British Swim School Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2024)
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise in a snapshot
Initial franchise fee
$55,000
Investment required
$109,000 - $145,000
British Swim School: Revolutionizing Water Safety Through Expert Swim Instruction
British Swim School is a unique franchise focused on teaching essential water survival skills to individuals of all ages. The franchise was founded in 1981 in England, with its headquarters now located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The company began franchising in 2011 and has since grown significantly, becoming one of the fastest-growing swim school franchises in North America.
British Swim School offers a distinctive approach to swim instruction by partnering with existing facilities like hotels and fitness centers, thereby avoiding the high costs of building and maintaining its own pools.
This model not only reduces overhead but also allows franchisees to focus on delivering high-quality lessons in warm, safe environments. The franchise is particularly known for its emphasis on water survival skills, which sets it apart from many traditional swim schools.
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 | $55,000 |
| Mailer Program Set-Up Fee | $1,000 |
| Mailing List Fee | $250 |
| Postcard Fees | $10,750 |
| SEO Fees | $3,600 |
| Digital Marketing Fees | $12,000 |
| Pool Security Deposit | $0 to $1,000 |
| Pool Usage Fee — 3 months | $1,500 to $9,000 |
| Opening Inventory (pool equipment, training supplies, learning aids) | $3,050 to $6,100 |
| Signage | $250 to $750 |
| Training: Travel and Living Expenses | $1,500 to $4,000 |
| Accountant and Legal Fees | $300 to $1,000 |
| Insurance Premium | $2,400 to $5,000 |
| Computer System | $0 to $3,500 |
| Office Security Deposit | $0 to $1,500 |
| Office Rent, Office Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment — 3 Months | $0 to $4,500 |
| Technology Fee — 3 months | $750 |
| First 3 Months of Aquatics Manager | $7,500 to $10,500 |
| Additional Funds — 3 Months | $9,000 to $15,000 |
| Total Estimated Initial Investment | $108,850 to $145,200 |
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Franchise Disclosure Document
Training
British Swim School provides a comprehensive training program designed to equip franchisees with the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully operate their swim school business. The training is divided into multiple phases, combining self-paced learning, virtual instruction, and hands-on in-person training.
- Self-Paced Learning: Franchisees begin with approximately 15 hours of self-paced, asynchronous learning. This phase allows franchisees to familiarize themselves with the basic concepts and operations of the British Swim School business model at their own pace.
- Virtual Instruction: Following the self-paced component, franchisees participate in about 20 hours of live virtual training. This includes interactive sessions where franchisees can engage with instructors, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the business processes.
- In-Person Training: The core of the training takes place over approximately eight days of in-person instruction. This phase covers a wide range of topics, including business management, operational procedures, marketing strategies, and customer service. Additionally, franchisees receive specific training on the swim instruction methods used by British Swim School, ensuring they understand how to deliver the high-quality, safety-focused lessons the brand is known for.
- Ongoing Support and Additional Training: Beyond the initial training, British Swim School offers continuous support through one-on-one business coaching, regular system-wide calls, and an annual franchisee convention. Franchisees also have access to additional training sessions and resources as needed to help them stay updated on best practices and new developments in the industry.
Territory Protection
British Swim School franchise offers territory protection to its franchisees. When a franchisee signs the Franchise Agreement, they are granted an exclusive territory that typically includes one or more zip codes, ensuring that no other British Swim School franchise will be established within that area.
This protection is designed to give franchisees the confidence to build and grow their business without the risk of internal competition from other franchise locations within the same territory.
The size of the territory is determined based on factors such as the number of potential pool locations and the population of children under age 10 within the area. This approach ensures that the territory has enough market potential to support the franchisee's business, while also aligning with the company's overall growth strategy.
