Five Star Painting vs Maid Brigade
Five Star Painting vs Maid Brigade: Five Star Painting costs $77K to $185K to open; Maid Brigade costs $75K to $676K. Five Star Painting has 245 units, Maid Brigade has 41. SBA loan history: Five Star Painting = 75 loans (14.7% default); Maid Brigade = 51 loans (11.8% 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.
Five Star Painting vs Maid Brigade: 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
Maid Brigade requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($75K vs $77K for Five Star Painting), a 3% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Five Star Painting versus $65K for Maid Brigade, Five Star Painting has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Five Star Painting and 6.9% for Maid Brigade, giving Five Star Painting the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Five Star Painting operates 245 units to Maid Brigade's 41, roughly 6× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Five Star Painting has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 75 7(a) approvals compared with 51 for Maid Brigade. Five Star Painting's peak SBA year was 2019 (15 loans); Maid Brigade's peak was 2002 (9 loans). Five Star Painting's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Five Star Painting has the most SBA funded units in FL, with 8. Maid Brigade leads in CA, 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 Five Star Painting deals is $155K vs $186K for Maid Brigade, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 14.7% for Five Star Painting and 11.8% for Maid Brigade, Maid Brigade has the cleaner SBA loss record by 2.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 59 (Moderate) for Five Star Painting and 54 (Moderate) for Maid Brigade, giving Five Star Painting the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 59/100 | 54/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 75 | 51 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 14.7% | 11.8% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $77K to $185K | $75K to $676K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $65K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6.9% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 3% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $95K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 245 | 41 |
Franchised Units | 245 | 41 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1979 |
Franchising Since | 2007 | 2021 |
Years Franchising | 19 yrs | 5 yrs |
Headquarters | CHARLESTON, SC | Newhall, CA |
Category | Painting | Painting |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Five Star Painting or Maid Brigade?
Lower upfront capital required
Maid Brigade
Five Star Painting: $77K starting · Maid Brigade: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Five Star Painting
Five Star Painting: 75 SBA loans · Maid Brigade: 51 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Maid Brigade
Five Star Painting: 14.7% · Maid Brigade: 11.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Five Star Painting
Five Star Painting: 245 units · Maid Brigade: 41 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Five Star Painting
Five Star Painting: 6% · Maid Brigade: 6.9%
More lender financing options
Maid Brigade
Five Star Painting: 18 unique lenders · Maid Brigade: 32 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
Five Star Painting vs Maid Brigade: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Five Star Painting and Maid Brigade is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $75K to $676K.
Five Star Painting has 75 SBA loans on record and Maid Brigade has 51. 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.
Five Star Painting vs Maid Brigade, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Five Star Painting or Maid Brigade?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Five Star Painting or Maid Brigade?
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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