Big Blue Swim School, one of the nation's leading swim school franchises, is entering a dynamic chapter after nearly tripling its footprint over the past three years and making significant investments to strengthen its franchise model for continued expansion.
The swim school franchise has generated impressive growth over the years, scaling from 18 pools at the end of 2022 to nearly 60 pools now open nationwide. The company welcomed 34 new schools across the country between 2022 and 2025, with that momentum continuing in 2026 as the brand remains on track to open 10 additional locations by year-end. Notably, expansion continued even as Big Blue intentionally paused new franchise sales in 2024 and 2025, using the period to instead invest in and strengthen its systems, technology and franchise support infrastructure. The brand is now building on that foundation with a refreshed and reactivated franchise growth strategy, which is supported by strong unit performance. In 2025, mature franchised Big Blue Swim Schools generated average gross revenue of $1.73 million, while the network’s top-performing school exceeded $3.3 million in gross revenue.*
“When we started Big Blue, the goal was never growth for the sake of growth. We wanted to build something that could make a real difference for families by giving more children the confidence and life-saving skills they need to be safe in the water,” says Chris DeJong, founder and president of Big Blue Swim School. “As we look at where Big Blue can go from here, that still guides the decisions we make – every new pool gives us the chance to become part of another community, create a place families can rely on week after week and introduce more children to a skill they’ll carry with them for life.”
In alignment with its mission, Big Blue has opened new schools in markets including Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Georgia in 2026, with additional openings planned in Chicagoland and the greater Newark area before year-end. Several additional locations are also progressing through the development pipeline for 2027, supported by recently signed leases. Looking to the next 12-24 months, Tampa, Seattle, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Long Island and markets across Ohio are among Big Blue’s highest priorities for franchise development.
“We’ve been very intentional about making sure the pieces are in place to support the growth ahead of us,” says Tyson Fraser, EVP, Real Estate & Development at Big Blue Swim School. “That includes looking beyond simply where we can open a pool and thinking about where we can build a meaningful presence over time. We're evaluating markets through real estate availability, local family demand and the ability for an operator to intentionally grow their business beyond a single location. Matching the right operators with the right markets will be central in this next phase.”
At the center of Big Blue's growth strategy is a business built around an enduring need: helping children learn to be safe and confident in the water. Swim lessons create an ongoing relationship with families as children progress through the brand’s distinct and measurable curriculum, supporting repeat visits and year-round demand. The model is further differentiated by purpose-built facilities, 90-degree pools and LessonBuddy, Big Blue’s proprietary technology platform that supports scheduling, billing and swimmer progress tracking.
As the brand enters its next phase of franchise growth, Big Blue is seeking well-capitalized operators who share its approach to long-term development. Ideal candidates include experienced multi-unit franchisees looking to diversify their portfolios, investors and family businesses seeking a scalable platform in a recurring-demand category, and qualified entrepreneurs with the leadership and financial resources to scale within their communities.
To learn more about Big Blue Swim School and its franchise opportunity, visit bigblueswimschool.com/franchising.
*As reported in the Big Blue Swim School 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document for a subset of 15 franchise owned locations.
