Dbat vs The Exercise Coach
Dbat vs The Exercise Coach: Dbat costs $536K to $1.0M to open; The Exercise Coach costs $150K to $250K. Dbat has 109 units, The Exercise Coach has 73. SBA loan history: Dbat = 131 loans (3.1% default); The Exercise Coach = 101 loans (4.0% 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 The Exercise Coach: 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
The Exercise Coach requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($150K vs $536K for Dbat), a 258% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Dbat versus $25K for The Exercise Coach, The Exercise Coach has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 8% for Dbat and 6% for The Exercise Coach, giving The Exercise Coach the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Dbat operates 109 units to The Exercise Coach's 73. Dbat has been operating 28 years (founded 1998) versus 26 for The Exercise Coach (founded 2000), a 2-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Dbat has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 131 7(a) approvals compared with 101 for The Exercise Coach. Dbat's peak SBA year was 2025 (18 loans); The Exercise Coach's peak was 2023 (22 loans). Dbat's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Dbat has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 33. The Exercise Coach leads in CA, 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 $181K for The Exercise Coach, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 3.1% for Dbat and 4.0% for The Exercise Coach, Dbat has the cleaner SBA loss record by 0.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 78 (Strong) for Dbat and 65 (Strong) for The Exercise Coach, giving Dbat the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 78/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 131 | 101 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 3.1% | 4.0% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $536K to $1.0M | $150K to $250K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 8% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2.5% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 109 | 73 |
Franchised Units | 109 | 73 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1998 | 2000 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | Carrollton, TX | CA |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Dbat or The Exercise Coach?
Lower upfront capital required
The Exercise Coach
Dbat: $536K starting · The Exercise Coach: $150K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Dbat
Dbat: 131 SBA loans · The Exercise Coach: 101 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Dbat
Dbat: 3.1% · The Exercise Coach: 4.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Dbat
Dbat: 109 units · The Exercise Coach: 73 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Exercise Coach
Dbat: 8% · The Exercise Coach: 6%
More lender financing options
Dbat
Dbat: 42 unique lenders · The Exercise Coach: 35 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
Dbat vs The Exercise Coach: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Dbat and The Exercise Coach is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $150K to $1.0M.
Dbat has 131 SBA loans on record and The Exercise Coach has 101. 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 The Exercise Coach, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Dbat or The Exercise Coach?
How much does a Dbat franchise cost compared to The Exercise Coach?
Can I finance Dbat or The Exercise Coach with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Dbat or The Exercise Coach?
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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