Glass Doctor vs Novus Windshield Repair
Glass Doctor vs Novus Windshield Repair: Glass Doctor costs $153K–$308K to open; Novus Windshield Repair costs $24K–$270K. Glass Doctor has 79 units, Novus Windshield Repair has 17. SBA loan history: Glass Doctor = 118 loans (17.8% default); Novus Windshield Repair = 18 loans (5.6% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Glass Doctor vs Novus Windshield Repair — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Novus Windshield Repair requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($24K vs $153K for Glass Doctor), a 531% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for Glass Doctor versus $26K for Novus Windshield Repair — Novus Windshield Repair has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Glass Doctor and 6% for Novus Windshield Repair, giving Novus Windshield Repair the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Glass Doctor operates 79 units to Novus Windshield Repair's 17 — roughly 5× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Glass Doctor has the deeper SBA lending track record with 118 historical 7(a) approvals versus 18 for Novus Windshield Repair. Glass Doctor's peak SBA year was 2024 (11 loans); Novus Windshield Repair's peak was 2003 (3 loans). Glass Doctor's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Glass Doctor concentrates in TX (14 SBA-funded units) while Novus Windshield Repair leads in CO (3) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Glass Doctor deals is $213K vs $144K for Novus Windshield Repair — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 17.8% for Glass Doctor and 5.6% for Novus Windshield Repair — Novus Windshield Repair has the cleaner historical loss profile by 12.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 68 (Strong) for Glass Doctor and 45 (Fair) for Novus Windshield Repair, giving Glass Doctor the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 68/100 | 45/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Growing | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 118 | 18 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 17.8% | 5.6% |
Peer Tier | major | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $153K – $308K | $24K – $270K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $26K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 4% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $50K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $250K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 79 | 17 |
Franchised Units | 79 | 17 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1962 | N/A |
Franchising Since | 1978 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 48 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Waco, TX | CASTLE ROCK, CO |
Category | Automotive Glass Replacement Shops | Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2024 |
Which Is Better — Glass Doctor or Novus Windshield Repair?
Lower upfront capital required
Novus Windshield Repair
Glass Doctor: $153K starting · Novus Windshield Repair: $24K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Glass Doctor
Glass Doctor: 118 SBA loans · Novus Windshield Repair: 18 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Novus Windshield Repair
Glass Doctor: 17.8% · Novus Windshield Repair: 5.6%
Larger system & brand presence
Glass Doctor
Glass Doctor: 79 units · Novus Windshield Repair: 17 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Novus Windshield Repair
Glass Doctor: 7% · Novus Windshield Repair: 6%
More lender financing options
Glass Doctor
Glass Doctor: 61 unique lenders · Novus Windshield Repair: 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
Glass Doctor vs Novus Windshield Repair: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Glass Doctor and Novus Windshield Repair is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $24K to $308K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Glass Doctor with 118 SBA loans and Novus Windshield Repair with 18. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.