Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Kidcreate Studio
Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Kidcreate Studio: Fred Astaire Dance Studios costs $296K to $658K to open; Kidcreate Studio costs $54K to $120K. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 261 units, Kidcreate Studio has 9. SBA loan history: Fred Astaire Dance Studios = 47 loans (4.3% default); Kidcreate Studio = 10 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 Kidcreate Studio: 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
Kidcreate Studio requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($54K vs $296K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios), a 449% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios versus $45K for Kidcreate Studio, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 8% for Kidcreate Studio, 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 Kidcreate Studio's 9, roughly 29× the system size. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has been operating 79 years (founded 1947) versus 19 for Kidcreate Studio (founded 2007), a 60-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 10 for Kidcreate Studio.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 4.3% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 0.0% for Kidcreate Studio, Kidcreate Studio has the cleaner SBA loss record by 4.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 66 (Strong) for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 52 (Moderate) for Kidcreate Studio, giving Fred Astaire Dance Studios the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 66/100 | 52/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Growing | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 47 | 10 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 4.3% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | growing |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $296K to $658K | $54K to $120K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $45K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 8% |
Ad Fund | 5% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 261 | 9 |
Franchised Units | 261 | 9 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1947 | 2007 |
Franchising Since | 1964 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 62 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Appleton, WI | Eden Prairie, MN |
Category | Fine Arts Schools | Fine Arts Schools |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Kidcreate Studio?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: $296K starting · Kidcreate Studio: $54K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 47 SBA loans · Kidcreate Studio: 10 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Kidcreate Studio
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 4.3% · Kidcreate Studio: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 261 units · Kidcreate Studio: 9 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 7% · Kidcreate Studio: 8%
More lender financing options
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 24 unique lenders · Kidcreate Studio: 6 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
Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Kidcreate Studio: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Fred Astaire Dance Studios and Kidcreate Studio is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $54K to $658K.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 47 SBA loans on record and Kidcreate Studio has 10. 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.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Kidcreate Studio, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Kidcreate Studio?
How much does a Fred Astaire Dance Studios franchise cost compared to Kidcreate Studio?
Can I finance Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Kidcreate Studio with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Kidcreate Studio?
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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