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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a KIDS FIRST Swim Schools Franchise

KIDS FIRST Swim Schools is a children’s swim instruction franchise founded in 2000 and headquartered in Fallston, Maryland, that began franchising in 2010. The brand operates purpose-built swim schools across the Mid-Atlantic region, with locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and South Carolina, serving more than 150,000 students annually.

Each KIDS FIRST location uses pools maintained at 90°F with depths from 2 to 5 feet, purpose-built for children rather than adapted from adult facilities. Instruction follows the KIDS FIRST/Kick First® Learn to Swim System, a proprietary curriculum copyrighted by the US Library of Congress and centered on breath control, buoyancy, and the 1:6 arm-to-leg timing that defines correct swimming technique.

Programs span the full range of aquatic development: Parent & Me classes for infants and toddlers, private lessons starting at age 2, group instruction from age 3, and a Developmental Swim Team for competitive swimmers. Adult lessons, Warm Water Therapy, and family swim events extend the offering. The brand positions itself as a community-based children’s education business with water safety at its core.

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Why buy a KIDS FIRST Swim Schools Franchise?

Buying a KIDS FIRST Swim Schools franchise offers a defined niche: a recurring-enrollment children’s swim instruction business with a proprietary curriculum and specialty pool infrastructure that local operators cannot easily replicate. The KIDS FIRST/Kick First® curriculum’s copyright recognition and purpose-built 90°F pool format give the brand a clear identity in its market.

The franchisor describes a semi-absentee ownership model supported by on-site staff. Community presence and instructor quality are core drivers of enrollment retention, and the brand’s water-safety mission tends to resonate strongly with local families.

KIDS FIRST Swim Schools Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $35,000 – $40,000

    • Initial Investment

      $400,000 – $830,000

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

  • Training & Support

    • Approximately 2 weeks initial training

    • Ongoing support

KIDS FIRST Swim Schools – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    KIDS FIRST franchisees receive four to six weeks of field training at an existing swim school location, working directly with the corporate team and senior management to cover curriculum delivery, operations management, and customer service. Ongoing corporate support continues post-opening. Resale buyers should confirm with the franchisor what transfer training and onboarding are provided to incoming ownership, and whether instructor certifications in the KIDS FIRST/Kick First® curriculum carry over or require recertification under new ownership.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal KIDS FIRST owner is community-oriented, comfortable managing on-site instructors and support staff, and genuinely motivated by children's safety and aquatic education. The franchisor describes the model as semi-absentee-capable, but active involvement in day-to-day operations is strongly encouraged, particularly during the initial ownership period. Strong local business and organizational skills matter more than prior swim industry experience, though a background in aquatics is considered an asset.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    KIDS FIRST Swim Schools has built its standing in the children's aquatics space through curriculum development and operational consistency. The brand's proprietary KIDS FIRST/Kick First® Learn to Swim System holds copyright recognition from the US Library of Congress, affirming its distinct methodology. The brand describes itself as the world's largest provider of children's swimming instruction. For resale buyers, brand-level reputation should be weighed alongside the standing of the specific unit, including local reviews, community visibility, and instructor continuity.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US swim school franchise market was valued at close to $1 billion in 2024, with continued growth projected as parental awareness of water safety sustains consistent demand for structured children's aquatic instruction. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death among young children in the United States, supporting steady enrollment interest across geographic markets. For resale buyers, local enrollment trends, seasonal capacity, competitive density within the territory, and school district demographics are the most relevant factors when assessing unit-level performance.

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