Board & Brush Creative Studios
The total investment to open a Board & Brush Creative Studios franchise ranges from $15,000 to $150,000. The initial franchise fee is $24,295.
What is the Board & Brush Creative Studios franchise?
Board Brushcreative Studios operates in experiential retail and creative workshops, with its core offering centered on hands on projects rather than ordinary product sales. Customers create personalized items such as decorative wooden signs, custom painted home décor, and other tangible pieces. The brand is headquartered in ROCHESTER, MN, and has 34 active franchised units. It has no company owned locations. Board Brushcreative Studios is categorized under Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing, although its customer experience centers on making these items in a social workshop setting. The broader market includes DIY workshops, craft studios, and creative learning centers, and was valued globally at an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2023. Analysts forecast a compound annual growth rate exceeding 10% through 2030. Demographic change and consumer interest in meaningful participation rather than passive consumption support this category. Board Brushcreative Studios reports 32 total units alongside its 34 franchised units, reflecting a focused system built around independent operators and franchised expansion. Its model gives local owners a role in building community relationships while offering customers opportunities for creativity, connection, and a finished product they can take home.
The global DIY crafts market is estimated at $50 billion, with projections for a CAGR of 6-8% over the next five years. Consumers are showing greater interest in activities that provide an experience, a shareable moment, or a chance to build a skill. Millennials and Gen Z in particular often place value on participation and personal meaning rather than simply acquiring more goods. Board Brushcreative Studios addresses that preference through workshops where customers produce keepsakes while spending time with others. Demand is also supported by interest in personalization. In a mass production environment, customers may prefer items that reflect their own style, story, or home. Creative activities can provide stress reduction, mindfulness, and a sense of accomplishment, while giving participants a break from digital routines and a setting for direct human interaction. Competition in this segment is fragmented among independent studios, local art centers, and smaller regional chains. A franchise system can give owners shared operating procedures, established brand recognition, and coordinated marketing support. The workshop format can be adapted to different offerings and seasonal themes, helping attract repeat and new customers. The relatively low barrier for customers to participate, combined with the ability to offer workshops in different settings, supports the appeal of Board Brushcreative Studios within the broader Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing classification.
The initial franchise fee for Board Brushcreative Studios is $24,295. The source compares this with initial fees for many retail or service franchises, which commonly range from $30,000 to $50,000. The total initial investment is stated as ranging from $15,000 to $150,000. That spread indicates room for different formats, locations, and build out plans. A lower investment could support a smaller studio, a mobile workshop approach, or a space shared with another business. A higher investment could support a larger studio in a high traffic urban or suburban retail center, along with custom finishes, more opening inventory, and a more developed point of sale and reservation system. This range allows a buyer to match the format and capital plan to local conditions. Buyers should also plan for operating cash beyond the initial investment during the ramp up period. Ongoing royalty and advertising fees are part of the usual franchise cost structure, although specific amounts are not stated in the source. These fees generally support corporate infrastructure, brand development, system marketing, brand materials, operating updates, and promotional activity. A full ownership budget should also account for rent, utilities, labor, inventory replenishment, insurance, and local marketing. PeerSense is a commercial capital advisory firm that introduces franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lenders. PeerSense is not a lender and does not approve or provide loans.
A Board Brushcreative Studios location centers on hosting creative workshops, handling customer bookings, and overseeing studio staff. The owner or studio manager is expected to maintain a welcoming environment, coordinate schedules, and help deliver a consistent experience. Staffing is described as relatively modest, often consisting of a studio manager or owner operator supported by part time creative instructors. These instructors may be artists or craft enthusiasts who guide customers through material selection and techniques for creating wooden signs, home décor, and other DIY projects. The $15,000 to $150,000 investment range suggests that the system may support more than one operating format, including traditional studios of different sizes, mobile workshop units for off site events, and pop up locations inside existing retail spaces. The franchisor provides a training program intended to cover the main parts of studio operation. Those areas typically include workshop instruction, customer service, marketing, inventory management, and use of the proprietary point of sale system. Continuing corporate support may include operating updates, new workshop designs and materials, marketing collateral, and help with operational or strategic issues. This support is intended to keep owners aligned with brand standards and changing customer preferences. The territory structure is generally designed to give franchisees an exclusive operating area, limiting internal competition and supporting focused customer development. Specific multi unit requirements are not stated, but the 34 active franchised units and the scalable workshop model indicate an opportunity for qualified owners to develop more than one location.
Evaluation therefore requires attention to industry comparisons, the brand’s unit growth, customer response, and the buyer’s own operating assumptions. The global DIY crafts market is projected to exceed $70 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 6-8%. Board Brushcreative Studios has 34 active franchised locations, which is a meaningful footprint for a specialized concept. All 34 units are franchised, with no company owned locations, so the system depends on its independent operators. Customer ratings for the 34 active locations are described as an external indicator of service quality and customer satisfaction. Consistently strong ratings across locations would support the view that the system can deliver a reliable experience. The Loan Activity Score is 51 and is categorized as Moderate. That score indicates a balanced risk and reward profile, a solid operating foundation, and reasonable growth prospects without an exceptionally high risk profile or an aggressive expansion approach. It suggests a potentially stable path for a diligent owner, while still requiring a buyer to test local demand, costs, staffing, and cash flow.
