Which has more SBA loans, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Pinots Palette?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 47 SBA 7(a) historical approvals; Pinots Palette has 36. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the deeper public lender track record, which generally translates into faster pre-qualification and broader lender familiarity.

What is the default rate for Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette SBA loans?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios's SBA default rate is 4.3%, versus 13.9% for Pinots Palette. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the cleaner loss profile, which capital sources weigh when pricing the next deal in the brand.

When did Fred Astaire Dance Studios and Pinots Palette peak in SBA lending volume?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios's SBA approval peak was 2019 with 7 loans; Pinots Palette's peak was 2015 with 10. A more recent peak (currently Fred Astaire Dance Studios) generally indicates fresher lender appetite and easier financing today.

Which states have the most Fred Astaire Dance Studios and Pinots Palette SBA loans?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios leads in WI with 10 SBA-funded units; Pinots Palette leads in CA with 8. The brand that matches your operating state typically closes faster because local lenders already know the unit economics.

Side by Side Comparison

Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette

Q: Which is a better franchise investment, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Pinots Palette?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette: compare initial investment, royalty rate, unit count, SBA lending history, default rate, and PeerSense FPI score side by side. The right answer depends on your capital, target market, and risk tolerance, not on which brand ranks higher in a list.

Q: How much does a Fred Astaire Dance Studios franchise cost compared to Pinots Palette?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios requires a total initial investment of $296K to $658K while Pinots Palette requires $125K to $339K. Pinots Palette has the lower minimum capital commitment. Franchise fee, royalty percentage, and advertising fees vary independently, see the comparison table below for the full FDD breakdown.

Quick Answer

Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette: Fred Astaire Dance Studios costs $296K to $658K to open; Pinots Palette costs $125K to $339K. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 261 units, Pinots Palette has 27. SBA loan history: Fred Astaire Dance Studios = 47 loans (4.3% default); Pinots Palette = 36 loans (13.9% 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.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette: 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

Pinots Palette requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($125K vs $296K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios), a 137% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for Fred Astaire Dance Studios versus $40K for Pinots Palette, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 6% for Pinots Palette, giving Pinots Palette the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.

System Scale & Tenure

On scale, Fred Astaire Dance Studios operates 261 units to Pinots Palette's 27, roughly 10× the system size.

SBA Lending Profile

Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 47 7(a) approvals compared with 36 for Pinots Palette. Fred Astaire Dance Studios's peak SBA year was 2019 (7 loans); Pinots Palette's peak was 2015 (10 loans). Fred Astaire Dance Studios's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the most SBA funded units in WI, with 10. Pinots Palette leads in CA, with 8. 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 $147K for Pinots Palette, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.

Risk Signal

SBA default rates are 4.3% for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 13.9% for Pinots Palette, Fred Astaire Dance Studios has the cleaner SBA loss record by 9.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 66 (Strong) for Fred Astaire Dance Studios and 29 (Fair) for Pinots Palette, giving Fred Astaire Dance Studios the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios

Fine Arts Schools

66 9W

Pinots Palette

Fine Arts Schools

Health & Performance

FPI Score	66/100	29/100
Health Tier	Strong	Limited
Confidence	N/A	N/A
Lending Trend	Growing	Declining

SBA Lending

SBA Loans	47	36
SBA Volume	–	–
Default Rate	4.3%	13.9%
Peer Tier	established	established

Investment & Costs

Total Investment	$296K to $658K	$125K to $339K
Franchise Fee	$35K	$40K
Royalty Rate	7%	6%
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

System Size & Operations

Total Units	261	27
Franchised Units	261	27
Company Owned	–	–
Term Length	10 yrs	N/A

Brand Information

Year Founded	1947	N/A
Franchising Since	1964	2021
Years Franchising	62 yrs	5 yrs
Headquarters	Appleton, WI	NV
Category	Fine Arts Schools	Fine Arts Schools
Website	fredastaire.com/franchise	pinotspalette.com/franchise
FDD Year	2026	N/A

Which Is Better, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Pinots Palette?

Lower upfront capital required

Tie

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: $296K starting · Pinots Palette: $125K starting

More SBA lender confidence

Fred Astaire Dance Studios

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 47 SBA loans · Pinots Palette: 36 SBA loans

Lower SBA default rate

Fred Astaire Dance Studios

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 4.3% · Pinots Palette: 13.9%

Larger system & brand presence

Tie

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 261 units · Pinots Palette: 27 units

Lower ongoing royalty load

Pinots Palette

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 7% · Pinots Palette: 6%

More lender financing options

Fred Astaire Dance Studios

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 24 unique lenders · Pinots Palette: 22 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

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Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette: Franchise Funding Comparison

Comparing Fred Astaire Dance Studios and Pinots Palette is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $125K to $658K.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 47 SBA loans on record and Pinots Palette has 36. 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.

SBA Loan Guide Franchise Funding Options Best SBA Franchise Lenders All Franchises Talk to PeerSense

Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette, Frequently Asked Questions

Which is a better franchise investment, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Pinots Palette?

Compare Fred Astaire Dance Studios vs Pinots Palette 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 Fred Astaire Dance Studios franchise cost compared to Pinots Palette?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios requires $296K to $658K in total initial investment with a $35K franchise fee. Pinots Palette requires $125K to $339K with a $40K franchise fee. All numbers come from official Franchise Disclosure Document filings.

Can I finance Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Pinots Palette with an SBA loan?

Both brands appear on the SBA Franchise Directory and have funded SBA 7(a) loans: Fred Astaire Dance Studios has 47 SBA loans on record; Pinots Palette has 36. 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, Fred Astaire Dance Studios or Pinots Palette?

Fred Astaire Dance Studios: 4.3% SBA default rate. Pinots Palette: 13.9% SBA default rate. Lower default rates mean lenders quote tighter rates and underwrite faster.

Compare Fred Astaire Dance Studios to other franchises Compare Pinots Palette to other franchises Browse all Fine Arts Schools franchises

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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 October 2, 2026LinkedIn profile About Edward Freeman