Franchise opportunities compared

    Goldfish 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

    Goldfish Swim School

    $1,663,263 – $3,746,733

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The Little Gym

    $420,324 – $722,773

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Goldfish Swim School

    $20,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    The Little Gym

    $59,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14

    Royalty · Item 6

    Goldfish Swim School

    $1,250

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    The Little Gym

    8% or $2,500/mo min

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Goldfish 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 (Goldfish Swim School: 2, The Little Gym: 7). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Goldfish Swim School

    $1,663,263 – $3,746,733
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    The Little Gym

    $420,324 – $722,773
    TOTAL — first Gym
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Goldfish Swim School

    $20,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    The Little Gym

    $59,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Goldfish Swim School

    $1,250
    . OTHER FEES Type of Fee Amount Due Date Remarks Royalty Fee The greater of — 1250
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    The Little Gym

    8% or $2,500/mo min
    Royalty Fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Goldfish Swim School

    $10,000
    rther information about all advertising programs is included in ITEM 11. Renewal Fee — 10000
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    The Little Gym

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Goldfish Swim School

    199
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 70

    The Little Gym

    256
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 70
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Goldfish Swim School

    +40
    Calculated: 159 at end of 2023 → 199 at end of 2025

    The Little Gym

    +70
    Calculated: 186 at end of 2023 → 256 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Goldfish Swim School

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Little Gym

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

    Goldfish Swim School

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Little Gym

    September 1992
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Goldfish Swim School

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Little Gym

    1992; originally incorporated June 16, 1992
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 8

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Goldfish Swim School
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Allschools≥12months
    $128,106
    other Table1 SUPPLIES(3)
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 68
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Firstfullyearschools≥12but<24months (tablelabel13–24)
    4.3 percent
    other Table2 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 69
    The Little Gym
    Franchised (37 locations) — revenue and EBITDA
    $310,507
    mean Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Franchised (166 outlets) — EBITDA
    $372,316
    mean EBITDA
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 64
    Franchised (5 locations) — EBITDA and revenue
    $842,268
    median Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 67
    +4 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.

    Goldfish Swim School vs The Little Gym: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Goldfish Swim School or The Little Gym?
    Goldfish Swim School: $1,663,263 – $3,746,733 (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 Goldfish Swim School and The Little Gym royalties compare?
    Goldfish Swim School: $1,250 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); 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, Goldfish Swim School or The Little Gym?
    Goldfish Swim School: 199 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 70); 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 Goldfish Swim School and The Little Gym disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Goldfish Swim School has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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