Set The Stage vs Showhomes
Set The Stage vs Showhomes: Set The Stage costs $150K to $300K to open; Showhomes costs $49K to $158K. Set The Stage has 23 units, Showhomes has 6. SBA loan history: Set The Stage = 25 loans (0.0% default); Showhomes = 7 loans (14.3% 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.
Set The Stage vs Showhomes: 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
Showhomes requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($49K vs $150K for Set The Stage), a 207% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Set The Stage versus $40K for Showhomes, Set The Stage has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5.5% for Set The Stage and 6% for Showhomes, giving Set The Stage the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Set The Stage operates 23 units to Showhomes's 6, roughly 4× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Set The Stage has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 25 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for Showhomes. Set The Stage's peak SBA year was 2025 (16 loans); Showhomes's peak was 2018 (3 loans). Set The Stage's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Set The Stage has the most SBA funded units in GA, with 4. Showhomes 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 Set The Stage deals is $237K vs $149K for Showhomes, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Set The Stage and 14.3% for Showhomes, Set The Stage has the cleaner SBA loss record by 14.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 70 (Strong) for Set The Stage and 28 (Fair) for Showhomes, giving Set The Stage the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 70/100 | 28/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 25 | 7 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 14.3% |
Peer Tier | established | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $150K to $300K | $49K to $158K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 5.5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 23 | 6 |
Franchised Units | 23 | 6 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | N/A |
Franchising Since | 2016 | 2014 |
Years Franchising | 10 yrs | 12 yrs |
Headquarters | Atlanta, GA | FL |
Category | Interior Design Services | Interior Design Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Set The Stage or Showhomes?
Lower upfront capital required
Showhomes
Set The Stage: $150K starting · Showhomes: $49K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Set The Stage
Set The Stage: 25 SBA loans · Showhomes: 7 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Set The Stage
Set The Stage: 0.0% · Showhomes: 14.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Set The Stage
Set The Stage: 23 units · Showhomes: 6 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Set The Stage
Set The Stage: 5.5% · Showhomes: 6%
More lender financing options
Set The Stage
Set The Stage: 8 unique lenders · Showhomes: 4 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
Set The Stage vs Showhomes: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Set The Stage and Showhomes is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $49K to $300K.
Set The Stage has 25 SBA loans on record and Showhomes has 7. 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.
Set The Stage vs Showhomes, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Set The Stage or Showhomes?
How much does a Set The Stage franchise cost compared to Showhomes?
Can I finance Set The Stage or Showhomes with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Set The Stage or Showhomes?
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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