Garage Force vs Handyman Matters
Garage Force vs Handyman Matters: Garage Force costs $89K to $227K to open; Handyman Matters costs $44K to $192K. Garage Force has 32 units, Handyman Matters has 17. SBA loan history: Garage Force = 35 loans (5.7% default); Handyman Matters = 12 loans (16.7% 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.
Garage Force vs Handyman Matters: 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
Handyman Matters requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($44K vs $89K for Garage Force), a 102% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Garage Force versus $70K for Handyman Matters, Garage Force has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Garage Force and 6% for Handyman Matters, giving Garage Force the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Garage Force operates 32 units to Handyman Matters's 17. Handyman Matters has been operating 28 years (founded 1998) versus 15 for Garage Force (founded 2011), a 13-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Garage Force has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 35 7(a) approvals compared with 12 for Handyman Matters. Garage Force's peak SBA year was 2025 (9 loans); Handyman Matters's peak was 2020 (5 loans). Garage Force's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Garage Force has the most SBA funded units in IL, with 7. Handyman Matters leads in TX, with 4. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Garage Force deals is $150K vs $102K for Handyman Matters, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 5.7% for Garage Force and 16.7% for Handyman Matters, Garage Force has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 65 (Strong) for Garage Force and 25 (Fair) for Handyman Matters, giving Garage Force the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 65/100 | 25/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 35 | 12 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 5.7% | 16.7% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $89K to $227K | $44K to $192K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $70K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 32 | 17 |
Franchised Units | 32 | 17 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2011 | 1998 |
Franchising Since | 2014 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 12 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Onalaska, WI | Lakewood, CO |
Category | Other Building Finishing Contractors | Other Building Finishing Contractors |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Garage Force or Handyman Matters?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Garage Force: $89K starting · Handyman Matters: $44K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Garage Force
Garage Force: 35 SBA loans · Handyman Matters: 12 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Garage Force
Garage Force: 5.7% · Handyman Matters: 16.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Garage Force: 32 units · Handyman Matters: 17 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Garage Force
Garage Force: 5% · Handyman Matters: 6%
More lender financing options
Garage Force
Garage Force: 9 unique lenders · Handyman Matters: 6 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
Garage Force vs Handyman Matters: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Garage Force and Handyman Matters is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $44K to $227K.
Garage Force has 35 SBA loans on record and Handyman Matters has 12. 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.
Garage Force vs Handyman Matters, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Garage Force or Handyman Matters?
How much does a Garage Force franchise cost compared to Handyman Matters?
Can I finance Garage Force or Handyman Matters with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Garage Force or Handyman Matters?
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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