Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Hawaii Fluid Art
Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Hawaii Fluid Art: Fred Astaire Dance Studios costs $296K to $658K to open; Hawaii Fluid Art costs $26K to $247K. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 261 units, Hawaii Fluid Art has 11. SBA loan history: Fred Astaire Dance Studios = 47 loans (4.3% default); Hawaii Fluid Art = 17 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.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Hawaii Fluid Art: 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
Hawaii Fluid Art requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($26K vs $296K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios), a 1039% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios versus $24K for Hawaii Fluid Art, Hawaii Fluid Art has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 8% for Hawaii Fluid Art, giving Fred Astaire Dance Studios the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Fred Astaire Dance Studios operates 261 units to Hawaii Fluid Art's 11, roughly 24× the system size. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has been operating 79 years (founded 1947) versus 6 for Hawaii Fluid Art (founded 2020), a 73-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 47 7(a) approvals compared with 17 for Hawaii Fluid Art. Fred Astaire Dance Studios's peak SBA year was 2019 (7 loans); Hawaii Fluid Art's peak was 2024 (7 loans). Hawaii Fluid Art's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the most SBA funded units in WI, with 10. Hawaii Fluid Art leads in TX, with 4. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Fred Astaire Dance Studios deals is $350K vs $148K for Hawaii Fluid Art, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.3% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 0.0% for Hawaii Fluid Art, Hawaii Fluid Art has the cleaner SBA loss record by 4.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 66 (Strong) for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 70 (Strong) for Hawaii Fluid Art, giving Hawaii Fluid Art the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 66/100 | 70/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Growing | N/A |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 47 | 17 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.3% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $296K to $658K | $26K to $247K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $24K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 8% |
Ad Fund | 5% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 261 | 11 |
Franchised Units | 261 | 11 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1947 | 2020 |
Franchising Since | 1964 | 2021 |
Years Franchising | 62 yrs | 5 yrs |
Headquarters | Appleton, WI | PFLUGERVILLE, TX |
Category | Fine Arts Schools | Fine Arts Schools |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2024 |
Which Is Better, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Hawaii Fluid Art?
Lower upfront capital required
Hawaii Fluid Art
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: $296K starting · Hawaii Fluid Art: $26K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 47 SBA loans · Hawaii Fluid Art: 17 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Hawaii Fluid Art
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 4.3% · Hawaii Fluid Art: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 261 units · Hawaii Fluid Art: 11 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 7% · Hawaii Fluid Art: 8%
More lender financing options
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 24 unique lenders · Hawaii Fluid Art: 4 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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Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Hawaii Fluid Art: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Fred Astaire Dance Studios and Hawaii Fluid Art is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $26K to $658K.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 47 SBA loans on record and Hawaii Fluid Art has 17. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.
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.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Hawaii Fluid Art, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Hawaii Fluid Art?
How much does a Fred Astaire Dance Studios franchise cost compared to Hawaii Fluid Art?
Can I finance Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Hawaii Fluid Art with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Hawaii Fluid Art?
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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