Who owns the Plans for a Big Blue Swim School?
Big_Blue_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The School's design, construction, and development will follow our guidelines and mandatory specifications and layouts for a BIG BLUE Swim School (collectively, "Plans"), including requirements for dimensions, design, interior layout, improvements, color scheme, décor, finishes, signage, and Operating Assets. You should work with your general contractor and architect, who will exercise reasonable efforts to ensure that the Plans reflect the requirements of any federal, state, or local laws, codes, ordinances, or regulations, including those arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and any Lease requirements or restrictions. You must inform us of any changes to the School's specifications that you believe are necessary to comply with applicable laws and lease requirements and restrictions. Your third-party vendor will adapt the Plans for the School. We own the Plans.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 29–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Big Blue Swim School's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor owns the Plans for a Big Blue Swim School. These Plans include the guidelines and mandatory specifications and layouts for the swim school, covering requirements for dimensions, design, interior layout, improvements, color scheme, décor, finishes, signage, and Operating Assets.
While Big Blue Swim School owns the Plans, franchisees are responsible for the School's design, construction, and development expenses. Franchisees must ensure their general contractor and architect make reasonable efforts to ensure that the Plans reflect the requirements of any federal, state, or local laws, codes, ordinances, or regulations, including those arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and any Lease requirements or restrictions. Franchisees must inform Big Blue Swim School of any changes to the School's specifications that they believe are necessary to comply with applicable laws and lease requirements and restrictions. The franchisee's third-party vendor will adapt the Plans for the School.
This arrangement is typical in franchising, where the franchisor maintains control over brand standards and intellectual property, while the franchisee bears the costs of implementing those standards in their specific location. This ensures consistency across all Big Blue Swim School locations, protecting the brand's image and reputation. Franchisees should carefully review the Plans and associated costs during their due diligence to fully understand the financial implications of adhering to these requirements.