How Much Does an Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise Cost?

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2026 verified cost answer

How much does an Aqua-Tots Swim Schools franchise cost?

The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates $1,619,820 to $2,939,590 to open and operate one Aqua-Tots Swim School for its initial three-month operating period. That is the Single Unit Franchise range in Item 7. The estimate includes the $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee, premises and pool work, required equipment, pre-opening marketing, insurance, software, opening inventory and Additional Funds. It does not include the cost of acquiring real estate or constructing a building.

Single Unit Franchise $1,619,820–$2,939,590
2026 FDD, Item 7, pages 19–21. A Multi-Unit Development Agreement has a separate first-stage range of $1,638,570 to $3,014,590, but that amount covers the development fee and the first Outlet only—not the cost of opening the later committed Outlets.
Data basis Legal franchisor: Aqua-Tots Swim School Holding LLC. FDD issuance date: April 14, 2026. Purchase paths reviewed: Single Unit Franchise and Multi-Unit Development Agreement. Cost evidence: Items 5, 6 and 7, with cost-relevant provisions from Items 8, 10, 11 and 17. Information checked July 18, 2026. The brand continues to present official U.S. franchise territory information. No matching 2026 FDD was verified on a public franchise-controlled webpage, so FDD Item and page citations in this article are intentionally unlinked.
Source conflict As checked July 18, 2026, the official franchise investment webpage still displays an Item 7-style table totaling $1,619,095 to $2,638,514 and also references a different $2,639,314 high end elsewhere on the page. Neither matches the April 14, 2026 FDD total. For the current disclosure-controlled estimate, use the 2026 FDD figures above and ask the franchisor to reconcile the public webpage before relying on it.
Item 7 investment

What does the estimated initial investment include?

The Single Unit Franchise total is the sum of 13 disclosed Item 7 categories. The largest disclosed category is Tenant Improvements at $1,200,000 to $2,100,000, followed by Pool Design, Build and Aquatic Supplies and Equipment at $250,000 to $400,000. These two premises-related entities explain most of the range, while the $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee is fixed.

Initial Franchise Fee $50,000 Single Unit Franchise; lump sum at Franchise Agreement signing.
Tenant Improvements $1.2M–$2.1M Paid to vendors before opening or under vendor arrangements.
Additional Funds $40,000–$115,000 Initial three months; payroll is expressly excluded.
Royalty Fee 6% Of Gross Revenue; due monthly for the prior month.
Website financial screening $500K / >$1M Liquid capital / net worth; separate from Item 7.

Contract, premises and build costs

These expenditures are generally committed at signing or paid before opening as the site and pool are developed. Item 7 assumes an indoor facility of at least 6,000 square feet, while the final lease, property and construction arrangements remain the franchisee’s responsibility.

Item 7 category 2026 range Payment timing FDD reference
Initial Franchise Fee $50,000 Upon signing the Franchise Agreement Item 7, p. 19
Rent or Real Estate $12,000–$85,000 Before opening, as determined by lessor Item 7, p. 19
Pool Design, Build and Aquatic Supplies and Equipment $250,000–$400,000 Before opening or as arranged with vendors Item 7, p. 19
Tenant Improvements $1,200,000–$2,100,000 Before opening or as arranged with vendors Item 7, p. 19
Computers, Color Printer and Copier $5,000–$15,000 Before opening or as arranged with vendors Item 7, p. 19
Signage $15,000–$60,000 Before opening or as arranged with vendors Item 7, p. 19

Training, opening and first-three-month costs

The remaining Item 7 categories cover training travel, deposits and utilities, inventory, marketing, software, insurance and the initial operating cushion. Training for two people is included in the Initial Franchise Fee, but travel, lodging, meals and salaries are not included in that fee.

