Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Cko Kickboxing F/A
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Cko Kickboxing F/A: Aqua-Tots Swim Schools costs $1.6M to $2.6M to open; Cko Kickboxing F/A costs $100K to $383K. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has 30 units, Cko Kickboxing F/A has 39. SBA loan history: Aqua-Tots Swim Schools = 32 loans (0.0% default); Cko Kickboxing F/A = 45 loans (11.1% 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.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Cko Kickboxing F/A: 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
Cko Kickboxing F/A requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $1.6M for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools), a 1519% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools versus $35K for Cko Kickboxing F/A, Cko Kickboxing F/A has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and 7% for Cko Kickboxing F/A, giving Aqua-Tots Swim Schools the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Cko Kickboxing F/A operates 39 units to Aqua-Tots Swim Schools's 30. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been operating 35 years (founded 1991) versus 29 for Cko Kickboxing F/A (founded 1997), a 6-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Cko Kickboxing F/A has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 45 7(a) approvals compared with 32 for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and 11.1% for Cko Kickboxing F/A, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 64 (Moderate) for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and 44 (Fair) for Cko Kickboxing F/A, giving Aqua-Tots Swim Schools the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 64/100 | 44/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 32 | 45 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 11.1% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $1.6M to $2.6M | $100K to $383K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 30 | 39 |
Franchised Units | 30 | 39 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1991 | 1997 |
Franchising Since | 2007 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 19 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Mesa, CA | Hoboken, NJ |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2020 |
Which Is Better, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Cko Kickboxing F/A?
Lower upfront capital required
Cko Kickboxing F/A
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: $1.6M starting · Cko Kickboxing F/A: $100K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Cko Kickboxing F/A
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 32 SBA loans · Cko Kickboxing F/A: 45 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 0.0% · Cko Kickboxing F/A: 11.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Cko Kickboxing F/A
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 30 units · Cko Kickboxing F/A: 39 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 6% · Cko Kickboxing F/A: 7%
More lender financing options
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 16 unique lenders · Cko Kickboxing F/A: 12 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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Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Cko Kickboxing F/A: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and Cko Kickboxing F/A is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $2.6M.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has 32 SBA loans on record and Cko Kickboxing F/A has 45. 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.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Cko Kickboxing F/A, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Cko Kickboxing F/A?
How much does a Aqua-Tots Swim Schools franchise cost compared to Cko Kickboxing F/A?
Can I finance Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Cko Kickboxing F/A with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Cko Kickboxing F/A?
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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