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Five Star Painting

Five Star Painting

The total investment to open a Five Star Painting franchise ranges from $77,450 to $184,600. The initial franchise fee is $45,000. Ongoing royalties are 6% plus a 2% advertising fee.

What is the Five Star Painting franchise?

Five Star Painting serves residential and commercial property owners who need dependable painting and wall covering work. Its headquarters are in CHARLESTON, SC. The market includes many independent contractors whose quality, reliability, and professionalism can vary, creating demand for a consistent branded service. Five Star Painting has 59 franchised units and zero company owned locations, for 59 total units. Its franchise led structure gives local owners responsibility for operations and customer relationships. The brand operates in the painting and wall covering contractors industry, part of the United States home improvement market estimated to exceed $60 billion annually. Its Loan Activity Score is 59, classified as a Moderate opportunity. The brand promotes a five star customer experience to build trust and repeat business in a market supported by both essential maintenance and discretionary property improvements.

The United States painting and wall covering contractors industry has an estimated total addressable market of $60 billion to $65 billion and typically grows 3% to 5% each year. Demand is supported by North America's aging housing stock, with millions of homes needing maintenance, renovation, and aesthetic updates every 5 to 10 years. Real estate transactions and new home construction create additional work as sellers prepare properties and buyers customize them. Commercial customers, including businesses and property managers, periodically repaint retail spaces, offices, and multi family dwellings to maintain brand image and tenant satisfaction. Homeowners also continue to spend on improvements tied to property value and quality of life, while outsourcing specialized work to professionals. The industry is fragmented because independent operators can enter with relatively little capital, though consistent quality, professional branding, and scalable operations are harder to establish. A franchise system can address those gaps through standardized processes, centralized marketing, brand recognition, professional service, and insurance. Those features can help a local operator compete with smaller and less organized contractors in a market where trust and quality matter.

The initial franchise fee for Five Star Painting is $73,800. Home services franchise fees can range from $30,000 for smaller mobile operations to over $100,000 for more complex service models that require significant infrastructure. The fee provides rights to use the Five Star Painting brand, proprietary systems, training programs, and ongoing support. Total initial investment ranges from $68,400 to $170,240. Startup spending can include vehicles, painting tools, safety gear, leasehold improvements for an office or warehouse, local marketing and advertising, licenses, permits, insurance, and working capital. Working capital supports early payroll, supplies, and unexpected needs while revenue develops. Buyers should also account for personal living expenses and business fluctuations when assessing available reserves. Continuing ownership costs include labor, materials, vehicle maintenance, and local marketing.

The Five Star Painting operating model centers on customer inquiries, sales leads, scheduling, crew dispatch, project oversight, and customer communication from the first consultation through follow up. Franchisees are expected to build local relationships, market within an exclusive territory, and develop a team of painting professionals. Staffing may include experienced painters, project managers, and administrative support as the business grows. This allows an owner to move from hands on production toward management and business development. The model can begin as a mobile, home based operation, limiting the need for commercial real estate and supporting the lower end of the investment range. Some owners may later add a small office or warehouse for equipment storage and administration. Training from the CHARLESTON, SC headquarters covers business management, sales, marketing, lead generation, bidding, project management, customer service, and crew management. Ongoing support includes regular communication, operational updates, marketing materials, and access to fellow franchisees. The system is intended to maintain consistency across all 59 active locations. Territories are generally defined to provide meaningful business potential while limiting internal competition. Specific multi unit requirements are not detailed, though successful single unit operators may acquire additional territories.

Financial planning for Five Star Painting should use industry benchmarks alongside the costs of opening and operating the franchise. A franchise structure may support a faster start and more consistent results than an independent launch through brand recognition, established operating procedures, centralized marketing, lead generation tools, and purchasing power for materials and equipment. Franchisees also receive training and support from the CHARLESTON, SC headquarters. The Loan Activity Score of 59, classified as Moderate, reflects a balance of risk and reward and suggests operational stability and growth potential within painting services. Industry demand and the brand's operating framework can help buyers develop their own projections.

Five Star Painting's growth strategy is centered on franchising, with 59 active franchised units and zero company owned locations. A franchise led approach can support market expansion without the capital spending and operating complexity associated with corporate stores. Historical unit counts and recent net new unit additions are not included, but the current footprint shows an established presence across multiple markets. The Loan Activity Score of 59, classified as Moderate, also points to a system with infrastructure and market appeal for deliberate expansion. Consumer use of digital platforms to find and book services is influencing home services businesses, making online presence and customer convenience relevant parts of the model. Five Star Painting's competitive advantages include brand recognition, customer relationship management software, project management tools, standardized service procedures, centralized marketing, digital channels, and local search optimization. These tools can reduce the burden of customer acquisition and support consistent service across the 59 franchised units. A larger franchise network also gives owners access to peer support and shared operating knowledge. Customers increasingly expect online booking, clear pricing, and digital communication from quoting through post service feedback. Integrating those functions can improve customer experience and operating efficiency for residential and commercial work.

