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Why Big Blue

Big Blue Swim School was designed to bring purpose to the swim education category through added structure, enhanced technology and a passion for building confidence in and out of the water.
Since 2009

Set up for growth

Since opening our first location in 2009, our brand has expanded into a growing system with 170+ schools open or in development across the country. Big Blue Swim School combines purpose-built facilities, a distinct and Olympian-backed curriculum and proprietary technology to both support swimmer development and strong day-to-day operations.

Our franchise model is intended to grow with our franchise owners as they scale their business and help local families develop essential life skills.

Leading the Lane

The Big Blue Advantage

Recurring Revenue Based Model
Big Blue Swim School operates on a membership-based lesson model designed to support recurring participation from families.
Differentiated Real Estate Footprint
Each state-of-the-art facility is built to support an efficient lesson environment, with multiple teaching areas that allow instructors to lead several classes simultaneously while maintaining visibility and safety across the pool deck.
Distance-Based Curriculum
Designed by elite swimmers and an Olympic champion, Big Blue uses a distance-based learning model that focuses on measurable progress. Students advance by demonstrating specific swim skills and distances rather than by age level for a more personalized teaching approach.
Proprietary Technology
The LessonBuddy™ platform helps manage scheduling, swimmer progress tracking, and family communication. Parents can easily manage lessons and track their child’s development, while franchise owners gain tools that streamline operations and reporting.
Top Notch Training & Support
Swim instructors go through 75+ hours of training on our Big Blue Curriculum. Not only do we revolve around kids making progress, we also give opportunities for ongoing training to every instructor so that they progress as professionals.
Our Happy Franchise Partners
  • Not only has Big Blue been great as a franchise to work with, but it’s also connected me with a lot of the other owners… I'm very appreciative that Big Blue continues to want to grow and expand as much as we want to.
    Erica Kowal - Franchisee

Training & Support

Big Blue Swim School provides franchise owners with structured training and ongoing support designed to prepare teams before opening and guide them through daily operations.

Franchise owners receive instruction across key areas of the business, including instructor development, management and customer experience. This training helps ensure each school operates within the systems and standards that define the Big Blue program.

Support continues beyond the initial launch as franchise owners work closely with the Big Blue team while building their schools and serving families in their communities.

big blue staff member helping a mom to schedule lessons

Real Estate

Opening a Big Blue Swim School starts with identifying the right market and location.

Big Blue works closely with franchise owners to help evaluate their market and guide site selection. Because our locations are designed specifically for swim instruction, the team also provides support throughout the design and development process to ensure each school is built to support lesson efficiency, visibility across the pool deck and a welcoming, comfortable environment for parents and family members.

From early market planning through construction, franchisees have a team helping guide each step of the development process.

Marketing Support

Big Blue Swim School provides marketing support designed to help franchise owners build local brand awareness and create connections with families in their communities. Digital platforms, local outreach and brand-level resources help support consistent messaging across the system.

These efforts assist franchise owners in establishing their schools as trusted swim education resources in their markets.

Operations

We provide operational systems designed to help franchisees manage their schools with clarity and consistency.

Operational guidance includes staffing structure, lesson scheduling, customer experience standards and day-to-day school management support. These systems help ensure each location delivers the structured swim education program that families expect from the Big Blue Swim School brand.

The operations team remains a resource for franchise owners as they grow their schools and refine their processes.

IT Training & Support

Technology supports many of the daily functions inside a Big Blue Swim School, and our team guides franchise owners on how to use our proven systems effectively.

Training includes instruction on our proprietary platform, LessonBuddy™, which helps manage lesson scheduling, track swimmer progress and support communication with families. Franchise owners and their teams learn how to use the system to organize classes, monitor swimmer development and manage key administrative tasks.

Ongoing IT support helps ensure that franchise owners have the resources they need to operate their schools confidently while maintaining a seamless experience for families.

Meet LessonBuddy™

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A Franchise Opportunity Backed by National Recognition

Inc. 5000
America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies (2024)
Franchise Times
“Fast & Serious” List (2024/2025)
Franchise Times
Top 400 (2024/2025)
Franchise Dictionary Magazine
Top 100 Game Changers (2020)

Frequently Asked Questions

Big Blue Swim School operates on a membership-based lesson model that encourages ongoing participation from families. Swimmers progress through the curriculum as they develop new skills, creating long-term relationships between the school and the families it serves. Read more about how our model works.

No prior experience in aquatics is required. Big Blue provides training and operational systems to help franchise owners manage their schools, while certified instructors deliver the swim lessons.

Big Blue supports franchise owners throughout development and operations. This includes guidance with site selection, training programs, marketing resources, operational systems and ongoing support as schools grow. Read more about our support and training for franchisees.

Big Blue Swim School locations are typically developed in suburban markets with strong family demographics and demand for structured swim instruction. The brand works with franchise owners to evaluate markets and identify areas where dedicated swim schools can serve local communities. Check out our available markets.

Big Blue Swim School locations are typically developed in 6,500 to 10,000 square feet of commercial space. Schools are designed as purpose-built facilities that support multiple lesson areas, viewing space for families, and operational areas for staff. The Big Blue team works with franchise owners during the development process to evaluate potential sites and guide the design and buildout of each location. Read more about our real estate support.

Yes, franchise owners may pursue multi-unit development opportunities. As owners gain experience operating their first location, they may explore opportunities to develop additional schools within their territory or into new markets.

Many franchise owners choose to live in their market, but this can vary depending on the ownership structure and management team. Some owners focus on overseeing the business and building their leadership team while instructors and school managers handle daily lesson operations.

Prospective franchise owners can begin by submitting an inquiry to our franchise development team. From there, the Big Blue development team connects with prospective candidates to discuss the opportunity and answer initial questions. Qualified candidates then move through a discovery process that includes learning more about the business model, reviewing the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), and evaluating potential markets before moving forward with development. Read more about our franchising process.

The estimated initial investment to open a Big Blue Swim School typically ranges from $2,108,000 to $3,760,500. The total investment can vary depending on factors such as real estate, construction, and market conditions. Detailed investment information is provided during the discovery process and outlined in Item 7 of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Read more information about what the investment looks like.
Our Happy Franchise Partners
  • Lesson Buddy is great… The parent portal that's connected for our families is super great, quick, easy and effective for rescheduling, seeing billing and getting their real time progress that we're skill-checking and evaluating during their lesson. They're getting that real time update.
    Erica Kowal - Franchisee
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