What training must a Replacement Managing Owner of a Big Blue Swim School complete?
Big_Blue_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must designate one of your individual owners to serve as your "Managing Owner." We must pre-approve the proposed Managing Owner or any replacement Managing Owner. The Managing Owner is responsible for the School's overall management. The Managing Owner will communicate with us directly regarding School-related matters and must have sufficient authority to make decisions for you and the School. The Managing Owner's decisions will be final and will bind you. The Managing Owner must attend a 2-day initial orientation session on the BIG BLUE Swim School franchise system at our principal business address (or another location we designate) before you sign a lease for the School's site. The Managing Owner also must attend and satisfactorily complete our initial training program. If your Managing Owner cannot satisfactorily complete initial training (including retraining), we have the right to require you to designate a Replacement Managing Owner who then must attend and satisfactorily complete initial training.
Source: Item 15 — OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS (FDD pages 59–61)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Big Blue Swim School FDD, if the initial Managing Owner cannot satisfactorily complete the initial training, including any retraining deemed necessary, Big Blue Swim School has the right to require the franchisee to designate a Replacement Managing Owner. This Replacement Managing Owner must then attend and satisfactorily complete the initial training program.
This initial training program is comprehensive and covers the philosophy, Brand Standards, and material aspects of operating a Big Blue Swim School, excluding labor relations and employment practices. The initial training program is conducted at a designated training location or through video and other electronic means. The FDD states that the training is expected to be approximately 4 weeks long and occur after signing the Franchise Agreement and while the franchisee develops the school.
In addition to the initial training program, the Managing Owner must attend a 2-day initial orientation session on the Big Blue Swim School franchise system. This orientation takes place at Big Blue Swim School's principal business address or another designated location. This orientation session must be completed before the franchisee signs a lease for the school's site.
Big Blue Swim School also sends an "opening team" to the school for at least 3 days to help train supervisory employees on their philosophy and Brand Standards and prepare the school for opening. The franchisee is responsible for the Replacement Managing Owner's wages, benefits, and travel, hotel, and food expenses while they attend training.