What credit card issuers must a Goldfish Swim School franchisee arrange to accept payments from?
Goldfish_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee shall, at its expense, lease or purchase the necessary equipment and/or software and shall have arrangements in place with Visa, MasterCard, American Express and such other credit card issuers as Franchisor may designate, from time to time, to enable the Franchised Swim School to accept such methods of payment from its customers.
Franchisee shall also accept debit cards, stored value gift cards or other non-cash payment systems specified by Franchisor to enable customers to purchase authorized products and services.
Franchisee shall obtain all necessary hardware and/or software used in connection with these non-cash payment systems.
At all times, Franchisee shall maintain credit card relationships with the credit and debit card issuers or sponsors, check or credit verification services, financial center services, and electronic funds transfer systems (together, "Credit Card Vendors") that Franchisor designates as mandatory.
The term Credit Card Vendors includes among other things, companies that provide services for electronic payment, such as near field communication vendors (for example, "Apple Pay" and "Google Wallet").
Franchisee may not use any Credit Card Vendors that Franchisor has not approved in writing or for which Franchisor has revoked approval.
Franchisor has the right to modify the requirements and designate additional approved or required methods of payment and vendors for processing such payments, and to revoke approval of any such service provider.
Franchisee must sign a Gift Card Participation Agreement if required to designate a vendor or to establish procedures for administering the gift card program.
Franchisee must comply with Franchisor's credit card policies, including minimum purchase requirements for a customer's use of a credit card as prescribed in the Confidential Brand Standards Manual.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 77–389)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Goldfish Swim School's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must have arrangements to accept payments from Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Additionally, franchisees must arrange to accept payments from any other credit card issuers that Goldfish Swim School may designate from time to time.
Beyond credit cards, Goldfish Swim School franchisees are also required to accept debit cards, stored value gift cards, and other non-cash payment systems specified by the franchisor. Franchisees are responsible for obtaining all necessary hardware and software to facilitate these non-cash payment systems.
Goldfish Swim School maintains the right to modify payment requirements, designate approved payment methods and vendors, and revoke approval of any service provider. Franchisees must also sign a Gift Card Participation Agreement if required and comply with Goldfish Swim School's credit card policies, including any minimum purchase requirements for credit card use, as outlined in the Confidential Brand Standards Manual. Franchisees must use only approved Credit Card Vendors.