About British Swim School Franchise
British Swim School is a swimming and water-survival instruction franchise that focuses on survival skills, stroke development, breathing techniques, and skill coordination.
Franchisees offer private and group swim lessons for individuals of all ages, primarily targeting children ages 10 and under, as well as pool facility rental, pool parties, open swim, lifeguard training, and other special events.
Customers pay an annual membership fee and purchase subscriptions to attend swim lessons, and franchisees operate from rented, licensed, or owned swimming pools within their designated territory.
British Swim School Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$95K
Average Investment
$131K
Maximum Investment
$168K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $59,500 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 10% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 2% of Gross Sales (Marketing Fund Contribution) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $94,570 – $168,420 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $95K–$168K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (10% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (2% of Gross Sales (Marketing Fund Contribution)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $39,500 | $59,500 |
| Mailer Program Set-Up Fee | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Mailing List Fee | $150 | $150 |
| Postcard Fees | $3,870 | $3,870 |
| SEO Fees | $3,600 | $3,600 |
| Digital Marketing Fees | $12,000 | $17,000 |
| Chatbot Fee | $500 | $1,500 |
| Pool Security Deposit | $0 | $1,000 |
| Pool Usage Fee - 3 months | $1,500 | $12,000 |
| Opening Inventory (pool equipment, training supplies, learning aids) | $3,050 | $6,100 |
| Signage | $250 | $750 |
| Financial Management Training | $200 | $200 |
| Training: Travel and Living Expenses | $1,500 | $5,000 |
| Accountant and Legal Fees | $300 | $1,000 |
| Insurance Premium | $2,400 | $5,000 |
| Computer System | $0 | $3,500 |
| Office Security Deposit | $0 | $1,500 |
| Office Rent, Office Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment - 3 Months | $0 | $4,500 |
| Technology Fee - 3 months | $750 | $750 |
| Pre-Marketing and Grand Opening Advertising | $7,500 | $15,000 |
| First 3 Months of Aquatics Manager | $7,500 | $10,500 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months | $9,000 | $15,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 50% of then-current Initial Franchise Fee ($1,000 non-refundable deposit) |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000 per Franchise Agreement |
| Technology Fee | Estimated $250/month (varies based on number of students) |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit, inspection, understated amounts, and related accounting and legal expenses |
| Mailer Program Postcard Fee | $0.43 per postcard ($3,870/year for 9,000 postcards) |
| Mailer Program Mailing List Fee | $0.05 per Targeted Household ($150 minimum/year) |
| SEO Fee | $300/month ($3,600/year) |
| Digital Marketing Fee | $1,416.66/month Standard ($17,000/year) or $1,000/month Targeted ($12,000/year) |
| Pool Program Fees | Varies (typically 10-25% of pool lesson revenues) |
| Payment Services Fee | Up to 4% of total charge for credit card payments |
| Annual Convention Fee | $725 |
| Annual Aquatics Manager Conference Fee | $379 |
| Failure to Attend Annual Convention | $1,200 |
| Late Payment Fee | $100 per occurrence plus 18% annual interest |
| NSF Fee | $100 per occurrence |
| Chatbot Fee | $500/month |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Up to 8 days in-person, plus approximately 15 hours self-paced and 20 hours virtual learning |
| Classroom Training | 81 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 20 hours |
| Training Location | Virginia Beach, Virginia or another location designated by franchisor |
| Additional Training | Ongoing training courses, meetings, conferences and seminars including annual franchise owner meeting and annual Aquatics Manager conference (not to exceed 10 business days per calendar year). Additional swim instructor training available at $300 per person per day. Virtual training at $100 per person per day. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | Standard Territory: up to 25,000 children under 10 years of age; Targeted Territory: 8,000-20,000 children under 10 years of age |
| Description | Exclusive geographic territory defined by zip codes. Franchisor will not operate or grant another franchise within territory. Pool Protection Radius applies around approved pools. Franchisor retains rights to operate outside territory, under different marks anywhere, and through other channels of distribution. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | Two 5-year renewal terms |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000 per Franchise Agreement |
| Renewal Conditions | Prior written notice; full compliance with Franchise Agreement and System Standards; add or replace Operating Assets as required; substantial compliance throughout franchise term; sign then-current Franchise Agreement (which may materially differ); retain right to use Pools or secure substitute approved Pools; complete additional training at franchisee's expense; sign general releases and other ancillary agreements |
| Transfer Fee | 50% of then-current Initial Franchise Fee (no fee for transfers to family members or active BSS franchisees in good standing) |
| Transfer Conditions | Transferee must qualify and be approved; all amounts paid current; transferee not in Competitive Business; complete training; pool facility permits transfer; sign then-current franchise agreement; payment of transfer fee; general release; purchase price/terms acceptable; comply with non-compete; reimburse broker fees |
| Termination for Cause | Multiple grounds including: material misrepresentation; failure to complete training; failure to open timely; abandonment (5+ days); unauthorized transfer; felony conviction; dishonest/unethical conduct; loss of pool rights; unauthorized disclosure of confidential information; 3 defaults in 12 months; bankruptcy; failure to pay amounts due within 5 days of notice |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | No interest in Competitive Business within Territory, within 15-mile radius of Territory, or within 15-mile radius of any BSS pool; no solicitation of BSS customers, vendors, or clients; no employment of BSS employees; may not lease/rent facility to Competitive Business |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | If an entity, must identify a Designated Manager with at least 50% ownership and voting power who has CEO authority. Designated Manager must supervise day-to-day operations full-time. If not acting as trainer/manager of swim instructors, must hire an Aquatics Manager as lead swim instructor. All owners must sign Owners Agreement with personal guaranty. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisor or BSS Services, LLC is the only approved supplier for the Mailer Program, Digital Advertising Program, and certain technology (scheduling/billing software, telephony, business intelligence, email/cloud storage, POS). Insurance must be obtained from franchisor's designated vendor. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must purchase products and services only according to franchisor standards and specifications, from designated or approved suppliers. Must submit written request for approval of unapproved suppliers; 60 days without response means denial. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | In 2024, franchisor received supplier rebates of $22,018. BSS Services received $3,368,234 from required franchisee purchases (30.5% of its revenue). Mailer Program Fees include a mark-up and franchisor may derive profit. Digital Advertising Program Fees include a management fee and franchisor/affiliate may derive profit. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | Yes |
| Description | Franchisor and/or affiliates may finance up to half of initial investment or operating capital at franchisor's sole discretion. Annual interest rate is typically 12% but varies by creditworthiness. Repayment typically over 1-3 years through monthly payments. Personal guarantee required. Security interest in franchise assets may be required. Prepayment allowed without penalty. Financing not offered in California. |
British Swim School Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$461K
Median Revenue
$335K
Revenue Range
$26K – $2.6M
Sample Size
119 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
British Swim School Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordBritish Swim School has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD.
Bankruptcy History DisclosedA bankruptcy disclosure is present in this FDD.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
British Swim School System Growth
Total Units
258
Franchised
258
Company-Owned
0
British Swim School currently operates 258 franchised locations and 0 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 29 | 4 | 138 |
| 2023 | 57 | 2 | 193 |
| 2024 | 70 | 5 | 258 |
Transfers: 16 | Closures: 5
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$10.3M
Net Income
$3.2M
Total Assets
$4.8M
Audited by Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C. for year ending December 31.
British Swim School Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a British Swim School franchise ranges from $94,570 to $168,420, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $59,500. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
British Swim School charges a royalty fee of 10% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 2% of Gross Sales (Marketing Fund Contribution) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the British Swim School Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from British Swim School to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, British Swim School franchise owners report average revenue of $461K and median revenue of $335K. This is based on a sample of 119 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
British Swim School has been franchising since 2019. The FDD shows an investment range of $94,570-$168,420, a 10% of Gross Sales royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $59,500 and the total investment ranges from $94,570 to $168,420 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from British Swim School and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with British Swim School or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com