Franchise Deep Dive: British Swim School’s Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

LAST UPDATED: 1/2024

FRANCHISE WEBSITE: https://britishswimschoolfranchise.com/ 

NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 350+  

REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $109,960 - $145,010

REPORTED ROI (Item 19): $413,000–$1,600,000

For over 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills to children as young as three months old. Founded in 1981, the company has set itself apart with unique teaching methods that are a recognized trademark of the brand. 

In April 2019, multi-brand franchising organization Buzz Franchise Brands became the majority owner of British Swim School. The parent company also owns brands such as Pool Scouts*, Home Clean Heroes* and Grand Illuminations.

Following the mantra “Survival of the Littlest,” British Swim School franchisees are dedicated to teaching water survival skills. British Swim School is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is currently operating over 350 locations across North America. 

How Many Locations Are There?

There are currently over 350 British Swim Schools across the United States, as well as Canada.

What Is the Business Model?

Features of British Swim School’s business model include: 

• No Buildout Costs: British Swim School has created a model that allows franchisees to skip over commercial pool construction by utilizing the plethora of “empty” pools across the country. This enables a faster start-up and shorter path to profitability.
• Help Finding Multiple Pools: British Swim School partners and contracts with fitness centers, schools, hotels, and other venues with underutilized, indoor pools. This means franchisees can rent pool lanes for specific days/hours to hold lessons and don’t have to worry about the ongoing maintenance of managing a swim facility.
• Making a Living Saving Lives: Swim instruction provides an essential life skill to combat drowning, which tragically remains a leading cause of accidental death for children. 
• Survival of the Littlest: The mantra “Survival of the Littlest'' applies to the brand’s program aimed at enabling water safety for even the youngest children. It reflects the growing number of British Swim School franchise owners who began their journey as new entrepreneurs with a single location business and actively developed their respective franchises into multi-unit success stories.

British Swim School offers a variety of classes for children and adults of all ages and skill levels. Beginning at just three months, the schools teach children the essentials of swimming, starting with how to float on their backs and eventually moving on to swimming each of the four strokes. Many classes are based on skill level. Once a child’s skill level exceed that of any of the classes, he or she is welcome to join the brand’s “superstar swim team,” The Barracudas.

How Much Can British Swim School Franchise Owners Make?

The data below comes from British Swim School’s Item 19 outlined in its 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document. 

Average Territory

• Gross Revenue: $413,000
• Gross Profit: $224,000
• Net Operating Income (NOI): $113,000
• NOI Margin: 27%

High Territory

• Gross Revenue: $1,600,000
• Gross Profit: $1,070,000
• Net Operating Income (NOI): $713,000
• NOI Margin: 44%

How Much Does It Cost to Open a British Swim School?

At British Swim School, franchisees can expect low overhead costs. Owners start with a relatively small amount of liquid capital to open their first locations. The brand contracts with pools in fitness centers, schools, hotels, sports clubs and many more types of locations, bringing them revenue while limiting ongoing costs for franchisees. The cost of water, pool repairs, daily maintenance, energy and all the other costs associated with owning a commercial pool are covered by the host facility. 

Costs may vary depending on the territory location, but the estimated initial investment for purchasing a British Swim School franchise ranges from $109,960 to $145,010. The following data is an estimated initial investment for a single franchise:

• Initial Franchise Fee: $55,000
• First Year Marketing: $29,080
• Other Business Expenses: $17,160
• Pool Fees & Aquatics Labor: $9,000
• Typical Total Initial Investment: $110,240

What Is the Franchise Fee for British Swim School?

The initial franchise fee to open a single British Swim School is $55,000.

Who Are the Leaders of British Swim School?

• Ashley Gundlach, President
• Kevin Wilson, CEO (Buzz Franchise Brands)
• Brian Garrison, President and Chief Operating Officer (Buzz Franchise Brands)
• Angela Paules, Chief Marketing Officer (Buzz Franchise Brands)
• Michael Hull, Chief Financial Officer (Buzz Franchise Brands)

What Helpful Articles Can I Read to Learn More?

• Why British Swim School?
• British Swim School Owner Stories
• British Swim School Celebrates Strongest Year on Record
• Start a British Swim School in 2024
• British Swim School Dives Into San Diego

Want to learn more about franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise? Be sure to visit our Power Rankings to read more on brands making moves. 

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Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.

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