What initial training does Goldfish Swim School provide?
Goldfish_Swim_School Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ant to the Development Schedule.
G. Training
- Initial Training. We provide you an initial training program that covers material aspects of the operation of the Franchised Swim School and is provided to protect Franchisor's brand and the Trademarks and not to control the day-to-day operations of the Franchised Swim School business. The topics covered are listed in the chart below. This required training is offered by us on an as needed basis in part by a virtual platform and in part in person at our headquarters in Troy, Michigan, or other locations we designate at a mutually convenient time for you and us. You must designate a Control Person or other owner, Designated Manager and the on-site general manager if different from the Designated Manager, and at least 1 other required manager as we designate at our discretion to attend the training, and each must complete to our satisfaction the initial training program of approximately 13 required days to our satisfaction at least 60 days before the opening of the franchised swim school. We expect that your attendees will advance through the training program at different rates depending on a variety of factors, including background and experience. The time frames provided in the chart are a minimum estimate of the time it will take to complete training. Training for your attendees may take longer. We do not charge for initial training. You must pay for all travel costs and living expenses for yourself and any of your attendees. These costs are estimated in ITEM 7. If you replace your Designated Manager or on-site general manager if different from the Designated Manager, your new Designated Manager or on-site general manager must attend our training program in order to properly implement our brand standards. You may be charged fees for additional training. Our current fees for additional training are described in ITEM 6. You are responsible for training your own employees and other management personnel. This initial training is in addition to the on-site opening assistance we provide to you. Your franchised swim school must at all times be under the day-to-day supervision of a Designated Manager who has satisfactorily completed our training program. After a replacement of the Designated Manager or on-site general manager if different from the Designated Manager, he or she has 60 days to complete initial training. (Section 8). You will designate a Marketing Lead who is the person responsible for all matters related to marketing, advertising, and sales at your Franchised Swim School. The Marketing Lead must attend Week 2 of the Training Program described below.
INITIAL TRAINING PROGRAM
| Digital Media: | 31.85% | |---|---| | National Media: | 24.73% | | Creative and Brand Positioning: | 6.51% | | Print Media and Production: | 0.28% | | Email Program and Hosting: | 2.55% | | Social Media: | 1.92% | | Public Relations & Brand Awareness | 6.66% | | Brand Research | 0.64% | | Listing and Review Services | 0.65% | | Administrative: | 24.21% | | Total | 100.00% | * The Week 3 E&A Lifeguard Instructor Certification is a program to train your managers, Designated Manager and/or Control Person to perform lifeguard certification for your staff. This is not a requirement of the Initial Training Program but is offered as an additional week of training at your option.
Nicole Thomas is principally responsible for facilitating our training program. Additional employees or contractors of ours who have experience in some facet of the operation of our business may assist Ms. Thomas in the implementation of our training program. Further, Ms. Thomas will be assisted by other employees and contractors of ours. Those employees and contractors of ours who participate in the training program will have, on average, 2 years of experience in the subject matter being taught and 1 year experience with our System.
If circumstances require, a substitute trainer may provide training to you. We may periodically name additional trainers if the training schedule requires it. There are no limits on our right to assign a substitute trainer to provide training.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 32–42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Goldfish Swim School FDD, initial training is provided to protect the Goldfish Swim School brand and trademarks, not to control daily operations. The training program covers material aspects of operating a franchised swim school.
The initial training program is approximately 13 days and offered as needed, using both a virtual platform and in-person training at the Goldfish Swim School headquarters in Troy, Michigan, or other designated locations. Franchisees must designate a Control Person or other owner, a Designated Manager, and an on-site general manager (if different from the Designated Manager), plus at least one other required manager to attend. These attendees must complete the training to Goldfish Swim School's satisfaction at least 60 days before the swim school opens. A Marketing Lead, responsible for marketing, advertising, and sales, must attend Week 2 of the training program.
Goldfish Swim School does not charge for the initial training program itself. However, franchisees are responsible for all travel and living expenses for themselves and their attendees. If a Designated Manager or on-site general manager is replaced, the new manager must attend the training program. Goldfish Swim School may charge fees for additional training, as detailed in ITEM 6. Franchisees are responsible for training their own employees and other management personnel. The initial training includes a shallow water attendant certificate, which certifies attendees in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), First Aid, AED (automated external defibrillator), and also provides a lifeguarding certification for shallow water pools. Other certifications like CPO (certified pool operations) may be required, but not provided during this training period. If these certifications are not provided during initial training, franchisees must obtain them before opening their Goldfish Swim School.
The initial training includes an electronic copy of the Confidential Brand Standards Manual, access to training modules, curriculum documentation, a sample employee handbook, a sample emergency action plan, and access to a library of training videos on required software platforms, pump room, and swim techniques. Goldfish Swim School also provides a library of documentation used operationally in the schools daily. On-site assistance and guidance are provided by a Goldfish Swim School representative for up to 3 days for the first swim school and 1 day for the second swim school. No on-site assistance is provided for the third swim school or beyond.