Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt vs Surface Experts
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt vs Surface Experts: Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt costs $133K to $201K to open; Surface Experts costs $133K to $232K. Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt has 21 units, Surface Experts has 33. SBA loan history: Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt = 21 loans (0.0% default); Surface Experts = 41 loans (2.4% 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.
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt vs Surface Experts: 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
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($133K vs $133K for Surface Experts), a 0% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt versus $110K for Surface Experts, Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt and 8% for Surface Experts, giving Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Surface Experts operates 33 units to Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt's 21. Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt has been operating 24 years (founded 2002) versus 18 for Surface Experts (founded 2008), a 6-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Surface Experts has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 41 7(a) approvals compared with 21 for Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt and 2.4% for Surface Experts, Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt and 66 (Strong) for Surface Experts, giving Surface Experts the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 57/100 | 66/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 21 | 41 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 2.4% |
Peer Tier | growing | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $133K to $201K | $133K to $232K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $110K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 8% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 3% |
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 | 21 | 33 |
Franchised Units | 21 | 33 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2002 | 2008 |
Franchising Since | 2023 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 3 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Malvern, PA | Spokane, FL |
Category | Other Personal | Other Personal |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt or Surface Experts?
Lower upfront capital required
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt: $133K starting · Surface Experts: $133K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Surface Experts
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt: 21 SBA loans · Surface Experts: 41 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt: 0.0% · Surface Experts: 2.4%
Larger system & brand presence
Surface Experts
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt: 21 units · Surface Experts: 33 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt: 6% · Surface Experts: 8%
More lender financing options
Surface Experts
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt: 5 unique lenders · Surface Experts: 13 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
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt vs Surface Experts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt and Surface Experts is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $133K to $232K.
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt has 21 SBA loans on record and Surface Experts has 41. 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.
Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt vs Surface Experts, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt or Surface Experts?
How much does a Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt franchise cost compared to Surface Experts?
Can I finance Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt or Surface Experts with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Fitness Machine Technicians Fmt or Surface Experts?
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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