Complete investment analysis based on official FDD data
Total Investment
$1,619,820 – $2,939,590
Franchise Fee
$50,000
Royalty Rate
6.0%
The total initial investment to open a Aqua-Tots Swim School franchise ranges from $1,619,820 to $2,939,590, as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the one-time franchise fee of $50,000.
Midpoint estimate: $2,279,705
$50,000
One-time initial fee
The Aqua-Tots Swim School franchise fee is a one-time upfront payment made to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement. This fee grants you the right to operate under the Aqua-Tots Swim School brand and is included in the total initial investment range above.
Royalty Fee
6.0%
of gross revenue
Ad/Marketing Fund
2.0%
of gross revenue
Total Ongoing Fee Burden: 8.0% of gross revenue
Combined royalty and advertising fund contributions before any other fees.
| Fee Type | Rate | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 6.0 | PCT | Due on the 10th day of the month for the prior month. Required of you and will be collected electronically. Royalties are not uniformly imposed for individual franchisees and multi-unit franchises. |
| National Advertising | 2.0 | PCT | Due on the 10th day of the month for the prior month. Required of you and will be collected electronically. |
| Advertising Cooperative | 2.0 | PCT | Up to 2% of Gross Revenue if implemented in your Area. As determined by Cooperative. We reserve the right to implement cooperatives in any metro markets in the future, once 3 franchises are open and operational within a specific Metro Area. Franchisor will have no control on any fees imposed by such franchisee cooperatives. |
| Other Marketing | N/A | VARIABLE | Will vary under circumstances. As incurred. We reserve the right to charge marketing fees for digital platforms such as email, text, and social media expenses. We will not make a profit on these expenses. |
| Monthly Software Fee | 295.0 | FIXED | Due on the 1st day of the month for the prior month. Paid to us in the same manner as the Royalty Fee, plus tax where applicable. |
| Technology Fee | 170.0 | FIXED | Due on the 1st day of the month for the prior month. Paid to us in the same manner as the Royalty Fee. The Fee includes use of our proprietary digital tools. This fee may increase due to upgrades. |
| Franchise Renewal Fee | 10000.0 | FIXED | 30 days prior to renewal. Initial franchise term is 10 years. The renewal term is 10 years. |
| Transfer Fee | 10000.0 | FIXED | Prior to acceptance of transfer. Payable before you sell your franchise. No fee charged for a one-time transfer from individual(s) to a corporate entity formed for convenience of ownership of the franchise or for the transfer to a child, parent, sibling or spouse of Franchisee. All other instances must pay the Transfer Fee. We do not permit the transfer of any MUD Agreements. |
| Audit | N/A | VARIABLE | 30 days after billing. We pay all audit costs unless the audit shows an understatement of at least 1% of Gross Revenue for any month. |
| Initial Training for Additional Persons | 495.0 | FIXED | As incurred. Training for two persons is included in the Initial Franchise Fee, however, you will be required to pay all travel and living expenses for you and any employees who attend. |
| Additional Assistance at Your Location | 1295.0 | FIXED | As incurred. Additional charges only incurred for at-location assistance beyond the initial training. |
| Conference Fee | 1500.0 | VARIABLE | As incurred. Conferences will be held once yearly. Cost is per person. You will be required to pay all travel and living expenses for you and any employees who attend. |
| Interest | 1.5 | PCT | 30 days after due date. You must pay interest on late payments in the amount of 1.5% per month (18% annual), or the maximum interest rate allowed by applicable law, whichever is less. |
| Bank Fees | N/A | VARIABLE | As incurred. $45 NSF, 3% credit card transaction fee. You will pay to us a fee of $45 per occurrence for any transactions not honored by your bank. You will pay to us a 3% transaction fee for any credit card payments, including payments for royalties and other fees or supplies. |
| Administrative Fee for Non-Compliance | 200.0 | FIXED | As incurred. You will pay to us a fee of $200 for each infraction of certain non-compliance issues. This fee will be charged per occurrence and per each day of non-compliance. |
| Administrative Fee for lease assistance | 200.0 | FIXED | As incurred. Should you request and should Aqua-Tots provide assistance with your lease or Aqua-Tot's required option to assume the lease, you will pay to Us an Administrative Fee for Lease Assistance of $200 per occurrence. |
| Liquidated Damages | N/A | VARIABLE | Within 30 days of termination. If your Franchise Agreement is terminated by us against you for cause, you must pay us within 30 days after the effective date of termination liquidated damages equal to the average monthly Royalty Fees you paid or owed to us during the 12 months of operation preceding the effective date of termination multiplied by the number of months remaining in the Agreement had it not been terminated. |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | N/A | VARIABLE | On demand. If you default under your agreement, you must reimburse us for the expenses we incur (such as attorneys' fees) in enforcing or terminating the agreement. |
| Indemnification | N/A | VARIABLE | On demand. You must reimburse us for the costs we incur if we are sued or held liable for claims that arise from your operation of the Outlet or for costs associated with defending claims that you used the Proprietary Marks in an unauthorized manner. |
| Computer and Communications Equipment Upgrades and Maintenance | N/A | VARIABLE | As incurred or as agreed. You must purchase upgrades and pay for maintenance for your computer and communications equipment, including upgrades for our proprietary software, when we require you to do so. |
Category
Education
Franchise Score
out of 100
Aqua-Tots Swim School operates swim instruction programs for infants and young children, emphasizing water safety, survival skills, and swimming ability development. The franchise uses specially trained instructors and a curriculum designed for early childhood aquatic education.
Avg. Annual Closure Rate
0.3%
Low risk — below industry average
Net Unit Growth
+29 units
From 2022 to 2024
| Year | Start | Opened | Closed | Transfers | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 102 | +5 | — | — | 107 |
| 2023 | 107 | +12 | -1 | — | 118 |
| 2024 | 118 | +15 | — | — | 131 |
Based on the FDD data, here is a data-driven snapshot of the Aqua-Tots Swim School franchise opportunity:
Overall Score
79/100
Strong opportunity
Est. Payback Period
N/A
Insufficient data
Risk Level
Low
0.3% annual closure rate
Aqua-Tots Swim School scores well across our evaluation criteria, indicating a strong franchise system. For a complete analysis including risk factors, deal-breaker flags, and detailed financial modeling, see the full report.
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