SafeSplash Swim School^®

Children's Services • Year: 2026

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What Is SafeSplash Swim School?

SafeSplash Swim School is a franchise for operating swim schools that offer learn-to-swim programs, birthday parties, summer camps, and related swim products. Franchisees operate either Dedicated Locations (leased or purchased physical facilities with a swimming pool) or Hosted Locations (using pools at third‑party fitness centers or similar facilities), including conversion options for existing locations, and sell services to consumers (B2C), primarily parents of children ages six months to 12 years. The core service bundle is swim instruction and swim-related activities and products, and Dedicated Locations may optionally adopt a SwimLabs Technology Package-requiring flow tanks, cameras, video equipment, and software-for advanced stroke analysis and aquatic training.

SafeSplash Swim School Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise’s most notable strength is its unusually low $18,750 initial franchise fee (bottom 10% for Children’s Services), which preserves cash for build-out and early operations; its biggest risk is an unusually high legal and regulatory burden - 5 government penalties/orders, 5 disclosed lawsuits and a fraud allegation (top 5–10%) - that merits close investigation.

Pros

The $18,750 initial franchise fee is well below typical for Children's Services (bottom 10%), leaving you with more cash on hand for build-out and early operating costs.

0 franchisor-initiated enforcement actions is well below typical for Children's Services (bottom 5%), indicating the franchisor has not relied on formal legal enforcement against its franchisees.

The franchisor does not have sole discretion to certify training completion (an unusual absence in this sector), which reduces the risk of arbitrary withholding of certification and gives operators clearer, more objective training milestones.

Cons

The 5 government agency penalties/orders, 5 disclosed lawsuits, and a fraud allegation are all unusually high for Children's Services (top 5–10%), creating notable legal and regulatory friction you'll need to investigate before committing.

The 45 signed-but-not-open outlets is well above typical for Children's Services (top 10%), suggesting the franchisor may be selling agreements faster than it can support openings or is experiencing site/buildout delays that could strain field support.

The Item 7 total minimum of $961,200 and required reserves ($90,000 min; $150,000 max) are well above typical for Children's Services (top 10%), meaning your upfront cash needs and months of operating cash on hand will be materially higher than most peers.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

56/100

NORMAL

SafeSplash Swim School: Part 1 (The Facts): Item 3 discloses affiliate settlements addressing no‑poaching provisions and a Dunkin' data‑security consent order (resolved via settlement without admission of liability); a separate affiliate consent order addressed FDD disclosure omissions. None allege wrongdoing by SafeSplash. Part 2 (The Advice): Review the franchise agreement for employee‑solicitation/post‑termination clauses, verify Item 20 franchisee contact disclosures, and confirm SafeSplash information‑security policies and incident history.

Territory Protection

43/100

NORMAL

SafeSplash Swim School grants a protected Authorized Territory-about a 5-mile radius for Dedicated and 2.5 miles for Hosted locations-defined by map boundaries and market density. Territory is contingent on meeting performance quotas; franchisor retains ecommerce and alternative-channel sales rights and may develop additional units in surrounding market (no ROFR).

Training & Support

82/100

NORMAL

SafeSplash Swim School provides a comprehensive 133-hour training curriculum designed as a deep dive to prepare staff and operators for launch; the initial franchise fee does not include any trainee slots, so training participants are to be arranged separately. The program includes on-site launch support focused on operational readiness, with travel and living expenses borne by the franchisee, and on-site services available at an additional cost.

Unit Growth Analysis

SafeSplash Swim School added 38 locations - roughly a 45% jump from 84 to 122 units between 2022 and 2026 - but that expansion has tapered to a volatile, roughly 1.7% year-over-year uptick most recently. For a new owner that means the concept is proven and territory growth has been real, yet the slowdown and choppiness imply franchisor support may be stretched; be prepared to run a largely self-sufficient operation, verify current franchisee support metrics and onboarding quality, and factor that execution risk into your purchase decision.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a SafeSplash Swim School Franchise?