Item 7 category 2026 range What the range covers FDD reference
Initial Travel Expenses during Aqua-Tots University training $2,000–$18,000 Airfare, hotels, restaurants and related travel Item 7, p. 19
Miscellaneous Opening Costs $6,000–$19,500 Deposits, utilities, communications and incorporation fees Item 7, pp. 19–21
Opening Inventory $9,000–$18,800 Uniforms, teaching equipment, office supplies and small retail line Item 7, pp. 20–21
Advertising $26,000–$45,000 Before opening and during the first three months Item 7, pp. 20–21
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Proprietary Software $2,320–$2,790 Pike 13 Software Fee and Technology Fee for the stated pre-opening and initial period Item 7, pp. 20–21
Insurance $2,500–$10,500 Required policies before opening or as arranged with insurer Item 7, pp. 20–21
Additional Funds for Initial Three Months $40,000–$115,000 Startup expenses for three months; excludes payroll and does not offset the estimate with business revenue Item 7, p. 21

Required-supplier context: Item 8 estimates that purchases from designated or approved suppliers represent approximately 20% to 30% of total purchases made to establish the business and 10% to 15% of ongoing operating expenses. Pike 13 Software Fees and Technology Fees are paid to Aqua-Tots Swim School Holding LLC; uniforms, teaching equipment and retail products must come from approved or designated sources. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 8, pages 22–24.

Excluded from Item 7 The official total does not include the purchase price of real estate, construction of a new building, payroll within Additional Funds, financing costs, or the cost of opening later Outlets under a Multi-Unit Development Agreement. A site-specific capital plan must keep those exclusions outside the $1,619,820 to $2,939,590 range rather than treating the range as an all-in property budget.
Purchase-path difference

How does a Multi-Unit Development Agreement change the capital commitment?

The Multi-Unit Development Agreement changes the franchise-fee timing and creates a development commitment; it does not create a different physical Swim School format. The 2026 Item 7 MUD total of $1,638,570 to $3,014,590 combines the Multi-Unit Development Fee with the estimated cost of the first Outlet for its initial three months.

Why the MUD total is not a two-to-five-school budget

The example assumes a commitment of two to five Outlets. It includes only the first Outlet’s investment and the initial development payments. Each later Outlet requires a separate Franchise Agreement and its own premises, pool, Tenant Improvements, equipment, opening inventory, advertising, insurance and Additional Funds.

$68,750–$125,000Multi-Unit Development Fee due when the first Franchise Agreement and MUD Agreement are signed.
$37,500Total discounted Initial Franchise Fee for each additional MUD Unit, a 25% discount from $50,000.
$18,750 + $18,750Half of each additional-unit fee is paid at MUD signing; the balance is due when that later Unit’s Franchise Agreement is signed.
Payment timing

When is the money paid?

The first contractual payment is due at signing, while most of the capital is paid later to landlords, contractors, equipment vendors and other suppliers. The FDD says the Franchise Disclosure Document must be delivered at least 14 calendar days before a binding agreement or payment to the franchisor or an affiliate; the FTC’s franchise buying guide explains the same disclosure timing rule.

Agreement signing

A Single Unit Franchisee pays the nonrefundable $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee in a lump sum. A MUD buyer pays $68,750 to $125,000 for the first-unit fee plus 50% of each additional discounted fee. Aqua-Tots’ official ownership process places FDD review before the later decision stages.

Site control and design

The franchisee negotiates the lease or property purchase and must make commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a suitable site. The FDD requires at least 6,000 square feet and does not permit operation from a residential pool. Rent or Real Estate is estimated at $12,000 to $85,000, but full real-estate acquisition is excluded.

Construction and vendor commitments

Pool Design, Build and Aquatic Supplies and Equipment, Tenant Improvements, computers and Signage are paid before opening or under vendor arrangements. Together, their disclosed ranges run from $1,470,000 to $2,575,000, a derived sum of compatible Item 7 categories—not a separate franchisor estimate.

Training and pre-opening systems

Training for two participants is included in the Initial Franchise Fee, but $2,000 to $18,000 of travel is paid as incurred. Pike 13 and the Technology Fee begin two to three months before opening. The official training and support page describes the support program, while the FDD controls the cost obligations.

