Does Goldfish Swim School have full access to a franchisee's computer system and point-of-sale data?
Goldfish_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
s, devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes,
NOW, THEREFORE, in order to induce Company to transmit the aforesaid information
to Franchisee and Owner, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Franchisee and Owner (hereinafter, the "Franchisee Parties")
financial data, financial plans, product plans, passwords, lists of actual or potential customers or suppliers) related to or used in Goldfish Swim Schools that is not commonly known by or available to the public and that information: (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
- b) For the purposes of this Agreement "Confidential Information" means without limitation, business practices; copyrighted materials; trademarks; patents; applications; trade secrets; trade dress; instructional materials; descriptions of Goldfish's products and services; proposed products and services; computer software and hardware utilized by the System (as herein defined) and all information contained on such computer hardware and software; all data collected from customers and potential customers in connection with the Franchised Swim School; all Customer Personal Data; advertising materials; business plans; swim programs; swim curriculum and training manuals; employee compensation plans; identities of suppliers, customers and prospective customers; all specifications, sources of supply (or prospective sources) and all information pertaining to same (including wholesale pricing structures, contents of sourcing agreements and identity of suppliers), all procedures, systems, techniques and activities employed by Company or Franchisee in the offer and sale of products and/or services at or from the Franchised Swim School; prices and pricing policies; financial data; computer programs and software; floor plans; development schedules; development plans; systems; operations and procedures; the Company's Confidential Brand Standards Manual; Franchisee's final plans for construction, build-out, design, renovation, décor, equipment, signage, furniture, fixtures, and trade dress of the Franchised Swim School; and all other information provided to the Franchisee Parties from Franchisor.
- c) For purposes of this Agreement, "Customer Personal Data" means data that may be reasonably linked or linkable to natural persons to whom the Franchised Swim School provides goods or services or who are associated with a business entity to which the Franchised Swim School provides goods or services, including not limited to such natural person's name, birthdate, contact information, payment card information, transaction history, and other personal and other information as may be further set forth and defined in the Company's Confidential Brand Standards Manual.
- d) Any information expressly designated by Company as "Trade Secrets" or "Confidential Information" shall be deemed such for all purposes of this Agreement, but the absence of designation shall not relieve the Franchisee Parties of their respective obligations hereunder in respect of information otherwise constituting Trade Secrets or Confidential Information.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 77–389)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Goldfish Swim School FDD, Goldfish Swim School considers computer software and hardware utilized by the system, and all information contained on such hardware and software, to be confidential information. The FDD states that all data pertaining to, derived from, or displayed at the Franchised Swim School (including without limitation, data pertaining to or otherwise about Franchised Swim School customers, including Customer Personal Data) is and shall be Goldfish Swim School's exclusive property.
The FDD indicates that franchisees must provide Goldfish Swim School with all data required in the Confidential Brand Standards Manual in a format readily usable by Goldfish Swim School. Franchisees have a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use this data during the term of the agreement and any renewal term. However, franchisees cannot sell, assign, transfer, or use customer data for purposes other than operating the franchised swim school and marketing the franchise system's services and products.
These stipulations mean that Goldfish Swim School maintains significant control over the data generated by the franchise. While franchisees can use the data to operate their location, the franchisor ultimately owns the data and can request it at any time. Franchisees must also adhere to privacy laws regarding customer, employee, and transactional information.