
British Swim School
Swimming lessons for ages 3 months and older- 2022 Franchise 500 Rank
-
#352 Ranked #222 last year
- Initial investment
-
$94K - $126K
- Units as of 2021
-
113 13.0% over 3 years
Company Overview
About British Swim School
- Industry
- Children's Businesses
- Related Categories
- Swimming Lessons, Children's Fitness Programs, Tutoring, Miscellaneous Children's Businesses
- Founded
- 1981
- Parent Company
- Buzz Franchise Brands
- Leadership
- Ashley Gundlach, President
More from British Swim School
Make a Living Saving Lives
Sure, it’s great to have a business with an impressive bottom line, but that’s not the only reason we exist. The company was revolutionary in developing a water survival program that enables young children to first survive a water incident and then develop the life-long skill of swimming. British Swim School owners are passionate about combating child drowning and love the fact that their business truly makes a difference!
Learning to swim is an essential life skill that every child should know, but it's about more than just mastering the perfect swim stroke; it's about teaching water safety and survival techniques to combat the many lives lost to drowning. For over 40 years, British Swim School has taught all ages, from infants to adults, how to swim and be safe in the water through unique and highly effective teaching methods that are a recognized trademark of the brand.

British Swim School provides an exceptional business opportunity providing a service that will never go out of style – and with a strong focus on people, cannot be replaced by technology. With a well-earned reputation including the #352 spot on Entrepreneur’s 2022 Franchise 500 list, it’s no wonder the mission-based brand is growing quickly across the country and beyond.
Not Just A Service, A Life Skill
Learning to be safe in the water is not just another kid’s activity; it’s a life skill every person should know and a service British Swim School owners feel proud to provide and promote. Our small class sizes combined with the quality of our curriculum developed over more than 40 years of teaching makes us a natural leader in the space. The British Swim School mantra, “Survival of the Littlest,” not only applies to our program aimed at enabling water safety for even the youngest children, it also reflects the growing number of British Swim School franchise owners who began their journey as new entrepreneurs with a single location business and have actively developed their respective franchises into a multi-unit success stories.
Low Investment and Fast Start Up
Recently named #63 on Entrepreneur’s Top Franchises Under $100k, British Swim School provides a great opportunity at an investment much lower than other swim schools. By leveraging underutilized pools within existing fitness centers, hotels and community platforms, you can bypass the stress and financial burden of commercial pool construction. Furthermore, no build out means you can get started faster. Scale your business by adding pools as the demand necessitates – no need for planning around a lengthy construction timeline. Bring on the students!

