Duraclean vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care
Duraclean vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: Duraclean costs $165K to $327K to open; Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care costs $27K to $488K. Duraclean has 15 units, Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care has 12. SBA loan history: Duraclean = 18 loans (11.1% 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.
Duraclean 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 $165K for Duraclean), a 520% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Duraclean operates 15 units to Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care's 12.
SBA Lending Profile
Duraclean has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 18 7(a) approvals compared with 15 for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care. Duraclean's peak SBA year was 2005 (3 loans); Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care's peak was 2012 (2 loans). Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Duraclean has the most SBA funded units in PA, with 3. 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 Duraclean deals is $134K vs $226K for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.1% for Duraclean and 13.3% for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, Duraclean has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 43 (Fair) for Duraclean and 28 (Fair) for Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, giving Duraclean the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 43/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 18 | 15 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.1% | 13.3% |
Peer Tier | growing | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $165K to $327K | $27K to $488K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 15 | 12 |
Franchised Units | 15 | 12 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1930 | N/A |
Franchising Since | 1998 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 28 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | NH | Springdale, AR |
Category | Carpet | Carpet |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Duraclean or Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Duraclean: $165K starting · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: $27K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Duraclean
Duraclean: 18 SBA loans · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 15 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Duraclean
Duraclean: 11.1% · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 13.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Duraclean: 15 units · Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: 12 units
More lender financing options
Duraclean
Duraclean: 15 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
Duraclean vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Duraclean 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.
Duraclean has 18 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.
Duraclean vs Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Duraclean or Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care?
How much does a Duraclean franchise cost compared to Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care?
Can I finance Duraclean or Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Duraclean 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