What is the average payroll and related expenses for a Goldfish Swim School, as shown in Table 1?
Goldfish_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| REVENUE | Average | Revenues # Surpassing % Surpassing Low | 1st Quartile | Median | 3rd Quartile | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWIM LESSONS | 1,791,115 | 95.1% 8 42.1% 270,919 | 977,756 | 1 ,370,488 | 2 ,526,258 | 4 ,037,114 |
| OTHER (1) | 92,509 | 4.9% 10 52.6% 1 0,073 | 5 1,717 | 9 7,718 | 119,203 | 199,291 |
| TOTAL REVENUE | 1,883,624 | 100.0% 8 42.1% 280,992 | 1 ,016,372 | 1 ,473,513 | 2 ,612,513 | 4 ,195,398 |
| OPERATING EXPENSES | ||||||
| PAYROLL AND RELATED EXPENSES (2) | 659,144 | 35.0% 8 42.1% 319,270 | 459,472 | 590,700 | 844,493 | 1 ,103,510 |
Source: Item 19 — FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPRESENTATIONS (FDD pages 65–68)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Goldfish Swim School's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Table 1 presents the average payroll and related expenses for the 155 franchise locations that were open for at least 12 months as of December 31, 2024. The average payroll and related expenses for these locations was $659,144, representing 35.0% of total revenue.
In addition to the average, Table 1 also provides a range of payroll expenses across different performance quartiles. The 25th percentile (1st quartile) for payroll and related expenses was $319,270, while the median (2nd quartile) was $459,472. The 75th percentile (3rd quartile) was $590,700, and the high range (4th quartile) reached $1,103,510. This data indicates a wide variation in payroll expenses among Goldfish Swim School franchises.
It is important to note that these figures do not include the owner's compensation. The FDD also states that 42.1% of the reporting franchises surpassed the average payroll and related expenses. Prospective franchisees should consider these figures as estimates and understand that actual payroll expenses can vary significantly based on location, staffing levels, and local wage rates. It is advisable to conduct thorough market research and develop a detailed business plan to project realistic payroll costs for a specific Goldfish Swim School location.