What were the brand fund expenses for Goldfish Swim School in 2023?
Goldfish_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
e through the Brand Standards Manual. Brand Fund Contributions shall be made at the time and in the manner provided for Royalty Fees in Section 3.2 and may be drawn by Franchisor or its designate, including
Franchisor's affiliate. Franchisor shall notify Franchisee at least thirty (30) days before changing Brand Fund Contribution requirements. The Brand Fund shall be maintained and administered by Franchisor or its designee, including Franchisor's affiliate as follows:
- 11.3.1 Franchisor shall oversee all marketing programs, with sole control over creative concepts, materials and media used in such programs, and the placement and allocation thereof. Franchisor does not warrant that any particular franchisee will benefit directly or pro rata from expenditures by the Brand Fund. The program(s) may be local, regional or Systemwide. Franchisor does not warrant the success or effectiveness of any particular marketing program.
- 11.3.2 Franchisee's Brand Fund Contributions may be used to meet the costs of, or to reimburse Franchisor for its costs (including, without limitation, Franchisor's employment expenses for staff to manage the Brand Fund) of, producing, maintaining, administering and directing consumer advertising (including, without limitation, the cost of preparing and conducting television, radio, Internet, magazine, newspaper, and direct mail advertising campaigns and other public relations activities; developing and/or hosting an Internet web page or site and similar activities; employing advertising agencies to assist therein; and providing promotional brochures and other marketing materials to franchisees). All Brand Fund Contributions shall be maintained in a separate account from the monies of Franchisor and shall not be used to defray any of Franchisor's general operating expenses, except for such reasonable costs and expenses, if any, that Franchisor may incur in activities reasonably related to the administration of the Brand Fund.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 77–389)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Goldfish Swim School franchisees contribute to a Brand Fund, which is used for marketing and advertising efforts. While franchisees contribute to the Brand Fund, Goldfish Swim School does not guarantee any direct or pro rata benefit to individual franchisees from these expenditures. These marketing programs can be local, regional, or system-wide.
The Brand Fund contributions cover the costs of consumer advertising, including television, radio, internet, magazine, newspaper, and direct mail campaigns, as well as public relations, website development, and promotional materials. The funds are kept in a separate account from Goldfish Swim School's general operating expenses and can only be used for administrative costs related to managing the Brand Fund.
Goldfish Swim School aims to spend all Brand Fund contributions on marketing programs within the fiscal year they are collected. If there are excess funds at the end of the year, they will be used first in the following fiscal year. An accounting of the Brand Fund's operation is prepared annually and is available to franchisees upon request.
However, the FDD excerpts provided do not include the specific expenses for the Brand Fund in 2023. For this information, prospective franchisees should request the annual accounting of the Brand Fund from Goldfish Swim School to understand how contributions were spent during that period.