Color Tile
The total investment to open a Color Tile franchise ranges from $80,000 to $220,000.
What is the Color Tile franchise?
The Color Tile franchise operates in the specialized floor covering stores category and is headquartered in Apple Valley, MN. Its network includes 38 units, with each location serving as a local point for flooring sales, consultation, and customer support. The brand focuses on flooring products and related services rather than operating as a broad home improvement retailer. That focus supports expertise in flooring materials, designs, and installation services for residential and commercial customers. The Apple Valley headquarters provides central administrative and strategic direction for the network and supports consistency across all 38 locations. The unit count gives Color Tile a presence in multiple communities and reflects an established operating history in the flooring sector. Its model is built around a curated range of floor coverings, product knowledge, advice, and installation support. The company’s continued operation across 38 units also reflects its ability to serve changing demand for durable and varied flooring options. Each location contributes to the brand’s overall market presence while the centralized structure supports the operating standards of the Color Tile franchise. The category allows the business to focus on flooring requirements, including material selection, design guidance, and project support. This specialized approach distinguishes Color Tile from general home furnishings and home improvement retailers and positions its stores for customers seeking focused flooring expertise. The network of 38 units, together with the Apple Valley, MN headquarters, defines the brand’s current operating footprint and market identity. The model is intended to support efficiency, customer service, and consistent execution across the system. Its focus on floor coverings also gives the brand a basis for following product developments and serving a range of flooring projects through its established retail network.
Floor covering stores serve residential and commercial construction, renovation, and interior design projects. The market includes products such as hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, carpet, and specialized resilient flooring. These categories address different design preferences, budgets, durability needs, and functional requirements. Retailers such as Color Tile help customers compare those choices, select suitable materials, and arrange installation services. Demand comes from new construction as well as renovation work by existing homeowners and businesses. Housing starts, interest rates, disposable income, and interior design preferences can affect the timing and level of consumer spending on flooring. Demand can therefore move with economic conditions, although homes and commercial properties continue to require floor coverings. Consumers also seek flooring that is durable, attractive, functional, and suited to a particular space. Interest in personalized and high quality home environments increases the value of product knowledge, design assistance, and a broad selection. Changes in flooring materials continue to affect the category, including developments involving durability, sustainability, and aesthetic flexibility. The 38 Color Tile units participate in this market by offering contemporary and traditional flooring choices for different tastes and functional needs. Renovation cycles create opportunities when property owners update existing spaces, while new construction creates demand for initial flooring selections. The broader retail and home improvement markets influence the category, but specialized stores continue to serve customers who want focused advice and access to multiple flooring types. Color Tile’s established network gives it a presence in this market while requiring its locations to respond to material changes and shifting customer preferences. Its 38 units operate within a segment where product selection, service, and installation guidance can add value beyond the flooring materials themselves.
Opening a Color Tile franchise requires an estimated total investment of $80,000 to $220,000. The $80,000 figure represents the stated minimum capital requirement, while $220,000 is the stated upper end of the anticipated investment. The range is intended to cover the expenditures associated with starting and operating a Color Tile location. Actual needs can vary with the size of the store, inventory requirements, and market conditions. A larger establishment, a broader inventory position, or a premium market location may require an amount closer to the upper end of the range. For a prospective franchisee, the $80,000 to $220,000 range is the primary starting point for assessing financial readiness, arranging capital, and considering the scale of the proposed operation. It also provides a basis for reviewing the economic fit of a specialized floor covering store before moving further into due diligence. PeerSense assigns the Color Tile franchise a Loan Activity Score of 37. The Loan Activity Score is a proprietary PeerSense measure used to evaluate franchise opportunities and provide a comparative indicator within the wider franchise market. A score of 37 forms part of the available assessment of the brand’s overall attractiveness and performance indicators. The methodology behind that score is proprietary to PeerSense, but the figure gives buyers an additional point of comparison alongside the investment requirement. Considering the $80,000 to $220,000 investment range with the Loan Activity Score of 37 gives a prospective owner two initial metrics for reviewing the opportunity. The investment range addresses the expected capital commitment, while the score supplies an independent PeerSense assessment for the initial review of the Color Tile franchise in the floor covering stores category.
The Color Tile operating model is built around the practical needs of a specialized retail franchise, even though the source information does not state specific training durations or named support programs. A franchise system of this type generally gives owners a framework for daily operations and brand standards across its 38 units. That framework includes procedures for product procurement, inventory management, sales activity, and customer service. The network’s headquarters in Apple Valley, MN and its continued operation across 38 units indicate an established structure for supporting the system. Typical operating resources for this type of business may include manuals, a standardized point of sale system, and marketing assistance for promoting an individual location in its local market. Floor covering stores also require practical guidance on sourcing varied and high quality products, supplier agreements, installation practices, showroom layout, product displays, and flooring sales techniques. Those areas are especially relevant because customers often need help matching material, design, performance, and installation requirements. The continued operation of 38 Color Tile units indicates a business model that has been replicated across multiple locations and provides a framework for franchise owners to operate under the brand. The source does not identify particular corporate representatives, in store training arrangements, or research and development support for new products. Buyers should therefore review the franchisor’s materials for the exact scope of training, marketing, operational assistance, product support, and other services. The operating structure remains centered on consistent customer service and brand presentation at each Color Tile location. Its network size suggests that franchisees operate within a defined system rather than building every procurement, sales, and service process independently. For a specialized flooring business, support concerning products, installation, showroom presentation, and customer consultation can be material to day to day execution.
