Color Me Mine vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Color Me Mine vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios: Color Me Mine costs $219K–$475K to open; Fred Astaire Dance Studios costs $296K–$658K. Color Me Mine has 66 units, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 261. SBA loan history: Color Me Mine = 46 loans (15.2% default); Fred Astaire Dance Studios = 47 loans (4.3% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Color Me Mine vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 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
Color Me Mine requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($219K vs $296K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios), a 26% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $82K for Color Me Mine versus $35K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Color Me Mine and 7% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, giving Color Me Mine the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fred Astaire Dance Studios operates 261 units to Color Me Mine's 66, roughly 4× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the deeper SBA lending track record with 47 historical 7(a) approvals versus 46 for Color Me Mine.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 15.2% for Color Me Mine and 4.3% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the cleaner historical loss profile by 10.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 34 (Fair) for Color Me Mine and 66 (Strong) for Fred Astaire Dance Studios, giving Fred Astaire Dance Studios the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 34/100 | 66/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Growing |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 46 | 47 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 15.2% | 4.3% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $219K – $475K | $296K – $658K |
Franchise Fee | $82K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 66 | 261 |
Franchised Units | 66 | 261 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1947 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1964 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 62 yrs |
Headquarters | N/A | Appleton, WI |
Category | Fine Arts Schools | Fine Arts Schools |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Color Me Mine or Fred Astaire Dance Studios?
Lower upfront capital required
Color Me Mine
Color Me Mine: $219K starting · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: $296K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Color Me Mine: 46 SBA loans · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 47 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Color Me Mine: 15.2% · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 4.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Color Me Mine: 66 units · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 261 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Color Me Mine
Color Me Mine: 5% · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 7%
More lender financing options
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Color Me Mine: 19 unique lenders · Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 24 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
Color Me Mine vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Color Me Mine and Fred Astaire Dance Studios is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $219K to $658K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Color Me Mine with 46 SBA loans and Fred Astaire Dance Studios with 47. 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.
Color Me Mine vs Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Frequently Asked Questions
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