What is the estimated range for legal and accounting fees for a Goldfish Swim School?
Goldfish_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
YOUR ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT
| Type of Expenditure | Amount | Method of Payment When Due | To Whom Payment Is To Be Made | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise Fee 1 | $40,000 - 50,000 | ,000 - 50,000 Cashier's Check | Us | |
| Real Estate Fee | $0 - 2,500 | Cashier's Check | ||
| Real Estate/Rent 3 | $0 - 82,000 | As Arranged | Before and During Initial Period of Operations | Lessor |
| Architectural Fees | $34,500 – 85,000 | As Arranged | Before Beginning Operations | Architect |
| Leasehold | $1,334,230 – | As Before Beginning Arranged Operations | Contractor, | |
| Improvements 4 | 2,685,033 | Suppliers | ||
| Insurance 5 | $4,283 - 5,700 | As | Before Beginning | Insurance |
| Arranged | Operations | Company | ||
| Type of Expenditure | Amount | Method of Payment | When Due | To Whom Payment Is To Be Made |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Training 6 | $17,250 - 37,000 | As Arranged | During Training | Airlines, Hotels & Restaurants |
| Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, Computers, and Decor 7 | $100,000 - 126,500 | As Arranged | Before Beginning Operations | Approved Suppliers, Suppliers |
| Initial Advertising Expense 8 | $30,000 - 70,000 | As Arranged Before Beginning Operations and First 3 Months of Operation | Advertising Suppliers | |
| Licenses, Permits, & Deposits 9 | $4,500 - 80,000 | As Arranged | Before Beginning Operations | Licensing Authorities and Utilities |
| Legal & Accounting 10 | $8,500 - 35,000 | As | Before Beginning | Attorney, |
| Arranged | Operations | Accountant | ||
| Project Manager/Owner's Representative 11 | $15,000 – 45,000 | As Arranged | As Necessary | Contractor |
| Water Tap Fees 12 | $0 - 93,000 | As Arranged | As Necessary | Local Unit of Government |
| Additional Funds 13, 14 (3 months) | $75,000 - 350,000 | As Arranged | As Necessary | Employees, Utilities, Lessor & Suppliers |
| TOTAL 14 | $1,663,263 – 3,746,733 |
Area Development Agreement
| Type of | Amount | Method of
Source: Item 7 — ESTIMATED INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 21–27)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Goldfish Swim School FDD, the estimated initial investment for legal and accounting fees ranges from $8,500 to $35,000. These fees cover contracting with an attorney, an accountant, a bookkeeping service, and other consultants to help establish the franchised swim school. The actual amount may vary depending on the prevailing rates of local attorneys, accountants, and consultants in the franchisee's area.
Goldfish Swim School specifies that these fees are typically non-refundable, so franchisees should inquire about the refund policy of any attorney, accountant, or consultant before hiring them. This is a standard practice in franchising, as professional services are usually rendered on a non-refundable basis.
Prospective franchisees should factor this cost into their initial budget and conduct thorough research to find qualified professionals who meet their needs and budget. Understanding the local market rates for these services is crucial for accurate financial planning when opening a Goldfish Swim School franchise.