Opening a SafeSplash Swim School franchise requires a total initial investment of $961,200 to $1,348,785, according to the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$961,200

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$1,348,785

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$55,000

Real Estate$706,800

Equipment & Assets$50,000

Reserves$90,000

Training$3,000

Other$56,400

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$55,000

Real Estate$982,050

Equipment & Assets$70,000

Reserves$150,000

Training$4,000

Other$87,735

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do SafeSplash Swim School Franchise Owners Make?

SafeSplash Swim School franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,058,090 and median gross sales of $964,348 in 2026, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$1,058,090

Median Gross Sales:

$964,348

High Gross Sales:

$1,703,924

Low Gross Sales:

$557,002

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

43.0%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Table 1A (Franchised Dedicated Locations, Fiscal Year 2025) shows an average Gross Revenue of $1,058,090 with Adjusted 4‑Wall EBITDA of approximately $225.6k (21.3% of revenue). By contrast, Franchised Hosted Locations (Table 1B) average materially lower Gross Revenues ($262,404) but report a higher EBITDA margin (Adjusted 4‑Wall EBITDA $74,393; 28.4% of revenue). In absolute dollars Dedicated Locations generate substantially more revenue and EBITDA, while Hosted Locations can deliver higher percent margins on much smaller revenue bases.

Performance Variability Analysis: Performance varies widely across units. For Dedicated Locations (n=14) gross revenues ranged from $557,002 to $1,703,924 (median $964,348) and only 6 of 14 (43%) met or exceeded the average. For Hosted Locations (n=23 in Table 1B) gross revenues ranged from $52,344 to $887,843 (All Locations average $262,404; 9 of 23 or ~39% met/exceeded the average). Adjusted EBITDA also varies: Dedicated average ~$225.6k (21.3%) with a high of ~$475.9k; Hosted average ~$74.4k (28.4%) with lows that can be negative in some operating‑day cohorts. Key cost drivers: Payroll (staff) and Occupancy are the largest line items for both formats (Dedicated: Payroll‑Staff $292k = 27.6%, Occupancy $211.6k = 20.0%; Hosted: Payroll‑Staff $73.9k = 28.2%, Occupancy $40.2k = 15.3%), royalties ~6%.

Data Scope and Limitations: This Item 19 is a historical representation for Fiscal Year 2025 and includes only units that were open and operating for all 12 months. The sample excludes Dedicated Locations using SwimLabs Technology, certain conversions, affiliate‑owned units, units that did not submit complete P&Ls, and units not open for the full year. Data sources were franchisee P&Ls (Tables 1A/1B) and point‑of‑sale revenue extracts for other tables. Adjusted 4‑Wall EBITDA excludes depreciation, amortization, debt service and owner draws. The Item does not state that the data are audited; written substantiation is available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SafeSplash Swim School a good franchise to own?

Whether SafeSplash Swim School is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2026 FDD: SafeSplash Swim School operates 122 locations, received a legal risk score of 56/100, a training and support score of 82/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a SafeSplash Swim School franchise worth the investment?

The value of a SafeSplash Swim School franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $961,200 to $1,348,785. SafeSplash Swim School disclosed average gross sales of $1,058,090 in 2026. The system reported 1 terminated units in 2026. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

What is the failure rate of SafeSplash Swim School franchises?

In the 2026 FDD, SafeSplash Swim School reported 1 terminated franchises and 0 non-renewals out of 122 total locations. Franchise closures can result from many factors including market conditions, operator decisions, lease expirations, and franchisor enforcement actions. The FDD's Item 20 provides the most detailed unit turnover data.

How long does it take to break even with a SafeSplash Swim School franchise?

Break-even timelines for SafeSplash Swim School franchises are not disclosed in the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is SafeSplash Swim School a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2026 FDD, SafeSplash Swim School operates 106 franchised locations and 16 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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