Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios: Arthur Murray Dance Studio costs $71K to $252K to open; Fred Astaire Dance Studios costs $296K to $658K. Arthur Murray Dance Studio has 237 units, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 261. SBA loan history: Arthur Murray Dance Studio = 69 loans (4.3% default); Fred Astaire Dance Studios = 47 loans (4.3% 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.
Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 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
Arthur Murray Dance Studio requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($71K vs $296K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios), a 76% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for Arthur Murray Dance Studio versus $35K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Arthur Murray Dance Studio has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Arthur Murray Dance Studio and 7% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, giving Fred Astaire Dance Studios the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fred Astaire Dance Studios operates 261 units to Arthur Murray Dance Studio's 237. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has been operating 79 years (founded 1947) versus 66 for Arthur Murray Dance Studio (founded 1960), a 13-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Arthur Murray Dance Studio has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 69 7(a) approvals compared with 47 for Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Arthur Murray Dance Studio's peak SBA year was 2019 (11 loans); Fred Astaire Dance Studios's peak was 2019 (7 loans). Fred Astaire Dance Studios's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Arthur Murray Dance Studio has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 17. Fred Astaire Dance Studios leads in WI, with 10. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Arthur Murray Dance Studio deals is $395K vs $350K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.3% for Arthur Murray Dance Studio and 4.3% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 56 (Moderate) for Arthur Murray Dance Studio and 66 (Strong) for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, giving Fred Astaire Dance Studios the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 56/100 | 66/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 69 | 47 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.3% | 4.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $71K to $252K | $296K to $658K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 237 | 261 |
Franchised Units | 237 | 261 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1960 | 1947 |
Franchising Since | 1939 | 1964 |
Years Franchising | 87 yrs | 62 yrs |
Headquarters | COSTA MESA, CA | Appleton, WI |
Category | Fine Arts Schools | Fine Arts Schools |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Fred Astaire Dance Studios?
Lower upfront capital required
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: $71K starting · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: $296K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 69 SBA loans · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 47 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 4.3% · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 4.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 237 units · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 261 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 8% · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 7%
More lender financing options
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 42 unique lenders · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 24 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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Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Fred Astaire Dance Studios is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $71K to $658K.
Arthur Murray Dance Studio has 69 SBA loans on record and Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 47. 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.
Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Fred Astaire Dance Studios?
How much does a Arthur Murray Dance Studio franchise cost compared to Fred Astaire Dance Studios?
Can I finance Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Fred Astaire Dance Studios with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Fred Astaire Dance Studios?
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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; 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