A suitable Five Star Painting franchisee is generally an entrepreneurial manager with business judgment and a strong customer service focus. Painting expertise is not required. The owner needs to manage people, processes, customer relationships, sales activity, and local marketing. Other useful skills include recruiting, training, and supervising multiple crews, reading financial statements, and maintaining consistent operating standards. The model fits someone who wants to build and scale a service business through an established system. The investment range of $68,400 to $170,240 makes the opportunity accessible to a broad range of investors, but adequate working capital and a clear view of the financial commitment remain necessary. The 59 active locations show an established presence, while new territories remain available in numerous United States markets. Successful single unit operators may have opportunities to develop additional units and benefit from greater scale. A service franchise such as Five Star Painting can take 3 to 6 months from signing the franchise agreement to opening, including training, territory setup, initial marketing, and crew recruitment. Agreement terms are not specified, though franchise arrangements commonly support a long term relationship with renewal options.

Five Star Painting addresses a recurring need for reliable painting and wall covering contractors in a United States market estimated to exceed $60 billion annually. Aging properties, ongoing home improvement, commercial maintenance, and real estate activity support demand for these services. The franchise provides a structured entry point with a Loan Activity Score of 59, classified as Moderate, an initial investment of $68,400 to $170,240, and a franchise fee of $73,800. Owners receive access to the brand, operating systems, training from the CHARLESTON, SC headquarters, and continuing support across a network of 59 franchised units. Brand recognition, operating procedures, centralized marketing, and a franchise led expansion model may help an owner compete in a fragmented market. The opportunity is best suited to a buyer with leadership, sales, customer service, and management skills who is prepared to oversee crews and local growth.

Loan Activity Score

59/100

SBA Default Rate

14.7%

Active Lenders

18

According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, Five Star Painting has 245 locations, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 18 lenders made 75 loans to franchisees of Five Star Painting. PeerSense calculates Five Star Painting's score as 59 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity. Cost figures are based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.

245 locations

Investment

$77,450 to $184,600

Franchise Fee

$45,000

Total Units

245

245 franchised

Loan Activity Score
Very high
59
SBA Lending
21
Lender Quality
9
Transparency
10
Reach
9
Momentum
10

Proprietary PeerSense metric

Moderate
Capital Sources
18SBA lenders

Distinct lenders in public SBA records for Five Star Painting

75

Total SBA loans

$155K

Average loan size

Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025

Referral fee at closing

SBA Lending Activity for Five Star Painting

Loan Activity Score Breakdown

Established (25 to 99 loans)

Very High Confidence
59out of 100
Moderate
Market Momentum10/35

Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.

Loan Safety21/25

Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.

Lender Confidence9/15

Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.

Transparency10/15

FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.

Footprint9/10

Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.

SBA Lending Performance

SBA Default Rate

14.7%

vs 7.0% peer avg

SBA Loans

75

Total Volume

$11.6M

Active Lenders

18

4 selective

States

28

vs. SBA Sector Average

-7.7%higher default rate

SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors

Key Highlights

Item 19 financial data disclosed
245 locations nationwide

Data Insights

Key performance metrics for Five Star Painting based on SBA lending data

SBA Default Rate

14.7%

7.7% above peer avg

SBA Loan Volume

75 loans

Across 18 lenders

Lender Diversity

18 lenders

Avg 4.2 loans per lender

Investment Tier

Mid range investment

$77,450 to $184,600 total

Five Star Painting: 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

15 approvals. The best year on record for Five Star Painting.

Top SBA State

Florida

8 SBA financed Five Star Painting locations, the densest operator footprint.

Average Loan Size

$155K

Median $150K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own Five Star Painting unit.

Lender Concentration

77.3%

Concentrated

Share of Five Star Painting approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.

Five Star Painting's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 2019 (15 approvals). The last five fiscal years account for 29% of cumulative volume ($4.4M approved). Operator density is highest in Florida with 8 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $155K, with the median at $150K. Lender mix is concentrated: the top three SBA lenders account for 77.3% of approvals. Credit decisions concentrate with a small group of incumbents.

Payment Estimator

Loan Amount$62K
Interest Rate9.5%
Term (Years)10 yr

Estimated Monthly Payment

$802

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

Five Star Painting, unit breakdown

Total Units
N/A
Franchisee Owned
n/a
System Owned
n/a
Closed
n/a

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Five Star Painting

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