Childrens Orchard vs Kid To Kid
Childrens Orchard vs Kid To Kid: Childrens Orchard costs $207K–$321K to open; Kid To Kid costs $168K–$517K. Childrens Orchard has 15 units, Kid To Kid has 79. SBA loan history: Childrens Orchard = 46 loans (15.2% default); Kid To Kid = 106 loans (12.3% 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 Kid To Kid: 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
Kid To Kid requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($168K vs $207K for Childrens Orchard), a 23% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $25K for Childrens Orchard versus $25K for Kid To Kid. Ongoing royalty load is 4% for Childrens Orchard and 5% for Kid To Kid, giving Childrens Orchard the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Kid To Kid operates 79 units to Childrens Orchard's 15, roughly 5× the system size. Childrens Orchard has been operating 46 years (founded 1980) versus 34 for Kid To Kid (founded 1992), a 12-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Kid To Kid has the deeper SBA lending track record with 106 historical 7(a) approvals versus 46 for Childrens Orchard. Childrens Orchard's peak SBA year was 2002 (6 loans); Kid To Kid's peak was 2017 (9 loans). Kid To Kid's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Childrens Orchard concentrates in MO (10 SBA-funded units) while Kid To Kid leads in TX (31). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Childrens Orchard deals is $74K vs $248K for Kid To Kid, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 15.2% for Childrens Orchard and 12.3% for Kid To Kid, Kid To Kid has the cleaner historical loss profile by 2.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 30 (Fair) for Childrens Orchard and 78 (Strong) for Kid To Kid, giving Kid To Kid the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 30/100 | 78/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 46 | 106 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 15.2% | 12.3% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $207K – $321K | $168K – $517K |
Franchise Fee | $25K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 4% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 5% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $75K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $200K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 15 | 79 |
Franchised Units | 15 | 79 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 7 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1980 | 1992 |
Franchising Since | 1993 | 2007 |
Years Franchising | 33 yrs | 19 yrs |
Headquarters | Minnetonka, MN | ALLEN, TX |
Category | Children's | Children's |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Childrens Orchard or Kid To Kid?
Lower upfront capital required
Kid To Kid
Childrens Orchard: $207K starting · Kid To Kid: $168K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Kid To Kid
Childrens Orchard: 46 SBA loans · Kid To Kid: 106 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Kid To Kid
Childrens Orchard: 15.2% · Kid To Kid: 12.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Kid To Kid
Childrens Orchard: 15 units · Kid To Kid: 79 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Childrens Orchard
Childrens Orchard: 4% · Kid To Kid: 5%
More lender financing options
Kid To Kid
Childrens Orchard: 30 unique lenders · Kid To Kid: 34 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 Kid To Kid: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Childrens Orchard and Kid To Kid is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $168K to $517K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Childrens Orchard with 46 SBA loans and Kid To Kid with 106. 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 Kid To Kid, Frequently Asked Questions
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