Opening through month three

The $26,000 to $45,000 advertising allocation spans the pre-opening period and first three months. Additional Funds of $40,000 to $115,000 cover the initial three-month period but expressly exclude payroll. Item 11 expects opening in roughly 12 to 15 months after signing, subject to site, permits, financing, construction and materials.

Ongoing fees

Which fees continue after opening?

Aqua-Tots Swim School Holding LLC charges a 6% Royalty Fee and a 2% National Marketing Fund contribution based on Gross Revenue. Separate local marketing, possible cooperative advertising, monthly software and Technology Fees can also continue. Gross Revenue excludes only the limited categories stated in Item 6, including collected-and-remitted sales tax and specified zero-revenue discounts or employee services.

Continuing obligation Amount or basis Timing and relationship FDD reference
Royalty Fee 6% of Gross Revenue Due on the 10th for the prior month; electronically collected Item 6, pp. 14–15
National Marketing Fund 2% of Gross Revenue Per location; due on the 10th for the prior month Items 6 and 11, pp. 14–15, 31–32
Local Marketing Requirement At least 2% of Gross Revenue Franchisee-controlled spending; PPC may count toward this requirement Items 7 and 11, pp. 21, 30–31
Advertising Cooperative Up to 2% of Gross Revenue Conditional if implemented in a metropolitan area; additional to National Marketing Fund Items 6 and 11, pp. 14–15, 31
PPC Marketing Up to 2% of Gross Revenue Set by franchisee; counts toward local marketing rather than automatically adding another 2% Item 6, pp. 15–16
Monthly Software Fee $295 per month Pike 13; payable to the franchisor, plus applicable tax Item 6, p. 17
Technology Fee $170 per month Includes proprietary digital tools; may increase to $850 per month Item 6, pp. 17–18
FDD caveat Item 7 Note 6 describes the local marketing obligation as 2% of annual Gross Revenue based on the preceding year, while Item 11 says no less than 2% of Gross Revenue per month. The rate is consistently 2%, but the calculation and timing language should be reconciled in the current Franchise Agreement before a buyer models cash flow.
Conditional obligations

Which event-triggered fees can increase the lifetime cost?

Item 6 includes fees that arise only after a request, transfer, renewal, default, audit, technology change or other event. They are not part of the opening total unless Item 7 expressly includes an initial payment.

Additional Initial Training

$495 per person per day for approved participants beyond the two included people, plus travel, lodging, meals and salaries.

Additional Assistance at the Outlet

$1,295 per day with a two-day minimum, plus the trainer’s travel and living expenses.

Conferences and Summits

$380 to $2,500 as incurred, plus the attendee’s travel, lodging, meals and salary. Attendance may or may not be mandatory.

Transfer Fee

$0 for specified permitted family or convenience transfers; otherwise $10,000 before transfer acceptance. Undeveloped MUD rights cannot be transferred.

Franchise Renewal Fee

$10,000 when signing a renewal Franchise Agreement. The initial term and one requested renewal term are each 10 years.

Lease Assistance

$200 per occurrence when Aqua-Tots provides the specified lease or real-estate review assistance.

Audit and Understatement

Cost of the audit plus 1.5% interest per month if an audit finds at least a 1% Gross Revenue understatement for any month.

Late and Payment-Method Charges

1.5% monthly interest, subject to applicable law; $45 for a dishonored transaction; and 3% for credit-card payments.

Administrative Non-Compliance Fee

$200 per occurrence for each day of specified non-compliance.

Computer and Communications Upgrades

Variable, usually no more than $3,000 per year, when required for hardware, software or maintenance.

Termination-Related Liquidated Damages

If terminated for cause, the formula uses average monthly Royalty Fees from the preceding 12 months multiplied by the remaining months in the Agreement, subject to state addenda.

