- 2024 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#74 Ranked #69 last year
- Initial investment
-
$1.7M - $3.7M
- Units as of 2023
-
151 39.8% over 3 years
Are you ready to help your kids dive into one of the most well-known swim schools around? Goldfish Swim School offers swimming lessons to kids from the age of 4 months to 12 years. They may equip swimmers with life-saving and life-changing skills.
Goldfish Swim School was founded by Jenny and Chris McCuiston in 2006. The swimming business started franchising in 2008 following a rise in demand for swimming lessons. Since then, the Goldfish Swim School franchise has expanded to many locations in both the United States and Canada.
Why You May Want to Start a Goldfish Swim School Franchise
The Goldfish Swim School brand may be known for the vibrant and bright colors that attract young children to learn in their pools. They're also popular for their proprietary curriculum, the Science of SwimPlay, and their use of warm, clean water. Goldfish Swim School has skilled instructors, each one handling only a few children at a time. Becoming a Goldfish Swim School franchisee may be a fun adventure, especially if you have a passion for changing kids’ lives and giving them confidence.
With the demand for swimming lessons, Goldfish Swim School may offer some of the most well-known curriculums around. You could be part of a growing franchise that had more than 115 locations in the United States and Canada.
What Might Make a Goldfish Swim School Franchise a Good Choice?
Multiple times in recent years, Goldfish Swim School has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.
Families may be constantly looking for prestigious places to take their infants and children for high-quality swim lessons. This company's franchisees meet these demands while building their own investment.
To become part of the Goldfish Swim School team, you should ensure that you are financially sound enough for an initial investment that will consist of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You’ll also want to make sure you have enough capital available to cover ongoing fees that will include advertising and royalty fees.
As a franchisee, you may get on-the-job training and classroom instruction to give you the experience and skills needed to run your Goldfish Swim School. Its team may also help you choose a location for your franchise before assisting you in designing and constructing the facility. They should also provide guidance in creating a franchise website, advertising material, and marketing platforms.
How to Open a Goldfish Swim School Franchise
To get started with the process of opening a Goldfish Swim School franchise, ask yourself one question: do you like to play? This franchise values "play" as an essential part of their learning method. If you're on board with their approach, it might be time to take the plunge.
As part of the process, a Goldfish Swim School representative will usually contact you and introduce you to the team. They'll assess your potential as a franchisee. Once you're approved, you will attend training workshops and classes for dozens of hours. Corporate will also likely give you a tour of an established Goldfish Swim School to familiarize yourself with the franchise activities.
Before you know it, you'll be opening the doors to your own Goldfish Swim School. And as they say in swimming—if you have a lane, you have a chance.
Company Overview
About Goldfish Swim School
| Industry | Children's Businesses |
|---|---|
| Related Categories | Swimming Lessons, Children's Fitness Programs, Miscellaneous Recreation Businesses, Children's Education/Enrichment, Sports |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Parent Company | Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC |
| Leadership | Chris McCuiston, CEO |
| Corporate Address |
2701 Industrial Row Dr. Troy, MI 48084 |
| Social | Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok |
Business Overview
| Franchising Since | 2008 (16 years) |
|---|---|
| # of employees at HQ | 51 |
| Where seeking |
This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada |
| # of Units | 151 (as of 2023) |
|
|
|
Information for Franchisees
Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Goldfish Swim School franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
|
Initial Franchise Fee
|
$50,000 |
|---|---|
|
Initial Investment
|
$1,673,263 - $3,723,930 |
|
Net Worth Requirement
|
$2,000,000 |
|
Cash Requirement
|
$1,000,000 |
|
Royalty Fee
|
6% |
|
Ad Royalty Fee
|
2% |
|
Term of Agreement
|
15 years |
| Is franchise term renewable? | Yes |
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
| Third Party Financing | Goldfish Swim School has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll |
|---|
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
| On-The-Job Training | 50 hours |
|---|---|
| Classroom Training | 78 hours |
| Ongoing Support |
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
|
| Marketing Support |
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App
|
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
| Is absentee ownership allowed? | No |
|---|---|
|
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
|
No |
|
Can this franchise be run part time?
|
No |
| # of employees required to run | 45 |
|
Are exclusive territories available?
|
Yes |
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where Goldfish Swim School landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where Goldfish Swim School ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
Sign Up for Our Franchise Newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest news and trends affecting the franchise industry.
Related Franchises
Are you eager to see what else is out there? Browse franchises that are similar to Goldfish Swim School.
Destination Athlete
- description
- Equipment, apparel, fundraising, and performance solutions for youth, high school, and college athletic teams
Related Franchise Content
Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.
Transform Your Business and Maximize Profits by Focusing on This Customer Retention Factor
The traditional method of judging success — ever-growing year-over-year sales increases — is antiquated. What matters more is Guest Lifetime Value, the amount of repeat business from loyal customers who visit more often and order more with no additional cost to the franchisee.
McDonald's' Response to Inflation? A $5 Meal Deal — Here's Everything to Know About It.
The announcement of the $5 deal comes as stubborn inflation squeezes consumers, who have demanded the fast food giant offer more value.
From Celebrity Endorsements to Boozy Beverages — 20 Incredible Dunkin' Facts That Will Surprise You
Spoiler alert: America isn't the only country that runs on Dunkin'.
McDonald's Is Venturing Into an Unlikely Industry With a New Diversity Initiative
The fast-food giant is addressing the lack of Black designers in the fashion industry, where Black creatives make up just over 7% of designers — despite having set trends for decades.
Make a Real Difference in Your Community with a Huntington Franchise
For nearly 50 years, Huntington Learning Center's mission-driven approach has positively impacted over one million students. Huntington's commitment is to its students and to the families they serve enables them to make a meaningful difference across the country.
California's Fast-Food Minimum Wage Hike Is Already Impacting Franchises. Here's What a New Study Revealed.
Several chains have raised their prices — or closed locations — in response to the wage increase, which has now led to a noticeable decline in foot traffic.