Board Brushcreative Studios is described as being in an expansion phase within experiential retail. The brand has 32 total units and 34 active franchised units, and its growth model is fully franchisee led. With no company owned units, expansion depends on local entrepreneurs and their connection to the communities they serve. This structure can allow the brand to expand without the capital demands associated with corporate owned locations. Growth to 34 active franchised locations reflects the onboarding of new franchisees and a wider reach across different markets. Broader consumer interest in hands on activities that encourage connection and creativity supports the category, even though the source does not identify specific recent developments for Board Brushcreative Studios. The brand’s potential competitive advantages include recognition and a distinct visual identity developed across its 34 locations. Proprietary workshop designs, material sourcing, and operating practices can give franchisees a starting point that independent businesses must develop on their own. Local owners can also build relationships with families, community groups, and businesses while the broader brand provides a common identity. Possible uses include social gatherings, corporate team building events, and family activities. Online booking, social media engagement, and possible virtual workshop offerings can extend access beyond the studio. These tools may help owners manage reservations, reach customers, and respond to changing preferences. The creation process remains the central offer within the Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing category, rather than the simple sale of finished goods.
The strongest franchisee candidate is described as someone with a genuine interest in creativity, community involvement, and business operations. Arts experience can help, but management ability, customer service skills, and local marketing may matter more. An owner should be comfortable creating memorable customer experiences and supervising a small team of creative instructors. A community minded operator can pursue local partnerships and develop the studio as a place for social activity and artistic expression. The 34 franchised units show that the model can be expanded, and qualified owners may have an opportunity to develop multiple locations or territories. The source states that prime territories are still likely available in numerous markets across the country. The typical period from signing a franchise agreement to opening a location is often three to six months. That period can include site selection, lease negotiation, studio construction or customization, initial training, and pre opening marketing. Franchise agreements generally address territory exclusivity, operating standards, brand use, and renewal options, setting out the rights and responsibilities of both parties.
Board Brushcreative Studios offers an entry point into experiential retail and creative workshops through a franchise system with 34 active franchised units and no company owned locations. Its $24,295 franchise fee and $15,000 to $150,000 initial investment range allow for different operating formats and capital plans. The brand operates within a market that includes DIY crafts, creative learning, and customer made home décor, while its classification remains Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing. The Loan Activity Score of 51, categorized as Moderate, points to a balanced risk and reward profile rather than a guarantee of financial results. Buyers should give particular attention to local demand, occupancy costs, staffing, marketing, workshop scheduling, inventory, and available working capital. For franchise buyers assessing funding options, PeerSense provides commercial capital advisory services and introductions to SBA and conventional lenders. PeerSense is not a lender, does not fund loans, and does not approve financing.
Loan Activity Score
51/100
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
Active Lenders
30
According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, Board & Brush Creative Studios has 34 locations, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 30 lenders made 41 loans to franchisees of Board & Brush Creative Studios. PeerSense calculates Board & Brush Creative Studios's score as 51 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity.
34 locations
$15,000 to $150,000
$24,295
34
34 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
ModerateDistinct lenders in public SBA records for Board & Brush Creative Studios
41
Total SBA loans
$73K
Average loan size
Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025
Referral fee at closing
SBA Lending Activity for Board & Brush Creative Studios
Loan Activity Score Breakdown
Established (25 to 99 loans)
Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.
Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.
Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.
FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.
Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.
SBA Lending Performance
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
vs 10.3% peer avg
SBA Loans
41
Total Volume
$3.0M
Active Lenders
30
5 selective
States
22
vs. SBA Sector Average
SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors
Key Highlights
Franchise Financing Resources
Data Insights
Key performance metrics for Board & Brush Creative Studios based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
10.3% below peer avg
SBA Loan Volume
41 loans
Across 30 lenders
Lender Diversity
30 lenders
Avg 1.4 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Low cost entry
$15,000 to $150,000 total
Board & Brush Creative Studios: Deep SBA Data
Brand specific metrics derived directly from SBA 7(a) approval records: peak lending year, leading state, average loan size, and lender concentration. PeerSense computes these per brand so capital advisors and prospective franchisees can benchmark this opportunity against the rest of the franchise universe.
Peak SBA Year
2019
11 approvals. The best year on record for Board & Brush Creative Studios.
Top SBA State
Minnesota
4 SBA financed Board & Brush Creative Studios locations, the densest operator footprint.
Average Loan Size
$73K
Median $61K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own Board & Brush Creative Studios unit.
Lender Concentration
22%
Moderately Spread
Share of Board & Brush Creative Studios approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.
Board & Brush Creative Studios's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 2019 (11 approvals). The last five fiscal years account for 39% of cumulative volume ($1.6M approved). Operator density is highest in Minnesota with 4 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $73K, with the median at $61K. Lender mix is moderately spread: the top three SBA lenders account for 22% of approvals. Borrowers have leverage to shop multiple credit boxes.
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$155
Principal & Interest only
Indicative only, as of October 1, 2026. Not a quote, commitment or offer of credit. Final pricing, leverage and terms are determined by the lender at underwriting, after full transaction materials are reviewed. PeerSense sources the file. The lender sets pricing. What these terms mean.
Locations
Board & Brush Creative Studios, unit breakdown
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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
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