Athlete's Foot vs Red Wing Shoes
Athlete's Foot vs Red Wing Shoes: Athlete's Foot costs $71K to $246K to open; Red Wing Shoes costs $50K to $345K. Athlete's Foot has 55 units, Red Wing Shoes has 14. SBA loan history: Athlete's Foot = 81 loans (25.9% default); Red Wing Shoes = 17 loans (5.9% 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 Red Wing Shoes: 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
Red Wing Shoes requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $71K for Athlete's Foot), a 41% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $72K for Athlete's Foot versus $50K for Red Wing Shoes, Red Wing Shoes has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Athlete's Foot operates 55 units to Red Wing Shoes's 14, roughly 4× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Athlete's Foot has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 81 7(a) approvals compared with 17 for Red Wing Shoes. Athlete's Foot's peak SBA year was 2007 (8 loans); Red Wing Shoes's peak was 2016 (7 loans). Red Wing Shoes's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Athlete's Foot has the most SBA funded units in FL, with 9. Red Wing Shoes leads in WI, 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 Athlete's Foot deals is $175K vs $169K for Red Wing Shoes, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 25.9% for Athlete's Foot and 5.9% for Red Wing Shoes, Red Wing Shoes has the cleaner SBA loss record by 20.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 25 (Fair) for Athlete's Foot and 41 (Fair) for Red Wing Shoes, giving Red Wing Shoes the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 25/100 | 41/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 81 | 17 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 25.9% | 5.9% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $71K to $246K | $50K to $345K |
Franchise Fee | $72K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 55 | 14 |
Franchised Units | 55 | 14 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1905 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | MIAMI, FL | KENOSHA, WI |
Category | Shoe Stores | Shoe Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Athlete's Foot or Red Wing Shoes?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Athlete's Foot: $71K starting · Red Wing Shoes: $50K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Athlete's Foot
Athlete's Foot: 81 SBA loans · Red Wing Shoes: 17 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Red Wing Shoes
Athlete's Foot: 25.9% · Red Wing Shoes: 5.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Athlete's Foot: 55 units · Red Wing Shoes: 14 units
More lender financing options
Athlete's Foot
Athlete's Foot: 38 unique lenders · Red Wing Shoes: 13 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 Red Wing Shoes: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Athlete's Foot and Red Wing Shoes is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $50K to $345K.
Athlete's Foot has 81 SBA loans on record and Red Wing Shoes 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.
Athlete's Foot vs Red Wing Shoes, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Athlete's Foot or Red Wing Shoes?
How much does a Athlete's Foot franchise cost compared to Red Wing Shoes?
Can I finance Athlete's Foot or Red Wing Shoes with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Athlete's Foot or Red Wing Shoes?
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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