Dbat vs Goldfish Swim School
Dbat vs Goldfish Swim School: Dbat costs $536K to $1.0M to open; Goldfish Swim School costs $488K to $2.6M. Dbat has 109 units, Goldfish Swim School has 110. SBA loan history: Dbat = 131 loans (3.1% 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.
Dbat 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
Goldfish Swim School requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($488K vs $536K for Dbat), a 10% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Dbat versus $50K for Goldfish Swim School, Dbat has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Dbat 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 Dbat's 109. Dbat has been operating 28 years (founded 1998) versus 20 for Goldfish Swim School (founded 2006), a 8-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 131 for Dbat. Dbat's peak SBA year was 2025 (18 loans); Goldfish Swim School's peak was 2017 (18 loans). Dbat's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Dbat has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 33. Goldfish Swim School leads in IL, with 13. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Dbat deals is $780K vs $1.5M for Goldfish Swim School, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 3.1% for Dbat and 0.0% for Goldfish Swim School, Goldfish Swim School has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 78 (Strong) for Dbat and 67 (Strong) for Goldfish Swim School, giving Dbat the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 78/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 131 | 132 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 3.1% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $536K to $1.0M | $488K to $2.6M |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2.5% | 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 | 109 | 110 |
Franchised Units | 109 | 110 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 15 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1998 | 2006 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Carrollton, TX | Naperville, IL |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Dbat or Goldfish Swim School?
Lower upfront capital required
Goldfish Swim School
Dbat: $536K starting · Goldfish Swim School: $488K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Goldfish Swim School
Dbat: 131 SBA loans · Goldfish Swim School: 132 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Goldfish Swim School
Dbat: 3.1% · Goldfish Swim School: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Goldfish Swim School
Dbat: 109 units · Goldfish Swim School: 110 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Goldfish Swim School
Dbat: 8% · Goldfish Swim School: 6%
More lender financing options
Goldfish Swim School
Dbat: 42 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.
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Dbat vs Goldfish Swim School: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Dbat 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 $488K to $2.6M.
Dbat has 131 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.
Dbat vs Goldfish Swim School, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Dbat or Goldfish Swim School?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Dbat or Goldfish Swim School?
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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