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Side by Side Comparison

Fleet Feet vs FOOT SOLUTIONS

Quick Answer

Fleet Feet vs FOOT SOLUTIONS: Fleet Feet costs $229K to $545K to open; FOOT SOLUTIONS costs $165K to $272K. Fleet Feet has 275 units, FOOT SOLUTIONS has 75. SBA loan history: Fleet Feet = 102 loans (3.9% default); FOOT SOLUTIONS = 94 loans (26.6% 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.

Fleet Feet vs FOOT SOLUTIONS: 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

FOOT SOLUTIONS requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($165K vs $229K for Fleet Feet), a 39% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for Fleet Feet versus $45K for FOOT SOLUTIONS. Ongoing royalty load is 4% for Fleet Feet and 5% for FOOT SOLUTIONS, giving Fleet Feet the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.

System Scale & Tenure

On scale, Fleet Feet operates 275 units to FOOT SOLUTIONS's 75, roughly 4× the system size. Fleet Feet has been operating 50 years (founded 1976) versus 26 for FOOT SOLUTIONS (founded 2000), a 24-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.

SBA Lending Profile

Fleet Feet has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 102 7(a) approvals compared with 94 for FOOT SOLUTIONS.

Risk Signal

SBA default rates are 3.9% for Fleet Feet and 26.6% for FOOT SOLUTIONS, Fleet Feet has the cleaner SBA loss record by 22.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for Fleet Feet and 30 (Fair) for FOOT SOLUTIONS, giving Fleet Feet the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.

Fleet Feet
Fleet Feet

Shoe Stores

67 11W
FOOT SOLUTIONS
FOOT SOLUTIONS

Shoe Stores

30

Health & Performance

FPI Score
67/100
30/100
Health Tier
Strong
Limited
Confidence
N/A
N/A
Lending Trend
Declining
Declining

SBA Lending

SBA Loans
102
94
SBA Volume
–
–
Default Rate
3.9%
26.6%
Peer Tier
major
established

Investment & Costs

Total Investment
$229K to $545K
$165K to $272K
Franchise Fee
$45K
$45K
Royalty Rate
4%
5%
Ad Fund
0.25%
N/A
Liquid Capital
$80K
$50K
Net Worth Required
N/A
$250K

Financial Performance (Item 19)

Item 19 Status
Disclosed
Not Disclosed

System Size & Operations

Total Units
275
75
Franchised Units
192
75
Company Owned
83
–
Term Length
20 yrs
N/A

Brand Information

Year Founded
1976
2000
Franchising Since
2002
N/A
Years Franchising
24 yrs
N/A
Headquarters
APTOS, CA
N/A
Category
Shoe Stores
Shoe Stores
Website
FDD Year
2026
N/A

Which Is Better, Fleet Feet or FOOT SOLUTIONS?

Lower upfront capital required

Tie

Fleet Feet: $229K starting · FOOT SOLUTIONS: $165K starting

More SBA lender confidence

Fleet Feet

Fleet Feet: 102 SBA loans · FOOT SOLUTIONS: 94 SBA loans

Lower SBA default rate

Fleet Feet

Fleet Feet: 3.9% · FOOT SOLUTIONS: 26.6%

Larger system & brand presence

Tie

Fleet Feet: 275 units · FOOT SOLUTIONS: 75 units

Lower ongoing royalty load

Fleet Feet

Fleet Feet: 4% · FOOT SOLUTIONS: 5%

More lender financing options

Fleet Feet

Fleet Feet: 49 unique lenders · FOOT SOLUTIONS: 40 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.

Franchise Financing

Need Funding for Fleet Feet or FOOT SOLUTIONS?

PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.

500+

SBA Lenders & Capital Sources

$0

Retainers or Consulting Fees

SBA 7(a)

10% Down Franchise Loans

About These Franchises

Fleet Feet

No description available.

FOOT SOLUTIONS

No description available.

Fleet Feet vs FOOT SOLUTIONS: Franchise Funding Comparison

Comparing Fleet Feet and FOOT SOLUTIONS is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $165K to $545K.

Fleet Feet has 102 SBA loans on record and FOOT SOLUTIONS has 94. 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.

Fleet Feet vs FOOT SOLUTIONS, Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a better franchise investment, Fleet Feet or FOOT SOLUTIONS?
Compare Fleet Feet vs FOOT SOLUTIONS franchise costs, FDD data, royalty rates, unit counts, and SBA lending history side by side above. The best franchise depends on your capital, market, and risk tolerance, not a single ranking. Use the decision matrix above to see which brand wins on each financing dimension.
How much does a Fleet Feet franchise cost compared to FOOT SOLUTIONS?
Fleet Feet requires $229K to $545K in total initial investment with a $45K franchise fee. FOOT SOLUTIONS requires $165K to $272K with a $45K franchise fee. All numbers come from official Franchise Disclosure Document filings.
Can I finance Fleet Feet or FOOT SOLUTIONS with an SBA loan?
Both brands appear on the SBA Franchise Directory and have funded SBA 7(a) loans: Fleet Feet has 102 SBA loans on record; FOOT SOLUTIONS has 94. SBA 7(a) is the most common franchise financing vehicle, offering up to $5M with 10% down. PeerSense routes your deal to lenders who have already approved the brand.
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Fleet Feet or FOOT SOLUTIONS?
Fleet Feet: 3.9% SBA default rate. FOOT SOLUTIONS: 26.6% SBA default rate. Lower default rates mean lenders quote tighter rates and underwrite faster.

Talk to PeerSense

Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.

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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