Goldfish Swim School vs Premier Martial Arts
Goldfish Swim School vs Premier Martial Arts: Goldfish Swim School costs $488K–$2.6M to open; Premier Martial Arts costs $184K–$422K. Goldfish Swim School has 110 units, Premier Martial Arts has 71. SBA loan history: Goldfish Swim School = 132 loans (0.0% default); Premier Martial Arts = 103 loans (5.8% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Goldfish Swim School vs Premier Martial Arts: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Premier Martial Arts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($184K vs $488K for Goldfish Swim School), a 166% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Goldfish Swim School versus $90K for Premier Martial Arts, Goldfish Swim School has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Goldfish Swim School and 7% for Premier Martial Arts, giving Goldfish Swim School the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Goldfish Swim School operates 110 units to Premier Martial Arts's 71. Premier Martial Arts has been operating 22 years (founded 2004) versus 20 for Goldfish Swim School (founded 2006), a 2-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Goldfish Swim School has the deeper SBA lending track record with 132 historical 7(a) approvals versus 103 for Premier Martial Arts. Goldfish Swim School's peak SBA year was 2017 (18 loans); Premier Martial Arts's peak was 2022 (43 loans). Premier Martial Arts's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Goldfish Swim School concentrates in IL (13 SBA-funded units) while Premier Martial Arts leads in TX (16). Pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Goldfish Swim School deals is $1.5M vs $192K for Premier Martial Arts, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Goldfish Swim School and 5.8% for Premier Martial Arts, Goldfish Swim School has the cleaner historical loss profile by 5.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for Goldfish Swim School and 52 (Moderate) for Premier Martial Arts, giving Goldfish Swim School the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 67/100 | 52/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 132 | 103 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 5.8% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $488K – $2.6M | $184K – $422K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $90K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 4% | 6% |
Liquid Capital | $600K | $100K |
Net Worth Required | $1.5M | $330K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 110 | 71 |
Franchised Units | 110 | 71 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2006 | 2004 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Naperville, IL | Bedford, TX |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Goldfish Swim School or Premier Martial Arts?
Lower upfront capital required
Premier Martial Arts
Goldfish Swim School: $488K starting · Premier Martial Arts: $184K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 132 SBA loans · Premier Martial Arts: 103 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 0.0% · Premier Martial Arts: 5.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 110 units · Premier Martial Arts: 71 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 6% · Premier Martial Arts: 7%
More lender financing options
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 43 unique lenders · Premier Martial Arts: 21 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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Goldfish Swim School vs Premier Martial Arts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Goldfish Swim School and Premier Martial Arts is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $184K to $2.6M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Goldfish Swim School with 132 SBA loans and Premier Martial Arts with 103. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.
Goldfish Swim School vs Premier Martial Arts, Frequently Asked Questions
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