Am I solely responsible for locating a site that meets Goldfish Swim School's standards?
Goldfish_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Select the Location of the Franchised Swim School
We do not generally own the premises and lease it to franchisees. If you have a potential site for the franchised swim school, you may propose the location for our consideration. We may consent to the site after we have evaluated it. If you do not have a proposed site, we will designate a geographic area in which you must locate the franchised swim school and we will furnish you with our general site selection criteria. We may provide sites in your designated area to review. You are solely responsible for locating and obtaining a site that meets our standards and criteria and that is acceptable to us. (Sections 2.3 and 5.1) You must use a real estate broker that we approve. We reserve the right to designate a Designated Supplier for real estate acquisition services.
The general site selection and evaluation criteria or factors that we consider in approving your site includes the condition of the premises, demographics of the surrounding area including population size of children under the age of 12, proximity to other Goldfish Swim Schools, proximity to competitive businesses, lease requirements, traffic patterns, visibility, vehicular and pedestrian access, proximity to major roads, available parking and overall suitability. We will provide you with written notice of our approval or disapproval of any proposed site within a reasonable time (usually 30 days) after receiving all requested information. If we cannot agree with you on a suitable site for the franchised swim school within 180 days after you sign the Franchise Agreement, we may terminate the Franchise Agreement. (Sections 5.1 and 5.2).
F. Typical Length of Time Before Operation
We estimate that the typical length of time between the signing of the Franchise Agreement and the opening of the franchise is 600 days.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 32–42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Goldfish Swim School FDD, the franchisee is primarily responsible for finding a location that meets the franchisor's standards. While Goldfish Swim School may provide a geographic area for the franchisee to focus on and furnish general site selection criteria, the responsibility of locating and securing a suitable site ultimately falls on the franchisee. The franchisor may also provide potential sites for review. Franchisees are required to use a real estate broker approved by Goldfish Swim School.
The FDD outlines several criteria that Goldfish Swim School considers when evaluating a potential site, including the condition of the premises, demographics of the surrounding area (specifically the population size of children under 12), proximity to other Goldfish Swim Schools and competitors, lease requirements, traffic patterns, visibility, access, parking, and overall suitability. Goldfish Swim School will provide written notice of approval or disapproval, typically within 30 days of receiving all necessary information.
A prospective franchisee should be aware that the site selection process can impact the timeline for opening. If a mutually agreeable site cannot be found within 180 days of signing the Franchise Agreement, Goldfish Swim School reserves the right to terminate the agreement. This highlights the importance of diligent site selection and communication with the franchisor to ensure alignment with their criteria.
The estimated time between signing the Franchise Agreement and opening the Goldfish Swim School is approximately 600 days. This timeframe can be affected by factors such as securing permits, zoning and local ordinances, weather conditions, and delays in equipment installation, as well as the satisfactory completion of the training programs.