Goldfish Swim School
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Goldfish Swim School franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Goldfish Swim School franchise specializes in swim instruction for children ages 4 months to 12 years, operating warm-water facilities designed specifically for
Headline figures
Goldfish Swim School quick facts
- Is Goldfish Swim School a franchise?
- Yes. Goldfish Swim School offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 192 franchised and 7 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 70).
- How much does it cost to open a Goldfish Swim School franchise?
- The Goldfish Swim School Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,733,263 for ) $1,663,263 – 3,746,733 as provided above as provided above as provided above total — 1733263 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 24); $1,663,263–$3,746,733 for - 350,000 as arranged as necessary employees, utilities, lessor & suppliers total 14 — 1663263 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 23). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Goldfish Swim School initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $20,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 16). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Goldfish Swim School charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $1,250 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 17). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $10,000 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 18). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Goldfish Swim School disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Goldfish 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 Goldfish Swim School locations are there?
- The FDD reports 199 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 70). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Goldfish 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
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $1,733,263 () $1,663,263 – 3,746,733 As Provided Above As Provided Above As Provided Above TOTAL — 1733263); $1,663,263 – $3,746,733 (- 350,000 As Arranged As Necessary Employees, Utilities, Lessor & Suppliers TOTAL 14 — 1663263); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 2 separate groups: adjusted operating results for 169 Franchised locations; adjusted operating results for 17 Franchised locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 22 in 2025, to 199 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Goldfish Swim School head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
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.
- - 350,000 As Arranged As Necessary Employees, Utilities, Lessor & Suppliers TOTAL 14 — 1663263PDF p. 23$1,663,263 – $3,746,733
- ) $1,663,263 – 3,746,733 As Provided Above As Provided Above As Provided Above TOTAL — 1733263PDF p. 24$1,733,263
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- . OTHER FEES Type of Fee Amount Due Date Remarks Royalty Fee The greater of — 1250Main ongoing fee
41 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?
Two separate populations, not a revenue-and-profit comparison. Revenue is not owner income.
169 locations
Adjusted operating results · 169 locations
Adjusted company-owned results: the franchisor adjusted these centers' expenses to estimate franchisee costs. They are not observed franchisee results or owner take-home income.
- Who is counted
- Allschools≥12months
- Period
- High
- Excluded
- Affiliates excluded;192franchisedschools total;ineligiblehistoryexcluded.
- Method
- Unauditedreports;quartilevalueindependentlyselectedperline,notsameschoolprofile;otherrevenueparties/vending/retail/registration;payrollinclhourly/management/payrolltaxexowner;rentgrossCAMalarmtaxes,noallowanceadjustments;insuranceallrequired;profitbeforeinterest,taxes,depreciation,amortization,ownercompensation/othermiscellaneous.
These groups are never combined. Adjusted company-owned operating results cannot be divided by franchised revenue to calculate a franchisee profit margin.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 70
Net +40 outlets, 2023–2025
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 ($1,663,263 – $3,746,733) 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 177 to 199 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]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 16
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Allschools≥12months · PDF p. 68
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Firstfullyearschools≥12but<24months (tablelabel13–24) · PDF p. 69
- [4]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 70
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
182 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
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | accrued compensation | $76,509 |
| 2025 | prepaid expenses and other assetsMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $916,698 |
| 2025 | cash and cash equivalents | $6,107,733 |
| 2025 | total current assets | $9,885,298 |
| 2025 | advertising funds on deposit | $40,054 |
| 2025 | members' equity | $4,626,041 |
| 2025 | nonoperating income - other income | $132,515 |
| 2025 | accrued and other liabilities | -$79,263 |
| 2025 | lease liability | -$99,922 |
| 2025 | consolidated net income | $12,569,088 |
| 2025 | amortization of leased asset - operating lease | $99,922 |
| 2025 | cash flows from investing activities purchase of property and equipment | -$14,832 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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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.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
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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