College Nannies & Tutors vs Fire+Ice
College Nannies & Tutors vs Fire+Ice: College Nannies & Tutors costs $41K to $150K to open; Fire+Ice costs $133K to $340K. College Nannies & Tutors has 15 units, Fire+Ice has 7. SBA loan history: College Nannies & Tutors = 14 loans (7.1% default); Fire+Ice = 7 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.
College Nannies & Tutors vs Fire+Ice: 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
College Nannies & Tutors requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($41K vs $133K for Fire+Ice), a 69% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for College Nannies & Tutors versus $45K for Fire+Ice. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for College Nannies & Tutors and 5% for Fire+Ice, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, College Nannies & Tutors operates 15 units to Fire+Ice's 7, roughly 2× the system size. Fire+Ice has been operating 29 years (founded 1997) versus 25 for College Nannies & Tutors (founded 2001), a 4-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
College Nannies & Tutors has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 14 7(a) approvals compared with 7 for Fire+Ice. College Nannies & Tutors's peak SBA year was 2017 (7 loans); Fire+Ice's peak was 2013 (2 loans). College Nannies & Tutors's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. College Nannies & Tutors has the most SBA funded units in IL, with 3. Fire+Ice leads in NC, with 1. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded College Nannies & Tutors deals is $113K vs $222K for Fire+Ice, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.1% for College Nannies & Tutors and 0.0% for Fire+Ice, Fire+Ice has the cleaner SBA loss record by 7.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 33 (Fair) for College Nannies & Tutors and 42 (Fair) for Fire+Ice, giving Fire+Ice the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 33/100 | 42/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 14 | 7 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.1% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | emerging |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $41K to $150K | $133K to $340K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $45K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
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 | 15 | 7 |
Franchised Units | 15 | 7 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2001 | 1997 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | CA | Rancho Cordova, CA |
Category | Educational Support Services | Educational Support Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, College Nannies & Tutors or Fire+Ice?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
College Nannies & Tutors: $41K starting · Fire+Ice: $133K starting
More SBA lender confidence
College Nannies & Tutors
College Nannies & Tutors: 14 SBA loans · Fire+Ice: 7 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Fire+Ice
College Nannies & Tutors: 7.1% · Fire+Ice: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
College Nannies & Tutors: 15 units · Fire+Ice: 7 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
College Nannies & Tutors: 5% · Fire+Ice: 5%
More lender financing options
College Nannies & Tutors
College Nannies & Tutors: 8 unique lenders · Fire+Ice: 7 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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College Nannies & Tutors vs Fire+Ice: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing College Nannies & Tutors and Fire+Ice is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $41K to $340K.
College Nannies & Tutors has 14 SBA loans on record and Fire+Ice has 7. 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.
College Nannies & Tutors vs Fire+Ice, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, College Nannies & Tutors or Fire+Ice?
How much does a College Nannies & Tutors franchise cost compared to Fire+Ice?
Can I finance College Nannies & Tutors or Fire+Ice with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, College Nannies & Tutors or Fire+Ice?
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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