Under what conditions might Big Blue Swim School grant an extension to the opening deadline?
Big_Blue_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The School must open for business within 14 months after the date you sign the lease for the School site, subject to any extensions we might grant. If you cannot open the School for business by this opening deadline despite your diligent efforts to do so, you may request a 30-day extension to open. We will not unreasonably deny your request if the reasons for your request demonstrate your diligence in the School-development and opening process. You may request no more than 3 separate 30-day extensions on the same terms. However, no extension of the opening deadline is available if the School's site is a site selected after you rejected a Qualified Site; rejection of a Qualified Site disqualifies you from any such extension.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 37–51)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Big Blue Swim School Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are expected to open their swim school within 14 months of signing the lease for the site. However, Big Blue Swim School may grant extensions to this deadline under certain conditions.
Specifically, if a franchisee is unable to open within the initial 14-month period despite diligent efforts, they can request a 30-day extension. Big Blue Swim School states that it will not unreasonably deny such a request, provided the reasons for the extension demonstrate the franchisee's commitment and progress in the school development and opening process.
A franchisee can request up to three separate 30-day extensions under these terms, potentially adding 90 days to the initial 14-month opening deadline. However, if the franchisee rejected a 'Qualified Site' (a site accepted by Big Blue Swim School's real estate committee), they are disqualified from receiving any extensions. This policy incentivizes franchisees to carefully consider the sites approved by Big Blue Swim School and highlights the importance of diligent effort in the development process to avoid needing an extension.