Floor Coverings vs Footprint Floors
Floor Coverings vs Footprint Floors: Floor Coverings costs $40K to $300K to open; Footprint Floors costs $44K to $150K. Floor Coverings has 134 units, Footprint Floors has 19. SBA loan history: Floor Coverings = 156 loans (6.4% default); Footprint Floors = 21 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.
Floor Coverings vs Footprint Floors: 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
Floor Coverings requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($40K vs $44K for Footprint Floors), a 9% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for Floor Coverings versus $66K for Footprint Floors, Floor Coverings has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Floor Coverings and 6% for Footprint Floors, giving Floor Coverings the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Floor Coverings operates 134 units to Footprint Floors's 19, roughly 7× the system size. Floor Coverings has been operating 38 years (founded 1988) versus 18 for Footprint Floors (founded 2008), a 20-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Floor Coverings has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 156 7(a) approvals compared with 21 for Footprint Floors. Floor Coverings's peak SBA year was 2024 (28 loans); Footprint Floors's peak was 2024 (7 loans). Footprint Floors'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 Floor Coverings deals is $175K vs $112K for Footprint Floors, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 6.4% for Floor Coverings and 0.0% for Footprint Floors, Footprint Floors has the cleaner SBA loss record by 6.4 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 80 (Excellent) for Floor Coverings and 72 (Strong) for Footprint Floors, giving Floor Coverings the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 80/100 | 72/100 |
Health Tier | Excellent | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Growing | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 156 | 21 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 6.4% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | major | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $40K to $300K | $44K to $150K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $66K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $200K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 134 | 19 |
Franchised Units | 134 | 19 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1988 | 2008 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | STAFFORD, TX | CYPRESS, TX |
Category | Flooring Contractors | Flooring Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Floor Coverings or Footprint Floors?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Floor Coverings: $40K starting · Footprint Floors: $44K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Floor Coverings
Floor Coverings: 156 SBA loans · Footprint Floors: 21 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Footprint Floors
Floor Coverings: 6.4% · Footprint Floors: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Floor Coverings: 134 units · Footprint Floors: 19 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Floor Coverings
Floor Coverings: 5% · Footprint Floors: 6%
More lender financing options
Floor Coverings
Floor Coverings: 35 unique lenders · Footprint Floors: 8 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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Floor Coverings vs Footprint Floors: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Floor Coverings and Footprint Floors is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $40K to $300K.
Floor Coverings has 156 SBA loans on record and Footprint Floors has 21. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Both brands have an established underwriting path, though the lender that fits a specific deal still depends on its size, location and the buyer.
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.
Floor Coverings vs Footprint Floors, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Floor Coverings or Footprint Floors?
How much does a Floor Coverings franchise cost compared to Footprint Floors?
Can I finance Floor Coverings or Footprint Floors with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Floor Coverings or Footprint Floors?
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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
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