Premier Martial Arts vs X-Golf
Premier Martial Arts vs X-Golf: Premier Martial Arts costs $184K to $422K to open; X-Golf costs $488K to $1.1M. Premier Martial Arts has 71 units, X-Golf has 95. SBA loan history: Premier Martial Arts = 103 loans (5.8% default); X-Golf = 166 loans (0.6% 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.
Premier Martial Arts vs X-Golf: 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
Premier Martial Arts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($184K vs $488K for X-Golf), a 62% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $90K for Premier Martial Arts versus $35K for X-Golf, X-Golf has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7% for Premier Martial Arts and 7% for X-Golf, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, X-Golf operates 95 units to Premier Martial Arts's 71. Premier Martial Arts has been operating 22 years (founded 2004) versus 11 for X-Golf (founded 2015), a 11-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
X-Golf has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 166 7(a) approvals compared with 103 for Premier Martial Arts. Premier Martial Arts's peak SBA year was 2022 (43 loans); X-Golf's peak was 2023 (43 loans). X-Golf's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Premier Martial Arts has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 16. X-Golf leads in MI, with 31. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Premier Martial Arts deals is $192K vs $579K for X-Golf, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 5.8% for Premier Martial Arts and 0.6% for X-Golf, X-Golf has the cleaner SBA loss record by 5.2 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 52 (Moderate) for Premier Martial Arts and 64 (Moderate) for X-Golf, giving X-Golf the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 52/100 | 64/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 103 | 166 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 5.8% | 0.6% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $184K to $422K | $488K to $1.1M |
Franchise Fee | $90K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 7% | 7% |
Ad Fund | 6% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | $100K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $330K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 71 | 95 |
Franchised Units | 71 | 95 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 5 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2004 | 2015 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 1965 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 61 yrs |
Headquarters | Bedford, TX | Dubai, MI |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Premier Martial Arts or X-Golf?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Premier Martial Arts: $184K starting · X-Golf: $488K starting
More SBA lender confidence
X-Golf
Premier Martial Arts: 103 SBA loans · X-Golf: 166 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
X-Golf
Premier Martial Arts: 5.8% · X-Golf: 0.6%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Premier Martial Arts: 71 units · X-Golf: 95 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Premier Martial Arts: 7% · X-Golf: 7%
More lender financing options
X-Golf
Premier Martial Arts: 21 unique lenders · X-Golf: 25 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
Premier Martial Arts vs X-Golf: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Premier Martial Arts and X-Golf is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $184K to $1.1M.
Premier Martial Arts has 103 SBA loans on record and X-Golf has 166. 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.
Premier Martial Arts vs X-Golf, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Premier Martial Arts or X-Golf?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Premier Martial Arts or X-Golf?
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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 LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman