How to Finance an EatGatherLove Franchise: Kitchen Refacing Costs
By Anthony Cornella
An EatGatherLove franchise loan funds a very different kind of home improvement business. Instead of tearing out cabinets, EatGatherLove refaces them: crews keep the existing cabinet boxes and replace the doors, hinges and hardware, often along with countertops and backsplashes. There is no showroom to build, so the money goes into the franchise fee, a vehicle and tools, marketing and the working capital that carries the business between deposits and final payments.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by EatGatherLove; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice. Review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant before you commit.
EatGatherLove Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: kitchen refacing and refresh projects, replacing doors, hinges, hardware, countertops and backsplashes while keeping the existing cabinet frames.
- Business model: no-showroom, in-home design consultations, with a central call center that handles lead management and appointment booking for owners.
- Headquarters and training: the U.S. franchisor is based in San Diego, California, where new owners train.
- Background: the brand operated in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia before launching franchising in the U.S.
- Fees and investment: we could not verify the franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund, Item 7 investment range or net worth and liquidity requirements from the franchisor’s own materials or a current FDD. Read Items 5, 6, 7 and 12 before you build a loan request.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed as “EatGatherLove-Kitches Reimagined” under code S3934, with a note about real estate collateral and lease documents.
What Is EatGatherLove?
EatGatherLove, also called EatGatherLove Kitchens Reimagined, sells kitchen makeovers that take days rather than weeks. Homeowners keep their cabinet layout and plumbing, and the franchisee’s team installs new doors and drawer fronts, upgraded hinges and hardware, and, where the customer chooses, new countertops and backsplashes. The pitch to customers is a new-looking kitchen with less disruption and cost than a full remodel.
The brand built its system overseas before entering the U.S. market, and it describes most of its franchisees as coming from corporate, management and sales backgrounds rather than the trades. Owners focus on marketing, in-home design consultations, sales and managing installers.
How lenders view the concept. A home-based service franchise has low fixed overhead, which lenders like. But the U.S. system is young, so there is limited domestic operating history to point to. Lenders will lean on the borrower’s personal financial strength, sales and management experience, and a realistic ramp-up plan. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains how lenders handle newer brands.
EatGatherLove Franchise Costs
Because we could not review a current EatGatherLove FDD, this section explains how costs are usually structured for a home-based remodeling franchise. Your budget should come from the Item 7 table and local quotes.
Initial franchise fee and territory
Item 5 discloses the initial franchise fee and any additional territory fees. The brand has said early U.S. franchisees can secure exclusive territories, so ask how territory size is defined and whether you can reserve more than one.
Vehicle, tools and equipment
Refacing work needs a reliable work van or truck, often with branded graphics, plus installation tools, saws, drills, measuring equipment and storage. Some owners also need a small warehouse or storage unit to receive door and countertop orders before installation.
Technology and marketing
The franchisor provides proprietary software and marketing tools. Expect start-up costs for technology access, a design tablet or laptop, sample door and finish kits for in-home consultations and a grand opening marketing push.
Working capital
The “additional funds” line in Item 7 covers the owner’s early months: marketing, call center fees, installer wages or subcontractor payments, insurance, vehicle costs and the timing gap between customer deposits, material orders and final payments.
Typical Item 7 categories to compare include:
- Initial franchise fee and any territory fees
- Training travel to San Diego
- Vehicle purchase or lease and vehicle graphics
- Installation tools and equipment
- Sample kits, displays and consultation materials
- Computer hardware, software and technology fees
- Insurance, licenses and contractor registrations
- Opening marketing
- Office or storage space, if needed
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists the royalty, any brand or marketing fund contribution, call center and technology fees, local marketing requirements, and transfer and renewal fees. Royalties in home service systems are usually tied to gross sales, so they come off the top before you pay installers, materials and loan payments.
