Goldfish Swim School franchise
Goldfish Swim School teaches swimming to children from 4 months to 12 years old in indoor pools kept at 90 degrees, with small classes and year-round enrollment. Schools also host family swims and parties. At the end of 2024 there were 177 Goldfish Swim School locations in the US, 172 franchised and 5 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $1.66M–$3.75M
- Franchise fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2024
- 177+51 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2008
- Franchisor based in
- Troy, Michigan
- Agreement length
- 15 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC’s 2025 filing.
How much a Goldfish Swim School franchise costs
Opening one Goldfish Swim School costs an estimated $1,663,263 to $3,746,733. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC, 2025 filing, page 22
Goldfish Swim School franchise fee
The franchise fee is $50,000, for a first school ($20,000 plus a $20,000 development fee for each later school). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC, 2025 filing, page 16
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, with a monthly minimum ($1,250 at first, then $4,000), paid monthly. |
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Source: Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC, 2025 filing, page 17
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Goldfish Swim School publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2024 average performance for the 155 franchised schools open at least 12 months. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC, 2025 filing, page 65
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 137 (+16) | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 155 (+18) | 4 | 1 |
| 2024 | 172 (+17) | 5 | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC, 2025 filing, page 69
How Goldfish Swim School compares
Of the 7 sports franchises on this site, Goldfish Swim School is the most expensive to open and the 4th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Goldfish Swim School | Typical sports |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $1.66M | $402K |
| Royalty | 6% | 7% |
| Closed or left per year | 0.2% | 1.6% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +42.1% | +42.1% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 6 of 7 |
Typical is the median across the 7 brands in sports franchises.
Other sports franchises
Goldfish Swim School franchise questions
Does Goldfish Swim School help with financing?
No. Goldfish Swim School does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Goldfish Swim School franchise agreement?
The initial term is 15 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Goldfish Swim School growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 52 franchised locations opened and 1 closed or left, a net change of +42.1%. About 0.2% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 1.6% typical for sports franchises.
How does Goldfish Swim School compare with other sports franchises?
Of the 7 sports franchises here, Goldfish Swim School is the most expensive to open (low end $1.66M against a $402K median) and the 4th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is below the 7% median.
Does Goldfish Swim School say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2024 average performance for the 155 franchised schools open at least 12 months. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Goldfish Swim School based?
Goldfish Swim School Franchising LLC is based in Troy, Michigan and the brand has sold franchises since 2008.