Enforcement and Indemnification

Variable attorneys’ fees, enforcement costs and indemnification obligations can become payable on demand under the disclosed circumstances.

Capital qualifications

How much liquid capital and net worth does Aqua-Tots require?

The official franchise website says an ideal candidate should have at least $500,000 in liquid capital and net worth exceeding $1,000,000. These are screening criteria shown on the official ideal-candidate page, not Item 7 expenditures and not a statement that $500,000 will fund the entire project.

Estimated Initial Investment
$1,619,820 to $2,939,590 for a Single Unit Franchise under the 2026 FDD. This is the project cost range, subject to disclosed inclusions and exclusions.
Liquid Capital
Funds or assets that can be made available relatively readily. The official website’s $500,000 threshold is a qualification measure, not the official Item 7 total.
Net Worth
Total assets minus liabilities. Net worth exceeding $1,000,000 does not mean the buyer has that amount in cash.
Personal Guarantee
When the franchisee is an entity, the FDD states that the entity’s owners must personally guarantee and be bound by the Franchise Agreement obligations.

Does Aqua-Tots finance the investment?

No direct or indirect franchisor financing is disclosed. Item 10 says neither Aqua-Tots, its agents nor its affiliates offers financing or guarantees a note, lease or obligation. The official franchise FAQ says the company can provide a list of financial institutions familiar with Aqua-Tots and references SBA programs, but lender approval and terms remain separate decisions. The SBA Franchise Directory is an eligibility tool for lenders, not an endorsement or promise of financing.

Buyer verification

What costs still need site-specific verification?

The 2026 FDD supplies the governing ranges, but it does not resolve the final capital need for a specific city, building or financing structure. The most important unresolved variables sit outside, or near the high end of, the official estimate.

  • Reconcile the current FDD with the official investment webpage. The public totals and Tenant Improvement ceiling do not match the April 14, 2026 disclosure.
  • Obtain site bids for Tenant Improvements and the aquatic build. Those two Item 7 categories alone span $1,450,000 to $2,500,000.
  • Separate occupancy deposits from real-estate acquisition. Item 7 includes $12,000 to $85,000 for Rent or Real Estate but excludes buying land or a building and constructing a new building.
  • Add payroll to the initial operating plan. The $40,000 to $115,000 Additional Funds line expressly excludes payroll for the initial three months.
  • Confirm local marketing calculation language. Item 7 and Item 11 use different timing descriptions for the 2% Local Marketing Requirement.
  • Model each later MUD Unit independently. The $1,638,570 to $3,014,590 MUD range does not include the premises, opening or operating costs of additional committed Outlets.
  • Include financing, permits and professional costs supported by the chosen site. Financing costs depend on lender terms, while local permits, code compliance and professional services may exceed or sit outside specific Item 7 categories.
Cost implication The decisive capital variable is not the $50,000 Initial Franchise Fee. It is the combined facility obligation: Tenant Improvements, pool design and build, occupancy terms, equipment and site-specific compliance. A buyer comparing funding options should preserve the 2026 FDD total, add only documented exclusions, and avoid substituting the lower public-webpage range.
Capital decision

What is the practical cost takeaway?

For one U.S. Aqua-Tots Swim School, the verified 2026 starting point is $1,619,820 to $2,939,590. A Multi-Unit Development Agreement raises the initial disclosed range to $1,638,570 to $3,014,590 for the development fee and first Outlet, while later Outlets remain separate capital projects. The buyer must also distinguish the official investment range from the website’s $500,000 liquid-capital and greater-than-$1,000,000 net-worth screening criteria, and from ongoing fees such as the 6% Royalty Fee, 2% National Marketing Fund, local marketing requirement, monthly Software Fee and Technology Fee.

The most material open questions are the chosen site’s Tenant Improvements, pool construction, property structure, payroll, financing costs and the precise operation of local or cooperative marketing obligations. Those amounts should be resolved against the current Franchise Agreement, vendor bids and any FDD amendments before funds are committed.







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