Full Training and Support
You don’t have to have an aquatics background to be a franchisee; in fact, most don’t. As a franchise owner, you never have to get wet or teach a lesson (unless you want to). We provide all the training and support to get you up and running, from finding pools to recruiting students, and the support doesn’t stop there. Through business coaching and ongoing training, we’re working together through the life of your business.
While many of our owners prefer to be hands-on owner-operators, it is also possible to start as a semi-absentee model, with the right team in place. Beginning with 1-2 office staff and 2-3 instructors, this business model allows for a lot of room for growth. Each franchise owner is paired with a dedicated business coach, who is available to assist with any operational questions you have – from budgeting, finding your pool, hiring, training and more!
Experienced Leadership
The British Swim School team is comprised of support staff with over 80 years of experience across marketing, operations and aquatics, dedicated to helping you grow your business. The brand is backed by reputable multi-brand franchisor Buzz Franchise Brands, which provides another layer of leadership and expertise in the franchising space.
If you’re ready to start making a difference in your community, reach out to learn more and secure your territory today!
A Stroke Above the Rest
When our franchisees think of British Swim School, they think of striving to make swimming an educational and enjoyable experience for every child. Using revolutionary teaching methods, we aim to give every child a chance to learn the skill of swimming. Unlike many other programs that teach children to swim, British Swim School finds and rents pools that are specifically catered to the needs of the children. We make sure the pools are warm and a comfortable environment in which a child can learn to swim. Our instructors are chosen with great care and consideration. Each instructor is experienced, passionate, and genuinely cares about the child with which they are working. They have a love of swimming and teaching and are driven to make learning to swim an enjoyable experience.
British Swim School is the leader in “Learn to swim” programs. It was revolutionary in developing a survival program that enables the very young to survive an accident in water. Its gentle fun program makes it the nation's leader and preferred choice for all parents. We offer a variety of classes for children and adults of all ages and skill levels. Beginning at just three months, we teach children all of the essentials of swimming, starting with how to float on their backs and eventually moving on to swimming each of the four strokes.
Franchising Overview
- Franchising Since
- 2011 (11 years)
- # of employees at HQ
- 14
- Where seeking
-
This company is seeking new franchisees in the following US states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
This company is seeking new franchisees in the following international regions: Canada
- # of Units
- 113 (as of 2021)
Franchisor Information
Information for Franchisees
Here’s what you need to know if you’re interested in opening a British Swim School franchise.
Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees
Here’s what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.
- Initial Franchise Fee
- $39,500
- Initial Investment
- $93,700 - $125,850
- Net Worth Requirement
- $150,000
- Cash Requirement
- $75,000 - $100,000
- Veteran Incentives
- $8,000 off franchise fee
- Royalty Fee
- 10%
- Ad Royalty Fee
- 2%
- Term of Agreement
- 10 years
- Is franchise term renewable?
- Yes
Financing Options
Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.
- Third Party Financing
- British Swim School has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll
Training & Support Offered
Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.
- On-The-Job Training
- 20 hours
- Classroom Training
- 36 hours
- Ongoing Support
-
Purchasing Co-opsNewsletterMeetings & ConventionsToll-Free LineGrand OpeningOnline SupportSecurity & Safety ProceduresLease NegotiationField OperationsSite SelectionProprietary SoftwareFranchisee Intranet Platform
- Marketing Support
-
Co-op AdvertisingAd TemplatesNational MediaRegional AdvertisingSocial MediaSEOWebsite DevelopmentEmail MarketingLoyalty Program/App
Operations
Additional details about running this franchise.
- Is absentee ownership allowed?
- No
- Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
- Yes
- Can this franchise be run part time?
- No
- # of employees required to run
- 3
- Are exclusive territories available?
- Yes
Request more information from
British Swim School

Thank you! You will be hearing from us shortly.
Franchise 500 Ranking History
Compare where British Swim School landed on this year’s Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.
Additional Rankings
Curious to know where British Swim School ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.
Want to stay updated on the latest franchise news?
Never miss a beat when you sign up to receive our newsletter.
We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy
Related Franchise Content
Catch up on the latest franchise news, trends, and more.
Franchises are 'Ready Made' Business Opportunities
Franchising can be a turnkey solution for budding entrepreneurs.
Wendy's, McDonald's Sued for Allegedly Misrepresenting Burger Patty Size
The complaint cites numerous burgers from each chain, including the Wendy's Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger and McDonald's Big Mac.
The Pandemic Created 'Childcare Deserts,' and This Bilingual Education Company Is Stepping In to Fill the Void
Canadian brand Maple Bear had been eyeing expansion to the U.S. for a while, but changing demographics during the pandemic finally made the time right.
One-Two Punch: She Opened One of the First Mayweather Boxing Franchises, and Then the Pandemic Hit
Kathy Davis knows the meaning of rolling with the punches.
McDonald's to Exit Russia for Good: 'We Can No Longer Keep the Arches Shining There.'
After 30 years and over 800 stores, McDonald's has decided to leave Russia for good following its temporary closure of stores amidst conflict with Ukraine.
The Role and Responsibilities of a Franchisee, Defined
The Yin to the Franchisor's Yang, franchisees are essential to the functionality of the business model.