Ellie Mental Health vs Success On The Spectrum
Ellie Mental Health vs Success On The Spectrum: Ellie Mental Health costs $30K to $350K to open; Success On The Spectrum costs $129K to $530K. Ellie Mental Health has 71 units, Success On The Spectrum has 60. SBA loan history: Ellie Mental Health = 123 loans (0.8% default); Success On The Spectrum = 69 loans (0.0% 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.
Ellie Mental Health vs Success On The Spectrum: 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
Ellie Mental Health requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $129K for Success On The Spectrum), a 77% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for Ellie Mental Health versus $30K for Success On The Spectrum. Ongoing royalty load is 7.5% for Ellie Mental Health and 5% for Success On The Spectrum, giving Success On The Spectrum the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Ellie Mental Health operates 71 units to Success On The Spectrum's 60. Success On The Spectrum has been operating 11 years (founded 2015) versus 11 for Ellie Mental Health (founded 2015), a 0-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Ellie Mental Health has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 123 7(a) approvals compared with 69 for Success On The Spectrum. Ellie Mental Health's peak SBA year was 2023 (77 loans); Success On The Spectrum's peak was 2025 (29 loans). Success On The Spectrum's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Ellie Mental Health deals is $185K vs $372K for Success On The Spectrum, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.8% for Ellie Mental Health and 0.0% for Success On The Spectrum, Success On The Spectrum has the cleaner SBA loss record by 0.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 73 (Strong) for Ellie Mental Health and 92 (Excellent) for Success On The Spectrum, giving Success On The Spectrum the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 73/100 | 92/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Excellent |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Surging |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 123 | 69 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.8% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $30K to $350K | $129K to $530K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 7.5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 2% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $125K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $250K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 71 | 60 |
Franchised Units | 71 | 60 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2015 | 2015 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Cedar Park, TX | CYPRESS, TX |
Category | Offices of Mental Health Practitioners | Offices of Mental Health Practitioners |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Ellie Mental Health or Success On The Spectrum?
Lower upfront capital required
Ellie Mental Health
Ellie Mental Health: $30K starting · Success On The Spectrum: $129K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Ellie Mental Health
Ellie Mental Health: 123 SBA loans · Success On The Spectrum: 69 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Success On The Spectrum
Ellie Mental Health: 0.8% · Success On The Spectrum: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Ellie Mental Health
Ellie Mental Health: 71 units · Success On The Spectrum: 60 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Success On The Spectrum
Ellie Mental Health: 7.5% · Success On The Spectrum: 5%
More lender financing options
Success On The Spectrum
Ellie Mental Health: 14 unique lenders · Success On The Spectrum: 21 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.
Need Funding for Ellie Mental Health or Success On The Spectrum?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Ellie Mental Health vs Success On The Spectrum: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Ellie Mental Health and Success On The Spectrum is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $30K to $530K.
Ellie Mental Health has 123 SBA loans on record and Success On The Spectrum has 69. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.
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.
Ellie Mental Health vs Success On The Spectrum, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Ellie Mental Health or Success On The Spectrum?
How much does a Ellie Mental Health franchise cost compared to Success On The Spectrum?
Can I finance Ellie Mental Health or Success On The Spectrum with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Ellie Mental Health or Success On The Spectrum?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
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