Is Orion Food Systems or Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems cheaper to open?

Orion Food Systems costs $62,500–$175,500 and Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems costs $113,100–$171,800 to open (FDD Item 7). Orion Food Systems has the lower entry cost.

Which is the better franchise, Orion Food Systems or Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems?

FranchiseVerdict grades Orion Food Systems B and Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems B, from FDD Items 5–7, 19–21 and SBA loan performance. See the full side-by-side above.

Orion Food Systems vs Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems

Franchise Comparison 2026

Both Orion Food Systems and Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems are food retail franchises. Orion Food Systems requires an investment of $63K – $176K while Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems requires $113K – $172K. Neither Orion Food Systems nor Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems makes a financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD — a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule — so the two cannot be compared on disclosed unit revenue. FranchiseVerdict rates Orion Food Systems B (Above average) and Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems B (Above average).

Metric	Orion Food Systems	Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems
Verdict Grade	BAbove averageAbove average	BAbove averageAbove average
Investment Range	$63K – $176K	$113K – $172K
Franchise Fee	N/A	$60K
Royalty Rate	No royalty or other continuing fee is required with an OLM franchise, except as described in the Item 6 fee table (late charges, remodeling, delivery/fuel surcharge, collection/enforcement costs, food/supply purchases, early termination fee). OLM may in the future negotiate reduced wholesale prices in exchange for a royalty on sales for select franchisees, but this is not the standard arrangement.	7.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)	N/ANo Item 19 representation	N/ANo Item 19 representation
SBA Charge-Off Rate	Limited data	N/A
Total Units	655	19
Unit Growth (YoY)	-97 units	+0 units
Year Began Franchising	1994	2024
FDD Year	2025	2024

Orion Food Systems

BAbove average

Aqua Chill Drinking Water Systems

BAbove average

Investment Range

$63K – $176K

$113K – $172K

Franchise Fee

N/A

$60K

Royalty Rate

No royalty or other continuing fee is required with an OLM franchise, except as described in the Item 6 fee table (late charges, remodeling, delivery/fuel surcharge, collection/enforcement costs, food/supply purchases, early termination fee). OLM may in the future negotiate reduced wholesale prices in exchange for a royalty on sales for select franchisees, but this is not the standard arrangement.

7.0%

Average Revenue (Item 19)

N/ANo Item 19 representation

SBA Charge-Off Rate

Limited data

N/A

Total Units

655

Unit Growth (YoY)

-97 units

+0 units

Year Began Franchising