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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Athletic Republic vs Big Blue Swim School

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Athletic Republic2026 FDDBig Blue Swim School2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Athletic Republic

    $298,900 – $678,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17

    Big Blue Swim School

    $1,898,350 – $3,478,100

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Athletic Republic

    Not available

    Big Blue Swim School

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Athletic Republic

    7%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Big Blue Swim School

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Big Blue Swim School discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Athletic Republic: 1, Big Blue Swim School: 10). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Athletic Republic

    $298,900 – $678,500
    Total Initial Investment — $298900
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17

    Big Blue Swim School

    $1,898,350 – $3,478,100
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Athletic Republic

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Big Blue Swim School

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Athletic Republic

    7%
    Royalty percent of total monthly Gross Sales less minimum paid
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Big Blue Swim School

    6%
    Royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Athletic Republic

    $10,000
    Membership Advertising allocation
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9

    Big Blue Swim School

    3%
    Brand fund maximum — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Athletic Republic

    41
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 53

    Big Blue Swim School

    52
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Athletic Republic

    +3
    Calculated: 38 at end of 2023 → 41 at end of 2025

    Big Blue Swim School

    +23
    Calculated: 29 at end of 2023 → 52 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Athletic Republic

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Big Blue Swim School

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Athletic Republic

    2006
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Big Blue Swim School

    2018
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Athletic Republic

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Big Blue Swim School

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Athletic Republic
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    33 percent
    other AR Gross Sales above average percent
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 52
    Big Blue Swim School
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All 42 schools open throughout calendar year 2025: 20 affiliate-owned and 22 fr…
    20 schools
    other Affiliate-owned sample
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 68
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All schools All Swim Schools
    $1,636,545
    other All schools All Swim Schools Average gross revenue
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 69
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All schools Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools
    $2,707,122
    other All schools Affiliate-Owned Swim Schools Highest gross revenue
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 69
    +7 more groups in the full report

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Athletic Republic vs Big Blue Swim School: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Athletic Republic or Big Blue Swim School?
    Athletic Republic: $298,900 – $678,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 17); Big Blue Swim School: $1,898,350 – $3,478,100 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Athletic Republic. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Athletic Republic and Big Blue Swim School royalties compare?
    Athletic Republic: 7% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11); Big Blue Swim School: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Athletic Republic or Big Blue Swim School?
    Athletic Republic: 41 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 53); Big Blue Swim School: 52 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Athletic Republic and Big Blue Swim School disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Athletic Republic has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; Big Blue Swim School has reviewed Item 19 figures for 10 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Athletic Republic report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Big Blue Swim School report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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