Goldfish Swim School vs The Exercise Coach
Goldfish Swim School vs The Exercise Coach: Goldfish Swim School costs $488K to $2.6M to open; The Exercise Coach costs $150K to $250K. Goldfish Swim School has 110 units, The Exercise Coach has 73. SBA loan history: Goldfish Swim School = 132 loans (0.0% default); The Exercise Coach = 101 loans (4.0% 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.
Goldfish Swim School vs The Exercise Coach: 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
The Exercise Coach requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($150K vs $488K for Goldfish Swim School), a 225% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Goldfish Swim School versus $25K for The Exercise Coach, The Exercise Coach has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Goldfish Swim School and 6% for The Exercise Coach, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Goldfish Swim School operates 110 units to The Exercise Coach's 73. The Exercise Coach has been operating 26 years (founded 2000) versus 20 for Goldfish Swim School (founded 2006), a 6-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 7(a) approvals compared with 101 for The Exercise Coach. Goldfish Swim School's peak SBA year was 2017 (18 loans); The Exercise Coach's peak was 2023 (22 loans). The Exercise Coach's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Goldfish Swim School has the most SBA funded units in IL, with 13. The Exercise Coach leads in CA, with 13. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Goldfish Swim School deals is $1.5M vs $181K for The Exercise Coach, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Goldfish Swim School and 4.0% for The Exercise Coach, Goldfish Swim School has the cleaner SBA loss record by 4.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for Goldfish Swim School and 65 (Strong) for The Exercise Coach, giving Goldfish Swim School the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 67/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 132 | 101 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 4.0% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $488K to $2.6M | $150K to $250K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 4% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | $600K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $1.5M | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 110 | 73 |
Franchised Units | 110 | 73 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2006 | 2000 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | Naperville, IL | CA |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Goldfish Swim School or The Exercise Coach?
Lower upfront capital required
The Exercise Coach
Goldfish Swim School: $488K starting · The Exercise Coach: $150K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 132 SBA loans · The Exercise Coach: 101 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 0.0% · The Exercise Coach: 4.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 110 units · The Exercise Coach: 73 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Goldfish Swim School: 6% · The Exercise Coach: 6%
More lender financing options
Goldfish Swim School
Goldfish Swim School: 43 unique lenders · The Exercise Coach: 35 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
Goldfish Swim School vs The Exercise Coach: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Goldfish Swim School and The Exercise Coach is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $150K to $2.6M.
Goldfish Swim School has 132 SBA loans on record and The Exercise Coach has 101. 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.
Goldfish Swim School vs The Exercise Coach, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Goldfish Swim School or The Exercise Coach?
How much does a Goldfish Swim School franchise cost compared to The Exercise Coach?
Can I finance Goldfish Swim School or The Exercise Coach with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Goldfish Swim School or The Exercise Coach?
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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