Understanding the Value of Big Blue Swim School’s Technology as a Franchise Partner

There are a variety of differentiators that set Big Blue Swim School apart from competitors in the learn-to-swim space; however, one that both parents and franchise partners have come to embrace is the brand’s proprietary LessonBuddy™ software. This technology allows franchise partners to manage their operations and parents to easily schedule or reschedule lessons at the tap of a finger. Ultimately, the platform and its associated fee helps franchise partners save time and money by allowing them to run their business more efficiently while meeting the needs of the customer.

Denver-based Wendy and Erik Skaalerud, who signed a five-unit deal in March 2019, elaborated on the value of the Big Blue Swim School tech fee and how LessonBuddy continues to help their first location run with ease. Wendy says because the brand has its own proprietary system with its own dedicated developers, those professionals are better able to listen to feedback and adjust to customer and franchise partner needs.

“They're constantly evolving the experience to keep us at the forefront of technology,” Wendy said. “It's a super interactive experience, and it’s because they provide undivided attention to Big Blue and to making it the best business possible. Other brands don’t have that level of focus nor are they constantly updating their own technology.”

Additionally, as the brand is uniquely well-positioned to be a leader in the $3 billion learn-to-swim industry, its tech platform is also prepared for the franchise’s rapid growth in the coming years. Casey Morford, Chief Technology Officer at Big Blue, noted his team has designed the tech with scalability at the forefront.

“That's the benefit of self-hosting and self-developing,” Morford said. “We have full control over the environment and the delivery of the system. We're not at the mercy of a third party, which makes us able to ensure our brand’s quality to every single location as we scale.”

Morford also mentioned that LessonBuddy is critical for franchise partners to run their businesses more efficiently.

“Everything the franchise partner needs to do day-to-day can be done in a single platform. They’re not wasting time with manual processes or keeping track of the customer-service aspects or scheduling,” Morford said. “Scheduling is a really challenging problem, really in any space. Our technology makes it super easy for parents to schedule for one or multiple children in various time slots, enter their credit card, agree to our waiver and get enrolled.”

Wendy said she and Erik have been able to run their Colorado location so successfully thanks to their adoption of LessonBuddy, allowing them to truly focus on the day-to-day operations.

“It’s comforting to have this tech solution that continues to evolve with the parent and the child and ensures their experience with Big Blue is simple and straightforward, and I know the corporate team is focused on that,” Wendy said. “This is not just another fee; it’s something that truly gives us an advantage in the market and makes us the best. The LessonBuddy technology gives us so much leverage, and because of it, we’ll always continue to stay ahead.”

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 Swim School is $2,475,200 to $3,966,700 (refer to item 7 in FDD) To learn more or inquire about Big Blue Swim School, visit https://www.bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/.