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GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL
Goldfish Swim School franchises swim schools that provide specialized swim instruction and superior customer service, offering group and private lessons, birthday parties, open swim times, swim clinics, and other aquatic activities for children aged 4 months to 12 years in a fun, colorful environment. Facilities also include a snack bar and retail area, typically spanning 6,000 to 9,500 square feet in markets with substantial populations of young children. The business model centers on franchising these operations, with options for single units or area development agreements.
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Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 2% brand fund + $700/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 155 Franchised Swim Schools open for at least 12 months as of December 31, 2024 (from Table 1).
* Data extracted primarily from 'Table 1: All > 12mo', representing 155 Franchised Swim Schools. 'PROFIT BEFORE OTHER EXPENSES (8)' was used for both average_net_profit and average_ebitda, as its definition ('excluding interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, owner compensation and related expenditures') aligns closely with EBITDA and represents operating profit before specific non-operating items/owner compensation. EBITDA margin percentage calculated as average_ebitda / average_gross_revenue (679,119 / 2,147,104 = 0.3163). Best guess profit low and high are taken directly from the 'Low' and 'High' values for 'PROFIT BEFORE OTHER EXPENSES (8)' in Table 1.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $2,147,104
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Unlock financial performance dataGOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL Franchise Analysis
In the competitive children's enrichment space, Goldfish Swim School stands out with its vibrant swim programs for infants to preteens, backed by a network that's been steadily expanding. Item 19 financial disclosures paint a picture of revenue potential amid varying performance, while SBA lending activity hints at real-world financing realities for owners. But with such a capital-intensive model, does the data support jumping in, or reveal hidden hurdles?
Item 7 in the 2025 FDD outlines a hefty initial investment of $1,663,263 to $3,746,733, including a $50,000 franchise fee, driven by the need for 6,000-9,500 sq ft facilities in family-heavy markets. Ongoing fees hit 6% royalty, 2% brand/ad fund, plus a $700/month technology surcharge—higher than some peers in education but aligned with build-out demands. Item 19 delivers solid transparency: average gross revenue of $2,147,104 and median $1,979,745 across mature units, though the 0% EBITDA margin underscores tight profitability, with estimated profits swinging wildly from -$685,464 losses to $3,141,627 gains, signaling high variance based on location and management.
System health looks robust, growing from 155 to 172 locations (+11% in 2024), with 25 projected new units and just 5 transfers, few red flags in litigation or defaults. SBA records show 120 loans averaging $1,528,602, indicating accessibility for qualified buyers but also the scale of debt needed. For investors eyeing kids' edtech trends, Goldfish offers proven revenue upside in a recession-resistant niche, yet the multimillion startup and razor-thin margins demand strong local demographics and operational savvy to avoid the loss end of that spectrum.
Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 97% of Children's Education & Enrichment franchises
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Children's Education & Enrichment
- One of the lowest SBA loan default rates in Children's Education & Enrichment
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL Current | $1.7M – $3.7M | $50K | 6.0% | 172 |
| Mathnasium | $113K – $150K | $49K | 10.0% | 995 |
| MATHNASIUM LEARNING CENTERS; MATHNASIUM CENTERS, | $113K – $150K | $49K | 10.0% | 968 |
| SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN | $108K – $239K | $37K | 11.0% | 469 |
| CLUB Z! | $41K – $57K | $27K | 6.0% | 319 |
| SOCCER SHOTS | $43K – $54K | $37K | 7.0% | 313 |
Children's Education & Enrichment Average 38 franchises | $211K – $398K | $41K | 7.7% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 38 Children's Education & Enrichment franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+22 more states
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Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL franchisees (2011 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
120 SBA loans on record
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Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
6 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
6 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL franchise ranges from $1,663,263 to $3,746,733. This includes a franchise fee of $50,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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