How Swim School Franchises Will Make a Splash This Summer

Last week, we analyzed the outlook for swimming pool franchise success for the upcoming summer season and found the projections to be quite promising even with the impact of COVID-19. With these insights of resiliency for the swimming pool industry, are swim school franchises set to experience similar growth? 

Across the country, swim school franchises once closed have been rolling back openings with limited capacity as the CDC has found swimming pools to be a low-risk environment for the coronavirus. In Minnesota, according to The Business Journals, Gov. Tim Walz allowed pools to reopen at 25 percent capacity starting January 4th. According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, the swim-for-fitness market consists of more than 31 million participants and the swim school market is estimated at $17 billion with 50 million children in the U.S. under 12 years old. However, significantly less than $1 billion of both markets are currently served. 

With how easily accessible indoor and outdoor swimming pools are, along with their wide appeal to everyone from toddlers to the elderly, it’s no wonder Fitness Equipment Source ranks swimming as the fifth most popular activity in America. As swimming’s popularity bounces back this summer, the demand for swim school lessons for children should also. Check out these swimming school franchises with promising growth for 2021. 

Big Blue Swim School 

Big Blue Swim Schools was recognized on the annual 100 Game Changers franchising list from Franchise Directory Magazine for 2020 due to having designed a best-in-class consumer experience, strong brand leadership and support, proprietary technology, and a strategic plan for rapid nationwide growth. With 81 locations established over the past two years including during the pandemic, Big Blue plans to reach 150 new locations by 2021. The average gross revenue of three Big Blue Swim Schools operating for at least three full years as of December 31, 2019, was $1.9 million, with an EBITDA or cash flow of $328,594. To learn more about this swim school franchise, click here. 

British Swim School 

In 2020 British Swim School was ranked 203 in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500®; named a Top 100 Franchise by Franchise Gator; and listed as a 2020 FRAN-TASTIC 500 brand by FranServe. In 2021 British Swim School was named a Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review. British Swim School opened 5 new locations across five states in 2020 and currently operates over 215 schools across the United States and Canada. To learn more about this swim school franchise, click here. 

Goldfish Swim School 

In 2020, Goldfish Swim School was recognized by Franchise Times on the Fast & Serious List and made the Top 200+ ranking, ranked 28 on Franchise 500® and featured on Top Growth Franchises list by Entrepreneur Magazine, made the Inc. 5000 list for the sixth year in a row and took gold in local marketing leadership and silver for cause marketing campaign as part of the Franchise Innovation Awards from Franchise Update Magazine. Additionally, the franchise opened 14 new locations for a total of 111 schools spanning across 30 states and signed 19 additional franchise agreements. To learn more about this swim school franchise, click here. 

SafeSplash Swim School 

Since 2005 SafeSplash Swim School has provided more than 1.25 million lessons. In 2020 SafeSplash was ranked 278 in the Franchise 500. Currently, SafeSplash operates over 100 locations in 21 states and soon plans to reach 136 locations in both the US and Mexico. To learn more about this swim school franchise, click here. 
 
SwimLabs Swim School 

As the official swim school provider of USA Swimming, SwimLabs Swim School has provided 30 years of proven swim school success through millions of lessons taught. Currently, there are over 400,000 USA registered swimmers, and tens of millions of swimmers taking lessons every year. To learn more about this swim school franchise, click here. 

Water Babies Swim School 

Since 2002, Water Babies Swim School has successfully established 65 franchises worldwide, teaching over 50,000 customers in over 600 pools every week. To learn more about this swim school franchise, click here.