1851

Founded in 2009, <a href="https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Big Blue Swim School</a> is one of the fastest-growing players in the <a href="https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">swim school</a> industry. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool">Big Blue Swim School</a> utilizes technology to offer an unparalleled swim school model made effective by full-time swim associates, a proprietary enterprise system and curriculum and exceptional family-centric facilities. Now, the brand’s semi-absentee franchising model is appealing to investors looking to build equity.&nbsp;As some of the industry’s biggest players are being sold to private equity, the industry-leading swim school concept is ideal for <a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool/how-big-blue-swim-schools-semi-absentee-business-model-appeals-to-retirees-to-earn-steady-income-as-franchise-partners-2712274#franchisor">multi-unit franchise partners looking to diversify their portfolios</a> by investing in new and successful brands with ample open territories in desirable markets.An In-Demand and Fragmented IndustryWith the backing of private equity firm <a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool/big-blue-swim-school-on-pace-to-hit-150-units-by-2021-thanks-to-backing-from-level-5-capital-partners-2710793">Level 5 Capital Partners</a>, Big Blue is positioned to become the market leader in the underserved and fragmented learn-to-swim industry, valued at $3 billion annually.&nbsp;“We’re attracting smaller private equity groups that own multiple locations of other service-based retail brands and are interested in our absentee business model,” said Big Blue’s CEO, Scott Sanders. “Savvy franchise buyers know they want to put themselves in a position, down the road, to attract the attention of these private equity firms on the secondary market as firms realize there is a lot of room for development in the swim school industry.”&nbsp;Participation in swimming is growing, with a 52 percent growth in year-round swim memberships from 2000 to 2017, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/513081/usa-swimming-membership/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">according to USA Swimming.</a> Swim lessons fill a vital need for safety and cannot be outsourced or automated.&nbsp;“It has taken the swim school segment a long time to catch up to consumer demand for a number of reasons,” said Big Blue Founder and President, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool/qa-with-chris-dejong-co-founder-and-cmo-of-big-blue-swim-school-2708495#stories">Chris DeJong, who is a national champion swimmer</a>. “Swimming is ubiquitous yet foreign at the same time—everybody swims but the market is still relatively new. Every child needs to learn how to swim but very few people are familiar enough with swimming to have the confidence or expertise to turn it into a business. That’s what provides so much opportunity for this category.”&nbsp;As private equity continues to purchase concepts from franchise partners of fitness providers like <a href="https://www.planetfitness.com/franchising/become-a-franchisee?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Planet Fitness</a> and <a href="https://www.orangetheoryfitness.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Orangetheory Fitness</a>, Big Blue is an excellent way for investors to diversify their portfolios with an offering set to follow the same growth trajectory.“The success of the boutique fitness industry demonstrates that a focus on a niche discipline can result in a higher value product than the one-size-fits-all model,” said Sanders. “Orangetheory Fitness is a good example of a concept dominating the market. The largest fitness brands are less likely to invest in similar concepts because they know Orangetheory dominates its niche market. We are doing something similar by becoming the leader in maximizing best-in-class swim lessons for families through technology and customization.”Proven Business Model and Consumer OfferingBig Blue offers a business model that supports <a href="https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">franchise</a> partners with proprietary cloud-based technology, top-tier franchisor support, and strong unit economics.&nbsp;People looking for great returns on their investment want to park their capital for a long period of time and see high returns, especially as private equity continues to purchase larger franchise groups. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool/big-blue-swim-school-is-a-strong-franchise-opportunity-for-families-thanks-to-executive-groundwork-and-a-community-focus-2711104#franchisor">Since parents will always invest in their kids safety, Big Blue is the perfect, recession-resistant opportunity.</a>In addition, Big Blue’s facilities are designed to prioritize training for children and comfort for parents. The lay-out is built to<a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool/big-blue-swim-school-s-parent-friendly-class-scheduling-model-maximizes-franchisee-profitability-2709667"> optimize capacity planning for each pool so families can configure schedules for multiple siblings in the same 30–45 window</a>. “When families walk through the door of Big Blue, they’re greeted by remarkable staff in a unique facility designed to provide the best swim lesson experience possible,” DeJong said. “We create a fun and safe environment for swimmers to advance their skills and self-esteem in a relaxed and comfortable setting for parents.”Big Blue’s proprietary enterprise technology system, LessonBuddy™, allows the brand’s <a href="https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">franchise</a> partners to remotely manage their business through dashboards and KPIs all the way down to the shift level—they can track costs and efficiencies so they have total transparency in terms of ROI and health of the business. On the consumer side, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool/big-blue-swim-school-s-parent-friendly-class-scheduling-model-maximizes-franchisee-profitability-2709667">LessonBuddy allows families to schedule and reschedule lessons at the tap of a finger, avoiding availability concerns and </a>simplifying the scheduling process.Strategic MarketingBig Blue’s corporate team provides ongoing support to its franchise partners through weekly calls that map out all necessary action items, from pre-launch through opening the facility. A corporate launch team then supports franchise owners for their first 12 months of business, and <a href="https://1851franchise.com/bigblueswimschool/how-big-blue-swim-school-s-pre-opening-marketing-strategy-led-to-the-most-successful-opening-in-brand-history-2709508#mainTrending">a field support specialist visits quarterly to help build and optimize a strategic marketing plan and chart metrics</a>.Big Blue’s recession-resistant business model cannot be automated or outsourced and is tailored to meet the needs of multi-child families. With best-in-class consumer offerings, strong leadership support, proprietary technology, and an aggressive growth plan, Big Blue Swim School is the ideal investment for sophisticated franchise buyers looking to take advantage of a brand backed by private equity.Multi-unit <a href="https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/opportunity/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">franchise opportunities</a> 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 Swim School is $2,329,223 to $3,636,998 (refer to item 7 in FDD). To learn more or inquire about Big Blue Swim School, visit <a href="https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school-2713808" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/</a>.

With Private Equity Investing in Multi-Unit Franchise Teams, Now is the Best Time to Join Big Blue Swim School

1851 Franchise

The fast-growing swim school concept is perfect for sophisticated business buyers and offers a recession-resistant business model, proprietary enterprise technology, and a scalable investment opportunity. 


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

with-private-equity-investing-in-multi-unit-franchise-teams-now-is-the-best-time-to-join-big-blue-swim-school

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

DonutNV Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-donutnv-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Photo of Happinest Brands vans and teams standing together

Happinest Brands Closes Strong Q1 With Strategic Growth, System-Wide Enhancements

happinest-brands-q1-2025-growth

The Fashion Class Franchise - Deep Dive - Costs, Fees, ROI - 1851 Franchise

The Fashion Class Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

fashion-class-franchise-deep-dive

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

With Private Equity Investing in Multi-Unit Franchise Teams, Now is the Best Time to Join Big Blue Swim School

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS