Start a Water Wings Swim School Franchise in 2025

Company Overview

About Water Wings Swim School

Industry	Children's Businesses
Related Categories	Swimming Lessons, Sports, Children's Education/Enrichment, Children's Fitness Programs
Founded	2003
Parent Company	Unleashed Brands
Leadership	Avi Shafshak, Brand President
Corporate Address	2350 Airport Fwy., #505 Bedford, TX 76022
Social	Facebook, LinkedIn

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2025 (0 years)
# of employees at HQ	134
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises 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, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
# of Units	13 (as of 2025)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Water Wings 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 Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$50,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$994,400 - $1,424,550
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$500,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$200,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	5% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	6%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	2%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	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	Water Wings 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	104 hours
Classroom Training	16 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes

More from Water Wings Swim School

Water Wings Swim School: A Trusted Leader in Swim Safety & Education

Water Wings Swim School is a premier children’s swim education brand, focused on providing high-quality instruction in a nurturing and safe environment. Founded in 2003 by Avi and Tracy Shafshak in Las Vegas, Nevada, Water Wings was built on the mission of addressing the critical need for comprehensive swim education for children of all ages.

With programs designed to build water safety, confidence, and a lifelong love for swimming, Water Wings has become a trusted name for families. Its year-round, indoor facilities allow students to progress at their own pace in a consistent learning environment led by certified instructors.

Today, Water Wings Swim School operates in over a dozen corporate-owned locations across four states and is expanding nationwide through franchising as part of the Unleashed Brands portfolio.

Why Open a Water Wings Swim School Franchise?

Owning a Water Wings Swim School franchise offers the opportunity to make a lasting impact in your community by helping children and families learn life-saving skills. The brand’s proven model combines strong revenue potential with a mission-driven business.

Key franchise advantages include:

A recognized brand with a 20+ year track record in swim education
Programs designed for all ages and skill levels, from infants to adults
Year-round indoor facilities that drive consistent enrollment and recurring revenue
Proprietary training curriculum and safety-focused teaching methods
Access to Unleashed Brands’ shared resources, marketing support, and franchise expertise

Water Wings Swim School has been recognized as a leader in the youth enrichment space and benefits from the reputation and systems of the Unleashed Brands family, which includes other top-tier children’s franchises.

What Makes Water Wings Swim School a Strong Business Opportunity?

Demand for quality swim education remains high, as water safety is a top priority for families nationwide. Water Wings’ proven operational systems and recurring membership model create strong revenue potential for franchise owners.

As with any franchise investment, key factors to consider include:

Location selection, lease rates, and buildout costs
Initial investment, which includes the franchise fee and startup expenses
Ongoing fees, such as royalties and national marketing contributions
The brand’s financial and operational requirements for net worth and liquid capital

Water Wings provides franchisees with an established business model, comprehensive support, and access to a growing network of youth enrichment entrepreneurs.

Training & Support

Water Wings Swim School offers an extensive training and support program designed to set franchisees up for success. This includes:

Pre-opening training at Water Wings Swim School headquarters
Real-life instruction inside operating swim schools
Multi-day hands-on internships focused on operations, staffing, and customer experience
Ongoing field support from a dedicated consultant
Access to industry-leading marketing resources, technology platforms, and operational tools through Unleashed Brands

How to Start a Water Wings Swim School Franchise

Buying a franchise with Water Wings Swim School is a structured yet personal journey designed to help both you and our team determine if we’re the right fit for each other. Our 8-step discovery process gives you a comprehensive look at what it means to own and operate a Water Wings Swim School. From an initial goals overview to an in-depth brand presentation and territory analysis, each step is built to give you clarity and confidence.

You’ll review important documents like the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), explore financing options, and even experience our brand firsthand at Launch Day. If everything aligns, you’ll move into final validation and sign your franchise agreement—officially joining a community of entrepreneurs passionate about bringing swim safety to their markets.

Disclaimer

The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.

Updated: December 12th, 2022

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