Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Hawaii Fluid Art
Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Hawaii Fluid Art: Arthur Murray Dance Studio costs $71K to $252K to open; Hawaii Fluid Art costs $26K to $247K. Arthur Murray Dance Studio has 237 units, Hawaii Fluid Art has 11. SBA loan history: Arthur Murray Dance Studio = 69 loans (4.3% default); Hawaii Fluid Art = 17 loans (0.0% 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 Hawaii Fluid Art: 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
Hawaii Fluid Art requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($26K vs $71K for Arthur Murray Dance Studio), a 174% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $30K for Arthur Murray Dance Studio versus $24K for Hawaii Fluid Art, Hawaii Fluid Art has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Arthur Murray Dance Studio and 8% for Hawaii Fluid Art, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Arthur Murray Dance Studio operates 237 units to Hawaii Fluid Art's 11, roughly 22× the system size. Arthur Murray Dance Studio has been operating 66 years (founded 1960) versus 6 for Hawaii Fluid Art (founded 2020), a 60-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 17 for Hawaii Fluid Art. Arthur Murray Dance Studio's peak SBA year was 2019 (11 loans); Hawaii Fluid Art's peak was 2024 (7 loans). Hawaii Fluid Art's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Arthur Murray Dance Studio has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 17. Hawaii Fluid Art leads in TX, with 4. 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 $148K for Hawaii Fluid Art, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.3% for Arthur Murray Dance Studio and 0.0% for Hawaii Fluid Art, Hawaii Fluid Art has the cleaner SBA loss record by 4.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 56 (Moderate) for Arthur Murray Dance Studio and 70 (Strong) for Hawaii Fluid Art, giving Hawaii Fluid Art the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 56/100 | 70/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 69 | 17 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.3% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $71K to $252K | $26K to $247K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | $24K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 8% |
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 | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 237 | 11 |
Franchised Units | 237 | 11 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1960 | 2020 |
Franchising Since | 1939 | 2021 |
Years Franchising | 87 yrs | 5 yrs |
Headquarters | COSTA MESA, CA | PFLUGERVILLE, TX |
Category | Fine Arts Schools | Fine Arts Schools |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2024 |
Which Is Better, Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Hawaii Fluid Art?
Lower upfront capital required
Hawaii Fluid Art
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: $71K starting · Hawaii Fluid Art: $26K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 69 SBA loans · Hawaii Fluid Art: 17 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Hawaii Fluid Art
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 4.3% · Hawaii Fluid Art: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 237 units · Hawaii Fluid Art: 11 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 8% · Hawaii Fluid Art: 8%
More lender financing options
Arthur Murray Dance Studio
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: 42 unique lenders · Hawaii Fluid Art: 4 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
Arthur Murray Dance Studio vs Hawaii Fluid Art: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Hawaii Fluid Art is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $26K to $252K.
Arthur Murray Dance Studio has 69 SBA loans on record and Hawaii Fluid Art has 17. 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 Hawaii Fluid Art, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Hawaii Fluid Art?
How much does a Arthur Murray Dance Studio franchise cost compared to Hawaii Fluid Art?
Can I finance Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Hawaii Fluid Art with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Arthur Murray Dance Studio or Hawaii Fluid Art?
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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