Big Blue Swim School

Big Blue Swim School Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Big Blue Swim School provides swim lessons for children. Franchisees are provided with comprehensive training, marketing support, and tools to operate a successful swim school.

Big Blue Swim School is a U.S.-based franchise that provides swim lessons to children aged three months to 12 years. The brand was founded in 2009 by former competitive swimmers Chris DeJong and John Lonergan, with the first school opening in Wilmette, Illinois.

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Big Blue began franchising in 2018 and has grown rapidly, with dozens of locations now open across multiple states. The franchise delivers a unique, distance-based swim curriculum focused on water safety and skill development.

Lessons are held in 90-degree pools within family-friendly facilities that include comfortable viewing areas for parents.

Big Blue also utilizes its own software, LessonBuddy™, to simplify scheduling and track student progress in real time—enhancing both parent satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$80,000
Real Estate Site Investigation	$0–$9,000
Rent	$20,000–$42,000
Security Deposit	$0–$42,000
Professional Fees	$5,000–$20,000
Insurance (3 Months)	$1,500–$3,000
Market Introduction Program	$85,000–$135,000
Training Expenses	$35,000–$90,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months	$55,000–$145,000
Architect & Engineering Fee	$75,000–$100,000
Utility Upgrades & Tap Fees	$80,000–$200,000
Business Licenses & Permits	$30,000–$80,000
Miscellaneous Costs	$80,000–$108,000
Leasehold Improvements / Net Leasehold Improvements	$2,314,400–$2,978,000
Pool Equipment	$89,000–$112,000
Lighting	$25,000–$45,000
HVAC	$148,000–$165,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment	$3,124,900–$4,351,000

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Initial Franchise Fee	$80,000
Real Estate Site Investigation	$0–$9,000
Rent	$20,000–$42,000
Security Deposit	$0–$42,000
Professional Fees	$5,000–$20,000
Insurance (3 Months)	$1,500–$3,000
Market Introduction Program	$85,000–$135,000
Training Expenses	$35,000–$90,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months	$55,000–$145,000
Architect & Engineering Fee	$75,000–$100,000
Utility Upgrades & Tap Fees	$80,000–$200,000
Business Licenses & Permits	$30,000–$80,000
Miscellaneous Costs	$80,000–$108,000
Leasehold Improvements / Net Leasehold Improvements	$2,314,400–$2,978,000
Pool Equipment	$89,000–$112,000
Lighting	$25,000–$45,000
HVAC	$148,000–$165,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment	$3,124,900–$4,351,000

Big Blue Swim School

2023

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

Big Blue Swim School provides a comprehensive training structure to ensure franchisees and their teams are equipped to operate according to brand standards. Here are the key training programs offered by the franchisor:

Initial Orientation and Training: The Managing Owner must attend a two-day initial orientation covering the franchise system. Additional classroom and on-the-job training is also provided at locations such as corporate headquarters, an existing school, or the new franchise location. This training must be completed before the school opens.
Training for School Employees: Franchisees are responsible for ensuring all school employees are properly trained for their roles. The franchisor may provide tools and recommendations to support this, and periodically updates training materials to align with changes in brand standards.
Retraining: If the initial training is not completed satisfactorily or the school does not meet operational standards, retraining may be mandated. Fees apply for retraining sessions, and the school’s opening may be delayed until training requirements are fulfilled.

Territory Protection

Big Blue Swim School provides its franchisees with an Area of Protection, which grants exclusive rights within a specified geographical area. This area is typically defined based on a roughly 10-minute drive radius from the school location or the center of a designated trade area, using physical markers such as streets and highways.

The franchisor determines and may revise the exact contours only in cases of school relocation. During the franchise term, neither Big Blue Swim School nor its affiliates may open or allow another franchisee to open a school operating under the same concept within the protected area.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Started franchising

2018

Franchisees

n.a.

Franchise fee

$80,000

Investment

$3,125,000 - $4,351,000

Revenue (AUV)

$1,571,000