Franchise opportunities compared
Big Blue Swim School vs The Little Gym
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.
Initial investment · Item 7
Big Blue Swim School
$1,898,350 – $3,478,100
2026 FDD · Item 7The Little Gym
$420,324 – $722,773
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Big Blue Swim School
Not available
The Little Gym
$59,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14Royalty · Item 6
Big Blue Swim School
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14The Little Gym
8% or $2,500/mo min
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16Before 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 (Big Blue Swim School: 10, The Little Gym: 7). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
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The Little GymBig Blue Swim School
The Little Gym
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The Little Gym
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The Little Gym
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The Little Gym
System scale & health
Big Blue Swim SchoolThe Little GymBig Blue Swim School
The Little Gym
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The Little Gym
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The Little Gym
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Big Blue Swim School
The Little Gym
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Big Blue Swim SchoolThe Little GymItem 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.
Big Blue Swim School vs The Little Gym: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Big Blue Swim School or The Little Gym?
- Big Blue Swim School: $1,898,350 – $3,478,100 (2026 FDD · Item 7); The Little Gym: $420,324 – $722,773 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Little Gym. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Big Blue Swim School and The Little Gym royalties compare?
- Big Blue Swim School: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); The Little Gym: 8% or $2,500/mo min (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Big Blue Swim School or The Little Gym?
- Big Blue Swim School: 52 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71); The Little Gym: 256 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 70). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Big Blue Swim School and The Little Gym disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Big Blue Swim School has reviewed Item 19 figures for 10 location groups; The Little Gym has reviewed Item 19 figures for 7 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.
Keep researching
Full Big Blue Swim School report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full The Little Gym report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
