Why Big Blue Swim School Is Targeting Ohio for Franchise Growth

Big Blue Swim School, one of the fastest-growing franchises in the $3 billion learn-to-swim industry, already has agreements signed to develop 227 locations in 25 states with a goal to open 400 total locations. Among the key markets across the U.S. Big Blue is currently targeting, Ohio is high on the priority list.

“I think Ohio typically is just a really strong franchise market,” said Dennis Campbell, Big Blue’s vice president of franchise development. “For us, we think that we have a lot of great opportunity on the real estate side in terms of site selection. There is a massive demand for a quality swim-school experience — and such a shortage in that market — that it’s a natural fit for Big Blue to fulfill that need.”

Big Blue offers swim lessons from three months to 12 years old. Market density is the primary factor in determining which markets Big Blue targets for expansion, and this makes the greater Columbus area particularly viable for Big Blue. 

The Columbus market spans three counties and boasts a population of nearly 900,000, with 14% aged 0–9. The surrounding areas of Hilliard, Dublin, Polaris, Easton, and Reynoldsburg all represent viable markets for Big Blue, leading Columbus to feature five of the 10 locations the brand aims to open in the state of Ohio.

The brand also has three territories available in the tri-county market north of Cincinnati, which includes Hamilton, Warren, and Butler counties. The total population in these counties is above 1.4 million, about 13% of which are aged 0–9, making it a strong area for growth for Big Blue.

The other two Big Blue territories available in Ohio are in the Cleveland market. Cleveland sprawls out into the Akron and Canton areas to the south, creating opportunities for Big Blue to reach families in the suburban markets of Ohio’s largest metro area. The two Cleveland-based territories available are in the Beachwood neighborhood, east of the city, and in Jackson Township, about 50 miles south, just between Akron and Canton.

Big Blue has had success in a number of midwestern markets but still has yet to develop any  in Ohio, creating a big opportunity for franchise partners to capitalize on white space in key markets.

“We started in the Midwest and had rapid growth,” Campbell said. “Now, Ohio is one of the last remaining priority markets for us in that region. It’s a market that we think we could have very few barriers to entry and where we’re confident we can get real estate and get franchise partners up and running relatively quickly.”

Multi-unit franchise opportunities are available for qualified candidates looking for their next big opportunity, and veterans can receive a 10 percent discount on the $80,000 franchise fee. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a new Big Blue is $2,475,200 to $3,966,700 (refer to item 7 in FDD) To learn more or inquire about Big Blue, visit https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/.