Cko Kickboxing F/A vs Goldfish Swim School
Cko Kickboxing F/A vs Goldfish Swim School: Cko Kickboxing F/A costs $100K to $383K to open; Goldfish Swim School costs $488K to $2.6M. Cko Kickboxing F/A has 39 units, Goldfish Swim School has 110. SBA loan history: Cko Kickboxing F/A = 45 loans (11.1% default); Goldfish Swim School = 132 loans (0.0% 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.
Cko Kickboxing F/A vs Goldfish Swim School: 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
Cko Kickboxing F/A requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($100K vs $488K for Goldfish Swim School), a 80% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Cko Kickboxing F/A versus $50K for Goldfish Swim School, Cko Kickboxing F/A has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Cko Kickboxing F/A and 6% for Goldfish Swim School, giving Goldfish Swim School the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Goldfish Swim School operates 110 units to Cko Kickboxing F/A's 39, roughly 3× the system size. Cko Kickboxing F/A has been operating 29 years (founded 1997) versus 20 for Goldfish Swim School (founded 2006), a 9-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Goldfish Swim School has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 132 7(a) approvals compared with 45 for Cko Kickboxing F/A.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 11.1% for Cko Kickboxing F/A and 0.0% for Goldfish Swim School, Goldfish Swim School has the cleaner SBA loss record by 11.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 44 (Fair) for Cko Kickboxing F/A and 67 (Strong) for Goldfish Swim School, giving Goldfish Swim School the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 44/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 45 | 132 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 11.1% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $100K to $383K | $488K to $2.6M |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 4% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $600K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $1.5M |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 39 | 110 |
Franchised Units | 39 | 110 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 15 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1997 | 2006 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Hoboken, NJ | Naperville, IL |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2020 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Cko Kickboxing F/A or Goldfish Swim School?
Lower upfront capital required
Cko Kickboxing F/A
Cko Kickboxing F/A: $100K starting · Goldfish Swim School: $488K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Goldfish Swim School
Cko Kickboxing F/A: 45 SBA loans · Goldfish Swim School: 132 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Goldfish Swim School
Cko Kickboxing F/A: 11.1% · Goldfish Swim School: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Goldfish Swim School
Cko Kickboxing F/A: 39 units · Goldfish Swim School: 110 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Goldfish Swim School
Cko Kickboxing F/A: 7% · Goldfish Swim School: 6%
More lender financing options
Goldfish Swim School
Cko Kickboxing F/A: 12 unique lenders · Goldfish Swim School: 43 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.
Need Funding for Cko Kickboxing F/A or Goldfish Swim School?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
Cko Kickboxing F/A vs Goldfish Swim School: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Cko Kickboxing F/A and Goldfish Swim School is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $100K to $2.6M.
Cko Kickboxing F/A has 45 SBA loans on record and Goldfish Swim School has 132. 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.
Cko Kickboxing F/A vs Goldfish Swim School, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Cko Kickboxing F/A or Goldfish Swim School?
How much does a Cko Kickboxing F/A franchise cost compared to Goldfish Swim School?
Can I finance Cko Kickboxing F/A or Goldfish Swim School with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Cko Kickboxing F/A or Goldfish Swim School?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
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