Material costs are a large share of each job. Lenders will want projections that show gross margin per project after doors, hardware and countertops, then deduct royalties, fund contributions and call center charges before calculating debt service coverage. Show your assumptions for appointments, closing rate and average job size, and how quickly you expect each to improve.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
We could not confirm EatGatherLove’s published minimum net worth or liquid capital. The brand emphasizes customer service standards and says owners often come from corporate, management or sales careers. Expect the franchisor to review your finances, your ability to lead in-home sales and your plan to recruit and manage installers.
The usual path is an inquiry, FDD review, discovery calls, territory selection, final approval and training at headquarters. Begin your EatGatherLove franchise loan conversation during discovery so financing and the franchise agreement move together.
Ways to Own an EatGatherLove
A new territory. Most U.S. owners will start fresh, financing the fee, vehicle, tools and working capital. Our page on franchise start-up financing covers how these loans are typically structured.
Multiple territories. Some buyers may want to secure neighboring territories early. That increases fees and working capital, and lenders will want a plan for how you staff and market each one.
Buying an existing business. As the U.S. system matures, established franchises may come up for sale. A resale offers a sales history, a customer pipeline and trained installers, and usually requires franchisor approval of the transfer. Read our article on buying a franchise resale.
Financing Options for an EatGatherLove Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an EatGatherLove franchise loan can be structured as an SBA 7(a) loan. One loan can combine the franchise fee, vehicle, tools, technology and working capital. The 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. For a home-based start-up, the request is usually much smaller.
SBA 504 loans. The SBA 504 program is built for owner-occupied commercial real estate and long-lived equipment. A home-based refacing business rarely needs it, though it could fit an owner who later buys a warehouse or office.
Conventional term loans. Borrowers with strong credit and collateral may prefer a conventional business loan, especially for an established operation.
Equipment and vehicle financing. Work vans, trucks, trailers and installation tools can be financed separately, which keeps cash free for marketing. Learn more about franchise equipment financing and leasing.
Working capital and lines of credit. Remodeling businesses pay for materials and labor before final customer payments arrive. A line of credit helps cover that gap and smooths seasonal swings in home improvement demand. See our franchise working capital options.
Seller financing on resales. When buying an existing EatGatherLove business, the seller may carry part of the price. A seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA rules can limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for EatGatherLove Franchisees
SBA lenders use the SBA Franchise Directory to confirm that a brand’s agreement has been reviewed for eligibility. A listing does not approve any borrower; it clears the franchise relationship so the lender can focus on you and your plan.
The brand is listed as “EatGatherLove-Kitches Reimagined” under code S3934. The listing note says that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Collateral Assignment and Assumption of Lease may not be executed.
What the note means in plain English. Many franchise systems ask owners who lease space to sign a document letting the franchisor take over the lease if the franchise ends. If the owner instead owns the property and pledges it as collateral for the SBA loan, that lease document should not be signed, so it cannot conflict with the lender’s claim on the real estate. Most EatGatherLove owners will work from home or leased storage, so the note matters mainly if you buy a building.
SBA application tips. Prepare a business plan with monthly first-year projections, a resume that highlights sales and management experience, and a clear marketing budget. An SBA loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are for planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate an EatGatherLove Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review credit, personal tax returns and a personal financial statement, and typically require a personal guarantee.
Net worth and liquidity. Because the business has few hard assets, lenders put extra weight on your personal liquidity and post-closing reserves. Our article on how much franchise you can afford walks through the math.
Industry and management experience. Sales leadership, project management, customer service or construction supervision all strengthen a request.
Business plan and projections. Base projections on your territory: number of owner-occupied homes, home ages, local remodeling demand and competitors. Model lead volume from the call center, consultation-to-sale conversion, job size, material costs and installer capacity, with a realistic ramp period.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17 and 19, with special attention to territory rights, term, transfer and renewal. Our article on reading an FDD for financing covers the details.
Contractor licensing and insurance. Lenders want to see that you will hold any required contractor licenses and carry liability and vehicle insurance before you begin installing.
