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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy an Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools is the largest international provider of year-round, indoor swim instruction for children, with more than 180 locations across 14 countries. Founded in 1991 in Mesa, Arizona, the brand began franchising in 2007. Each school serves children from four months to 12 years old through small group and private lessons in a dedicated indoor pool facility.

The business model centers on a structured, proprietary curriculum delivered by trained instructors in purpose-built schools. Lessons are organized around progressive skill levels, offering parents a long-term enrollment pathway as children advance from parent-and-tot classes through advanced swimming. With a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, the model is instructor-intensive and relies on consistent staffing across general management and aquatics teams.

Aqua-Tots operates under private ownership, giving the brand consistency in its values and support model. The brand differentiates itself through its mission-driven focus on drowning prevention, its proprietary digital tools including the Aqua-Tots app and Aqua-Card tracking system, and its indoor, year-round format that reduces the seasonality found in outdoor swim programs.

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Why buy an Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise?

When you buy an Aqua-Tots Swim Schools franchise, you’re entering a category where demand is built into the brand’s mission. Water safety is a year-round parental priority that drives consistent enrollment and multi-year student retention as children progress through structured curriculum levels. The indoor format provides revenue stability uncommon in youth sports tied to seasonal programming.

As the largest international swim school franchise, Aqua-Tots carries name recognition that independent operators spend years building. Its proprietary Aqua-Tots app and Aqua-Card digital tracking system differentiate the customer experience and support operational efficiency. Private ownership has kept the brand’s values and support infrastructure consistent across more than 30 years of growth.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1991

    • Franchising Since

      2007

    • New Startup Cost

      $1,619,820 – $2,939,590

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $50,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $0 – $10,000

      no fee for one-time transfer to a corporate entity

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Gross Revenue

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      132

    • New Units Opened *

      15

    • Units Transferred *

      3

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Aqua-Tots franchisees complete 5 hours of classroom training and 108 hours of on-the-job training, including a week at Aqua-Tots University in Mesa, Arizona, with ongoing access to the brand's digital learning platform. Support continues through General Manager Summits, Aquatic Manager Summits, Annual Owners Forum, Regional Round Tables, and School Connect Calls. The Operations Team provides day-to-day guidance and the marketing team offers quarterly campaigns and digital strategy. Buyers should confirm what initial training and access to the Aqua-Tots app and Aqua-Card tracking system carry over with the resale.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal Aqua-Tots franchisee is a full-time, hands-on operator with strong leadership skills and a genuine passion for child safety and community impact. Prior experience in swim instruction is not required, but owners must be comfortable managing multiple staff roles, including general managers, aquatics managers, and swim instructors. The model suits operators with solid business acumen and a customer service orientation; because Aqua-Tots expects full-time on-site engagement, particularly during the first year, this is not a semi-absentee opportunity.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Aqua-Tots #86 on its 2026 Franchise 500 list and named it among the top ten children's franchises in 2025. Franchise Business Review named the brand a 2026 Top Franchise (#1 in Recreational, #14 in Top Large Franchises) and a 2025 Most Profitable Franchise, with consistent Top Franchise recognition across 2023-2025 based on independent franchisee surveys. Aqua-Tots was also named to the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. The brand holds IFA membership, is a US Swim School Association member, and is affiliated with the USA Swimming Foundation.

  4. Industry / Market

    Demand for children's swim instruction in the US is anchored in drowning prevention: formal lessons reduce drowning risk by 88% among children ages 1-4 (National Institutes of Health), making aquatic education a safety priority for many families. The US swim school market is a multi-billion-dollar segment, and indoor year-round facilities provide enrollment stability that outdoor programs lack. Multi-year student retention, as children advance through skill levels, supports recurring revenue. For resale buyers, local enrollment levels, instructor retention, and community reputation are the core performance variables.

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