Surface Experts vs The Great Frame Up
Surface Experts vs The Great Frame Up: Surface Experts costs $133K to $232K to open; The Great Frame Up costs $114K to $209K. Surface Experts has 33 units, The Great Frame Up has 54. SBA loan history: Surface Experts = 41 loans (2.4% default); The Great Frame Up = 34 loans (14.7% 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.
Surface Experts vs The Great Frame Up: 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
The Great Frame Up requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($114K vs $133K for Surface Experts), a 17% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $110K for Surface Experts versus $30K for The Great Frame Up, The Great Frame Up has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Surface Experts and 6% for The Great Frame Up, giving The Great Frame Up the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, The Great Frame Up operates 54 units to Surface Experts's 33. The Great Frame Up has been operating 19 years (founded 2007) versus 18 for Surface Experts (founded 2008), a 1-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Surface Experts has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 41 7(a) approvals compared with 34 for The Great Frame Up. Surface Experts's peak SBA year was 2025 (9 loans); The Great Frame Up's peak was 2005 (7 loans). Surface Experts's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in FL. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Surface Experts deals is $157K vs $127K for The Great Frame Up, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 2.4% for Surface Experts and 14.7% for The Great Frame Up, Surface Experts has the cleaner SBA loss record by 12.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 66 (Strong) for Surface Experts and 34 (Fair) for The Great Frame Up, giving Surface Experts the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 66/100 | 34/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 41 | 34 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 2.4% | 14.7% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $133K to $232K | $114K to $209K |
Franchise Fee | $110K | $30K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 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 | 33 | 54 |
Franchised Units | 33 | 54 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2008 | 2007 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2007 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 19 yrs |
Headquarters | Spokane, FL | IN |
Category | Other Personal | Other Personal |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Surface Experts or The Great Frame Up?
Lower upfront capital required
The Great Frame Up
Surface Experts: $133K starting · The Great Frame Up: $114K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Surface Experts
Surface Experts: 41 SBA loans · The Great Frame Up: 34 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Surface Experts
Surface Experts: 2.4% · The Great Frame Up: 14.7%
Larger system & brand presence
The Great Frame Up
Surface Experts: 33 units · The Great Frame Up: 54 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Great Frame Up
Surface Experts: 8% · The Great Frame Up: 6%
More lender financing options
The Great Frame Up
Surface Experts: 13 unique lenders · The Great Frame Up: 19 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
Surface Experts vs The Great Frame Up: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Surface Experts and The Great Frame Up is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $114K to $232K.
Surface Experts has 41 SBA loans on record and The Great Frame Up has 34. 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.
Surface Experts vs The Great Frame Up, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Surface Experts or The Great Frame Up?
How much does a Surface Experts franchise cost compared to The Great Frame Up?
Can I finance Surface Experts or The Great Frame Up with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Surface Experts or The Great Frame Up?
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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; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and 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