Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL
Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: Childrens Orchard costs $207K to $321K to open; GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL costs $275K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: 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
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 7(a) approvals compared with 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 SBA loss record 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 to $321K | $275K to $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
Tie
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 SBA default rate
Childrens Orchard
Childrens Orchard: 15.2% · GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL: 17.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
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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About These Franchises
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.
Childrens Orchard has 46 SBA loans on record and GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL has 76. 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.
Childrens Orchard vs GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Childrens Orchard or GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL?
How much does a Childrens Orchard franchise cost compared to GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL?
Can I finance Childrens Orchard or GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Childrens Orchard or GROW BIZ INTERNATIONAL?
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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