequently Asked Questions
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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