Footprint Floors vs Garage Experts
Footprint Floors vs Garage Experts: Footprint Floors costs $44K to $150K to open; Garage Experts costs $25K to $1.0M. Footprint Floors has 19 units, Garage Experts has 10. SBA loan history: Footprint Floors = 21 loans (0.0% default); Garage Experts = 11 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.
Footprint Floors vs Garage 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
Garage Experts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $44K for Footprint Floors), a 76% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $66K for Footprint Floors versus $50K for Garage Experts, Garage Experts has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Footprint Floors and 8% for Garage Experts, giving Footprint Floors the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Footprint Floors operates 19 units to Garage Experts's 10.
SBA Lending Profile
Footprint Floors has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 21 7(a) approvals compared with 11 for Garage Experts. Footprint Floors's peak SBA year was 2024 (7 loans); Garage Experts's peak was 2018 (3 loans). Footprint Floors's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Footprint Floors has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 5. Garage Experts leads in FL, 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 Footprint Floors deals is $112K vs $382K for Garage Experts, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Footprint Floors and 0.0% for Garage Experts. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 72 (Strong) for Footprint Floors and 54 (Moderate) for Garage Experts, giving Footprint Floors the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 72/100 | 54/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Growing | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 21 | 11 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $44K to $150K | $25K to $1.0M |
Franchise Fee | $66K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 8% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 19 | 10 |
Franchised Units | 19 | 10 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2008 | N/A |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2008 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 18 yrs |
Headquarters | CYPRESS, TX | JACKSONVILLE, FL |
Category | Flooring Contractors | Flooring Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Footprint Floors or Garage Experts?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Footprint Floors: $44K starting · Garage Experts: $25K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Footprint Floors
Footprint Floors: 21 SBA loans · Garage Experts: 11 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Footprint Floors: 0.0% · Garage Experts: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Footprint Floors: 19 units · Garage Experts: 10 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Footprint Floors
Footprint Floors: 6% · Garage Experts: 8%
More lender financing options
Garage Experts
Footprint Floors: 8 unique lenders · Garage Experts: 9 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
Footprint Floors vs Garage Experts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Footprint Floors and Garage Experts is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $1.0M.
Footprint Floors has 21 SBA loans on record and Garage Experts has 11. 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.
Footprint Floors vs Garage Experts, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Footprint Floors or Garage Experts?
How much does a Footprint Floors franchise cost compared to Garage Experts?
Can I finance Footprint Floors or Garage Experts with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Footprint Floors or Garage 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