Athlete's Foot vs Fleet Feet
Athlete's Foot vs Fleet Feet: Athlete's Foot costs $71K to $246K to open; Fleet Feet costs $229K to $545K. Athlete's Foot has 55 units, Fleet Feet has 275. SBA loan history: Athlete's Foot = 81 loans (25.9% default); Fleet Feet = 102 loans (3.9% 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.
Athlete's Foot vs Fleet Feet: 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
Athlete's Foot requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($71K vs $229K for Fleet Feet), a 69% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $72K for Athlete's Foot versus $45K for Fleet Feet, Fleet Feet has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fleet Feet operates 275 units to Athlete's Foot's 55, roughly 5× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Fleet Feet has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 102 7(a) approvals compared with 81 for Athlete's Foot. Athlete's Foot's peak SBA year was 2007 (8 loans); Fleet Feet's peak was 2014 (11 loans). Fleet Feet's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Athlete's Foot has the most SBA funded units in FL, with 9. Fleet Feet leads in CA, 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 Athlete's Foot deals is $175K vs $302K for Fleet Feet, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 25.9% for Athlete's Foot and 3.9% for Fleet Feet, Fleet Feet has the cleaner SBA loss record by 22.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 25 (Fair) for Athlete's Foot and 67 (Strong) for Fleet Feet, giving Fleet Feet the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 25/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 81 | 102 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 25.9% | 3.9% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $71K to $246K | $229K to $545K |
Franchise Fee | $72K | $45K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 4% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 0.25% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $80K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 55 | 275 |
Franchised Units | 55 | 192 |
Company Owned | – | 83 |
Term Length | N/A | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1976 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2002 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 24 yrs |
Headquarters | MIAMI, FL | APTOS, CA |
Category | Shoe Stores | Shoe Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Athlete's Foot or Fleet Feet?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Athlete's Foot: $71K starting · Fleet Feet: $229K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fleet Feet
Athlete's Foot: 81 SBA loans · Fleet Feet: 102 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Fleet Feet
Athlete's Foot: 25.9% · Fleet Feet: 3.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Athlete's Foot: 55 units · Fleet Feet: 275 units
More lender financing options
Fleet Feet
Athlete's Foot: 38 unique lenders · Fleet Feet: 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
Athlete's Foot vs Fleet Feet: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Athlete's Foot and Fleet Feet is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $71K to $545K.
Athlete's Foot has 81 SBA loans on record and Fleet Feet has 102. 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.
Athlete's Foot vs Fleet Feet, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Athlete's Foot or Fleet Feet?
How much does a Athlete's Foot franchise cost compared to Fleet Feet?
Can I finance Athlete's Foot or Fleet Feet with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Athlete's Foot or Fleet Feet?
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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