Acton Academy vs Code Ninjas
Acton Academy vs Code Ninjas: Acton Academy costs $65K to $1.1M to open; Code Ninjas costs $69K to $298K. Acton Academy has 8 units, Code Ninjas has 244. SBA loan history: Acton Academy = 11 loans (0.0% default); Code Ninjas = 146 loans (8.2% 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.
Acton Academy vs Code Ninjas: 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
Acton Academy requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($65K vs $69K for Code Ninjas), a 5% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $19K for Acton Academy versus $40K for Code Ninjas, Acton Academy has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 3% for Acton Academy and 8% for Code Ninjas, giving Acton Academy the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Code Ninjas operates 244 units to Acton Academy's 8, roughly 31× the system size. Acton Academy has been operating 17 years (founded 2009) versus 10 for Code Ninjas (founded 2016), a 7-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Code Ninjas has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 146 7(a) approvals compared with 11 for Acton Academy. Acton Academy's peak SBA year was 2022 (3 loans); Code Ninjas's peak was 2019 (52 loans). Acton Academy's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Acton Academy deals is $434K vs $205K for Code Ninjas, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Acton Academy and 8.2% for Code Ninjas, Acton Academy has the cleaner SBA loss record by 8.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 57 (Moderate) for Acton Academy and 57 (Moderate) for Code Ninjas.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 57/100 | 57/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 11 | 146 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 8.2% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $65K to $1.1M | $69K to $298K |
Franchise Fee | $19K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 3% | 8% |
Ad Fund | 1.5% | 2.25% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $350K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 8 | 244 |
Franchised Units | 8 | 239 |
Company Owned | – | 5 |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2009 | 2016 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2016 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 10 yrs |
Headquarters | NEW BRAUNFELS, TX | TX |
Category | Elementary | Elementary |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Acton Academy or Code Ninjas?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Acton Academy: $65K starting · Code Ninjas: $69K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Code Ninjas
Acton Academy: 11 SBA loans · Code Ninjas: 146 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Acton Academy
Acton Academy: 0.0% · Code Ninjas: 8.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Acton Academy: 8 units · Code Ninjas: 244 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Acton Academy
Acton Academy: 3% · Code Ninjas: 8%
More lender financing options
Code Ninjas
Acton Academy: 7 unique lenders · Code Ninjas: 49 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
Acton Academy vs Code Ninjas: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Acton Academy and Code Ninjas is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $65K to $1.1M.
Acton Academy has 11 SBA loans on record and Code Ninjas has 146. 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.
Acton Academy vs Code Ninjas, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Acton Academy or Code Ninjas?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Acton Academy or Code Ninjas?
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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; 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