Franopolis

    Big Blue Swim School

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Researching Big Blue Swim School franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.

    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

    Big Blue Swim School quick facts

    Is Big Blue Swim School a franchise?
    Yes. Big Blue Swim School offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 30 franchised and 22 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71).
    How much does it cost to open a Big Blue Swim School franchise?
    The Big Blue Swim School Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,898,350–$3,478,100 for total investment low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 27); $3,478,100 for total investment high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 27). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What ongoing fees does Big Blue Swim School charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 6% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 14). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 3% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 15). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Big Blue Swim School disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Big Blue Swim School FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 68). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Big Blue Swim School locations are there?
    The FDD reports 52 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Big Blue Swim School a good franchise to buy?
    Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.

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

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $1,898,350 – $3,478,100 (Total investment low); $3,478,100 (Total investment high); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 covers 10 separate groups: other measures for 42 Open and operating BIG BLUE Swim Schools schools; 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.
    3. 3Outlets grew by 10 in 2025, to 52 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).

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

    Compare outlet trendsPut Item 20 counts side by side with up to 3 other brands.

    Big Blue Swim School head-to-head

    Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

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    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.

    42 locations

    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.

    42 locations

    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.

    20 locations

    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.

    29 locations

    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.

    22 locations

    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.

    14 locations

    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.

    13 locations

    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.

    6 locations

    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.

    7 locations

    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.

    15 locations

    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?

    United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025-12-31 of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74

    Net +23 outlets, 2023–2025

    0292023422024522025+13+10

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.

    Questions to investigate

    Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member 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?

    • Reported units went from 42 to 52 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?

    • 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
    11. [11]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 74

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

    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, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    Soccer ShotsBritish Swim SchoolFred Astaire Dance StudiosThe Little GymArthur Murray InternationalD-BAT

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Big Blue Swim School vs Soccer ShotsBig Blue Swim School vs British Swim SchoolBig Blue Swim School vs Fred Astaire Dance StudiosBig Blue Swim School vs The Little GymBig Blue Swim School vs Arthur Murray InternationalBig Blue Swim School vs D-BAT
    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.

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