The stated investment range of $80,000 to $220,000 remains the principal financial measure available for assessing the size of the initial commitment. A prospective franchisee would need to combine that range with industry benchmarks, personal financial modeling, and direct questions to the franchisor when evaluating potential returns. The operation of 38 units headquartered in Apple Valley, MN indicates an established business structure and a degree of market acceptance. A careful review should also consider differences among markets, store sizes, inventory needs, staffing, installation activity, and local demand for flooring.
The Color Tile franchise has a current total of 38 units and an established presence in the floor covering stores sector. The available information does not provide specific expansion dates or stated growth targets for a new owner. Maintaining 38 operating locations from the Apple Valley, MN headquarters reflects a business model that has been replicated across multiple markets and sustained over time. The network’s size also indicates continuing appeal among entrepreneurs and customers in the flooring category. Color Tile’s principal competitive distinction is its specialization in floor coverings. That focus can support deeper knowledge of product selection, design consultation, and installation services than a general home goods retailer may provide. The product category includes hardwood, laminate, tile, carpet, and vinyl, allowing the brand to address a range of design preferences, budgets, and project requirements. A broad flooring selection combined with specialized advice can help attract customers who want a dedicated solution for a flooring project. The 38 unit network may also support brand recognition and provide opportunities for purchasing and marketing efficiencies across the system. The source does not identify proprietary technology, innovative products, or unique service offerings as specific competitive advantages. The core strength described is the specialized retail model together with a record of operating 38 locations. The Loan Activity Score of 37 does not directly measure expansion potential, but it provides a PeerSense assessment of the opportunity’s overall health and attractiveness. Sustaining 38 units in a competitive flooring market indicates a model that has responded to changes in materials, design preferences, and customer needs. By concentrating on flooring, Color Tile can position its stores as destinations for customers seeking product expertise and specialized service. That concentration may support customer loyalty when buyers value help with selection, design, and installation rather than shopping only for a product.
A suitable Color Tile franchisee would generally bring entrepreneurial initiative, business judgment, and an interest in home improvement or retail, with particular relevance to floor covering stores. Experience with retail operations, customer service, sales, or management could be useful in this specialized setting. The owner must be prepared to manage a team, oversee inventory, and work with customers on flooring selection and design. Understanding how to present products and guide customers through material choices is relevant because floor covering purchases often involve several options and installation considerations. Strong operating discipline would also help with product procurement, showroom presentation, sales processes, and service delivery. The source does not define specific territory rights, exclusive territory provisions, population requirements, or multi unit opportunities for the Color Tile franchise. Buyers should obtain those terms directly from the franchisor before evaluating a proposed location. The existing network of 38 units suggests that market penetration and location planning have been part of the system’s development. Geographic distribution is not detailed, so the available information does not establish how the units are allocated among regions or how much market room remains in a particular area. Territory decisions would ordinarily consider population density, local demand for floor coverings, economic conditions, and the proximity of existing Color Tile locations. A prospective owner should ask how territories are assigned, what protections apply, and whether future locations could affect an existing store. The estimated investment of $80,000 to $220,000 is relevant to the candidate’s financial preparation and the size of the proposed operation. The Loan Activity Score of 37 provides another initial reference point when assessing the opportunity. Together, those figures can help a buyer compare personal resources and expectations with the demands of operating a specialized floor covering store. The strongest candidate would need to evaluate both personal capabilities and the local market before deciding whether the Color Tile model fits.
The Color Tile franchise offers an established concept in the specialized retail category of floor covering stores. It has 38 total units and a corporate headquarters in Apple Valley, MN. The estimated investment is $80,000 to $220,000, and PeerSense assigns the opportunity a Loan Activity Score of 37. Those figures provide a starting framework for reviewing the required capital and the independent PeerSense assessment. The existing 38 unit network indicates market acceptance and an operating structure that has continued across multiple locations. A buyer should obtain the franchisor’s financial disclosures and evaluate the proposed market, operating costs, inventory needs, staffing requirements, and customer demand before making a decision. Color Tile’s specialized focus gives owners a platform for selling flooring products and providing product, design, and installation guidance within a continuing residential and commercial need. The brand’s model is supported by a network that includes 38 units, while the investment range gives prospective franchisees a defined initial capital reference. PeerSense can introduce franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lenders for financing discussions, but PeerSense is not a lender. A complete review should address the investment, the Loan Activity Score of 37, the operating support available, territory terms, and the financial information supplied directly by the franchisor.
Loan Activity Score
37/100
SBA Default Rate
29.1%
Active Lenders
36
According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, Color Tile has 55 locations, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 36 lenders made 79 loans to franchisees of Color Tile. PeerSense calculates Color Tile's score as 37 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity.
55 locations
$80,000 to $220,000
55
55 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
FairDistinct lenders in public SBA records for Color Tile
79
Total SBA loans
$145K
Average loan size
Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025
Referral fee at closing
SBA Lending Activity for Color Tile
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
29.1%
vs 9.4% peer avg
SBA Loans
79
Total Volume
$11.4M
Active Lenders
36
7 selective
States
33
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 Color Tile based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
29.1%
19.7% above peer avg
SBA Loan Volume
79 loans
Across 36 lenders
Lender Diversity
36 lenders
Avg 2.2 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Mid range investment
$80,000 to $220,000 total
Color Tile: 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
1995
26 approvals. The best year on record for Color Tile.
Top SBA State
Minnesota
7 SBA financed Color Tile locations, the densest operator footprint.
Average Loan Size
$145K
Median $123K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own Color Tile unit.
Lender Concentration
48.1%
Concentrated
Share of Color Tile approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.
Color Tile's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 1995 (26 approvals). Operator density is highest in Minnesota with 7 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $145K, with the median at $123K. Lender mix is concentrated: the top three SBA lenders account for 48.1% of approvals. Credit decisions concentrate with a small group of incumbents.
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$828
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
Color Tile, 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
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman