Franopolis

    Big Blue Swim School

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Reviewed sources
    Franchising since
    2018
    Source: franchise.org
    Headquarters
    Chicago, IL United States
    Source: franchise.org

    Big Blue Swim School® franchise specializes in teaching swimming lessons to children and adults through a proven curriculum focused on water safety and skill de

    Headline figures

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1Opening costs are estimated at $1,898,350 – $3,478,100 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 covers 10 separate groups: other measures for 42 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 42 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 20 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; other measures and revenue for 29 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 22 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 14 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 13 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 6 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 7 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations; revenue and other measures for 15 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools locations. They are not combined.

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Range across 2 single-unit formats

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)

    Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.

    • Total investment lowPDF p. 27$1,898,350 – $3,478,100
    • Total investment highPDF p. 27$3,478,100

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

    Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.

    Royalty rateMain ongoing fee

    52 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.

    Financial Performance — Item 19

    What results are disclosed—and for which locations?

    10 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Other measures · 42 locations

    Who is counted
    All 42 schools open throughout calendar year 2025: 20 affiliate-owned and 22 franchised; subsets include mature (opened 2023 or earlier) and ramping (opened 2024).
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 42 locations

    Who is counted
    All schools All Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 20 locations

    Who is counted
    All schools Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 29 locations

    Who is counted
    Mature All Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 22 locations

    Who is counted
    All schools Franchised Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 14 locations

    Who is counted
    Mature Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 13 locations

    Who is counted
    Ramping All Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 6 locations

    Who is counted
    Ramping Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 7 locations

    Who is counted
    Ramping Franchised Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and other measures · 15 locations

    Who is counted
    Mature Franchised Swim Schools
    Excluded
    10 schools opened during 2025 (2 affiliate-owned, 8 franchised) excluded; none closed. One affiliate-owned school reacquired June 2, 2025 included; one transferred franchised school included.
    Method
    Internal unaudited historical data from affiliates or franchisee royalty reports; calendar year 2025.

    These groups are never combined.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    Coverage not stated in the reviewed record · counts as of year end of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 ·

    Questions to investigate

    Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Create a free account to save questions to your research.

    For the franchisor

    • Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($1,898,350 – $3,478,100) vary most by market, and why?

    • Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?

    • Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?

    • Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?

    For current and former owners

    • How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?

    • How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?

    • How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?

    • What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?

    For your advisors

    • Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.

    • Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.

    Sources & vintage history

    Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.

    Citations (2026 FDD)

    1. [1]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All 42 schools open throughout calendar year 2025: 20 affiliate-owned and 22 fr… · PDF p. 68; PDF p. 70
    2. [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All schools All Swim Schools · PDF p. 69
    3. [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All schools Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools · PDF p. 69
    4. [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Mature All Swim Schools · PDF p. 69
    5. [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All schools Franchised Swim Schools · PDF p. 69
    6. [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Mature Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools · PDF p. 69
    7. [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Ramping All Swim Schools · PDF p. 70
    8. [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Ramping Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools · PDF p. 70
    9. [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Ramping Franchised Swim Schools · PDF p. 70
    10. [10]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Mature Franchised Swim Schools · PDF p. 69

    "PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: GetFDD listing

    Territory & operations

    No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.

    55 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.

    These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.

    Legal & agreement

    Franchisor financial statements

    No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

    Loading…

    Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.

    Related research

    Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

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    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Not reviewed

    Owner participation

    Not reviewed

    Territory language

    Not reviewed

    Litigation disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Agreement term

    Not reviewed

    Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.