FOOT SOLUTIONS vs Red Wing Shoes
FOOT SOLUTIONS vs Red Wing Shoes: FOOT SOLUTIONS costs $165K to $272K to open; Red Wing Shoes costs $50K to $345K. FOOT SOLUTIONS has 75 units, Red Wing Shoes has 14. SBA loan history: FOOT SOLUTIONS = 94 loans (26.6% default); Red Wing Shoes = 17 loans (5.9% 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.
FOOT SOLUTIONS vs Red Wing Shoes: 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
Red Wing Shoes requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($50K vs $165K for FOOT SOLUTIONS), a 230% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $45K for FOOT SOLUTIONS versus $50K for Red Wing Shoes, FOOT SOLUTIONS has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, FOOT SOLUTIONS operates 75 units to Red Wing Shoes's 14, roughly 5× the system size. Red Wing Shoes has been operating 121 years (founded 1905) versus 26 for FOOT SOLUTIONS (founded 2000), a 95-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
FOOT SOLUTIONS has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 94 7(a) approvals compared with 17 for Red Wing Shoes.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 26.6% for FOOT SOLUTIONS and 5.9% for Red Wing Shoes, Red Wing Shoes has the cleaner SBA loss record by 20.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 30 (Fair) for FOOT SOLUTIONS and 41 (Fair) for Red Wing Shoes, giving Red Wing Shoes the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 30/100 | 41/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 94 | 17 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 26.6% | 5.9% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $165K to $272K | $50K to $345K |
Franchise Fee | $45K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 5% | N/A |
Ad Fund | N/A | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $50K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $250K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 75 | 14 |
Franchised Units | 75 | 14 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2000 | 1905 |
Franchising Since | N/A | N/A |
Years Franchising | N/A | N/A |
Headquarters | N/A | KENOSHA, WI |
Category | Shoe Stores | Shoe Stores |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, FOOT SOLUTIONS or Red Wing Shoes?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
FOOT SOLUTIONS: $165K starting · Red Wing Shoes: $50K starting
More SBA lender confidence
FOOT SOLUTIONS
FOOT SOLUTIONS: 94 SBA loans · Red Wing Shoes: 17 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Red Wing Shoes
FOOT SOLUTIONS: 26.6% · Red Wing Shoes: 5.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
FOOT SOLUTIONS: 75 units · Red Wing Shoes: 14 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Red Wing Shoes
FOOT SOLUTIONS: 5% · Red Wing Shoes: 0%
More lender financing options
FOOT SOLUTIONS
FOOT SOLUTIONS: 40 unique lenders · Red Wing Shoes: 13 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.
Need Funding for FOOT SOLUTIONS or Red Wing Shoes?
PeerSense connects you with 500+ SBA lenders and capital sources. Our referral fee is established upfront and paid at closing.
SBA Lenders & Capital Sources
Retainers or Consulting Fees
10% Down Franchise Loans
About These Franchises
FOOT SOLUTIONS vs Red Wing Shoes: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing FOOT SOLUTIONS and Red Wing Shoes is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $50K to $345K.
FOOT SOLUTIONS has 94 SBA loans on record and Red Wing Shoes has 17. 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.
FOOT SOLUTIONS vs Red Wing Shoes, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, FOOT SOLUTIONS or Red Wing Shoes?
How much does a FOOT SOLUTIONS franchise cost compared to Red Wing Shoes?
Can I finance FOOT SOLUTIONS or Red Wing Shoes with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, FOOT SOLUTIONS or Red Wing Shoes?
Talk to PeerSense
Tell us which brand and your budget. We source capital from lenders who have already funded deals in these systems.
Franchise / SBA 7(a): The desk will reach out. No obligation.
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