What is the average royalty expense 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 |
| SUPPLIES (3) | 51,241 | 2.7% 10 52.6% 9,732 | 3 3,422 | 5 2,101 | 6 6,432 | 8 5,845 |
| MERCHANT FEES REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE | 46,891 59,522 | 2.5% 3.2% 8 7 42.1% 36.8% 7,224 1 1,020 | 2 6,548 2 7,193 | 3 9,732 4 6,179 | 6 4,801 8 6,544 | 110,329 136,560 |
| INSURANCE (4) | 27,493 | 1.5% 8 42.1% 1 2,329 | 1 6,831 | 2 6,238 | 3 5,341 | 6 7,740 |
| RENT AND OCCUPANCY COSTS (5) | 276,763 | 14.7% 7 36.8% 4 8,435 | 114,830 | 201,801 | 306,137 | 1 ,240,067 |
| UTILITIES (6) | 74,360 | 3.9% 8 42.1% 2 0,804 | 4 6,041 | 7 1,429 | 9 7,297 | 142,779 |
| ROYALTIES | 113,017 | 6.0% 8 42.1% 1 6,860 | 6 0,982 | 8 8,411 | 156,751 | 251,724 |
| NATIONAL ADVERTISING FUND | 37,672 | 2.0% 8 42.1% 5,620 | 2 0,327 | 2 9,470 | 5 2,250 | 8 3,908 |
| ADVERTISING AND MARKETING (7) | 68,771 | 3.7% 11 57.9% 1 0,007 | 4 9,539 | 7 6,459 | 8 5,546 | 135,942 |
| TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES | 1,414,874 | 75.1% 7 36.8% 721,934 | 963,122 | 1 ,169,800 | 1 ,705,068 | 3 ,178,558 |
| PROFIT BEFORE OTHER EXPENSES (8) | 468,750 | 24.9% 9 47.4% (685,464) | 9 2,773 | 379,193 | 907,445 | 1 ,460,401 |
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 shows that the average royalty expense is $113,017. This figure is based on the performance of 155 Goldfish Swim School franchises that had been open for at least 12 months as of December 31, 2024. The royalty expense represents 6.0% of revenue. It is important to note that 8 of the reporting franchises, representing 42.1%, surpassed this average.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that, on average, they can expect to pay $113,017 in royalties annually to Goldfish Swim School. However, this amount can vary significantly depending on the location, market conditions, and the franchisee's ability to manage and grow the business. The FDD also provides additional data points, such as the 1st quartile ($16,860), median ($60,982), 3rd quartile ($88,411), and high range ($156,751 to $251,724), which can give a better understanding of the potential range of royalty expenses.
It's crucial to understand that these figures are averages and individual results may differ. Goldfish Swim School explicitly states that there is no assurance that a franchisee will earn as much as the reported averages. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider their own market conditions and business acumen when evaluating this financial performance representation. They should also inquire about the factors that contribute to higher or lower royalty expenses and how Goldfish Swim School supports franchisees in managing these costs.