Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL
Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: Childrens Orchard costs $207K–$321K to open; GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL costs $275K–$462K. Childrens Orchard has 15 units, GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL has 72. SBA loan history: Childrens Orchard = 46 loans (15.2% default); GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL = 76 loans (17.1% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Childrens Orchard requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($207K vs $275K for GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL), a 25% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Childrens Orchard versus $25K for GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL. Ongoing royalty load is 4% for Childrens Orchard and 5% for GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL, giving Childrens Orchard the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL operates 72 units to Childrens Orchard's 15, roughly 5× the system size. Childrens Orchard has been operating 46 years (founded 1980) versus 38 for GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL (founded 1988), a 8-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL has the deeper SBA lending track record with 76 historical 7(a) approvals versus 46 for Childrens Orchard.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 15.2% for Childrens Orchard and 17.1% for GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL, Childrens Orchard has the cleaner historical loss profile by 1.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 30 (Fair) for Childrens Orchard and 27 (Fair) for GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL, giving Childrens Orchard the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 30/100 | 27/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 46 | 76 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 15.2% | 17.1% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $207K – $321K | $275K – $462K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 4% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 5% | 5% |
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 | 15 | 72 |
Franchised Units | 15 | 72 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1980 | 1988 |
Franchising Since | 1993 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 33 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Minnetonka, MN | Minneapolis, MN |
Category | Children's | Children's |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Childrens Orchard or GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL?
Lower upfront capital required
Childrens Orchard
Childrens Orchard: $207K starting · GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: $275K starting
More SBA lender confidence
GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL
Childrens Orchard: 46 SBA loans · GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: 76 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Childrens Orchard
Childrens Orchard: 15.2% · GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: 17.1%
Larger system & brand presence
GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL
Childrens Orchard: 15 units · GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: 72 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Childrens Orchard
Childrens Orchard: 4% · GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: 5%
More lender financing options
GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL
Childrens Orchard: 30 unique lenders · GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: 37 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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Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Childrens Orchard and GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $207K to $462K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Childrens Orchard with 46 SBA loans and GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL with 76. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.
Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL, Frequently Asked Questions
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