Historical financials for resales. Expect several years of profit and loss statements, job reports and tax returns.
Multi-Unit Growth and Territory Expansion
Growth in a refacing franchise usually means adding territories, crews and vehicles rather than storefronts. Lenders finance expansion based on the existing operation’s results, your debt load and management depth. Adding a second crew may call for equipment financing and a larger working capital line, while adding a territory may require a new fee and launch marketing.
Ask whether the franchise agreement gives you rights to adjacent territories and what development pace the franchisor expects. Remember that SBA loan limits apply across all of a borrower’s SBA loans.
Real-World Scenarios
A corporate sales manager starting a new territory. A former regional sales leader opens an EatGatherLove territory. An SBA 7(a) loan covers the fee, sample kits, technology and working capital, while a work van is financed separately.
A contractor adding a franchise. A small remodeling contractor joins the system to gain the brand’s lead generation and call center. The lender reviews the existing business’s history alongside projections for the new territory.
An owner adding a second crew. An owner with steady demand finances a second van and tools and increases a line of credit to cover materials for more jobs at once.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Underestimating the cash gap between material orders and final customer payments
- Projecting sales without testing lead volume and closing rates
- Forgetting contractor licensing, insurance and vehicle costs in the budget
- Borrowing too little working capital for a young system’s ramp-up
- Overlooking how the SBA note affects any real estate you pledge
For more pitfalls, read about loan mistakes contractors should avoid.
Next Steps to Finance Your EatGatherLove Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Read Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 17 and 19 and note every fee and range.
Step 2: Review it with advisors. Have a franchise attorney and an accountant review the FDD, franchise agreement and territory terms.
Step 3: Study your territory. Research housing stock, local remodeling demand and competitors.
Step 4: Build your budget and projections. Use Item 7 and local quotes for vehicles, tools, insurance and marketing.
Step 5: Talk with a financing specialist. Compare SBA 7(a), conventional and equipment financing before you sign.
Step 6: Apply and coordinate approvals. Keep franchisor approval, training dates and loan closing on one timeline.
EatGatherLove Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open an EatGatherLove franchise?
The current FDD’s Item 7 table gives the franchisor’s estimated range. We could not verify it from the franchisor’s own materials. Because the model has no showroom, most costs are the fee, vehicle, tools, marketing and working capital.
What is the EatGatherLove franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee and any territory fees are disclosed in Item 5 of the FDD.
What ongoing fees does EatGatherLove charge?
Item 6 lists the royalty, marketing or brand fund, call center, technology and other recurring fees. Include each in your projections.
How much liquid capital do I need?
We could not confirm published minimums. Plan for your loan equity contribution plus several months of reserves.
Can I get an SBA EatGatherLove franchise loan?
Yes. The brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S3934, so eligible borrowers can apply for SBA 7(a) financing, subject to lender approval.
Do I need remodeling experience?
The brand says many owners come from corporate, management or sales backgrounds. Lenders weigh management and sales experience heavily.
Can I finance a work van separately?
Yes. Vehicles and tools can often be financed through equipment loans or leases.
Do I need a showroom?
No. EatGatherLove uses a no-showroom model with in-home consultations, which keeps fixed costs lower.
Does EatGatherLove offer financing?
Item 10 of the FDD discloses any franchisor financing. Most owners arrange their own loans.
Can I buy an existing EatGatherLove business?
When one is for sale and the franchisor approves the transfer, yes. Acquisition loans rely on the business’s actual results.
What documents do I need to apply?
Tax returns, a personal financial statement, a resume, the FDD, a business plan with projections and any vehicle or equipment quotes.
Final Thoughts
An EatGatherLove franchise loan is less about bricks and mortar and more about cash flow, marketing and the owner’s ability to sell and manage projects. Budget carefully for materials timing and ramp-up, and approach lenders with a plan grounded in your territory.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners finance start-ups, equipment, vehicles and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing and service contractor financing solutions.
