Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Goldfish Swim School
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Goldfish Swim School: Aqua-Tots Swim Schools costs $1.6M to $2.6M to open; Goldfish Swim School costs $488K to $2.6M. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has 30 units, Goldfish Swim School has 110. SBA loan history: Aqua-Tots Swim Schools = 32 loans (0.0% default); Goldfish Swim School = 132 loans (0.0% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Goldfish Swim School: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Goldfish Swim School requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($488K vs $1.6M for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools), a 232% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools versus $50K for Goldfish Swim School. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and 6% for Goldfish Swim School, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Goldfish Swim School operates 110 units to Aqua-Tots Swim Schools's 30, roughly 4× the system size. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been operating 35 years (founded 1991) versus 20 for Goldfish Swim School (founded 2006), a 15-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Goldfish Swim School has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 132 7(a) approvals compared with 32 for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools's peak SBA year was 2018 (7 loans); Goldfish Swim School's peak was 2017 (18 loans). Aqua-Tots Swim Schools's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has the most SBA funded units in CA, with 6. Goldfish Swim School leads in IL, with 13. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Aqua-Tots Swim Schools deals is $1.2M vs $1.5M for Goldfish Swim School, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and 0.0% for Goldfish Swim School. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 64 (Moderate) for Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and 67 (Strong) for Goldfish Swim School, giving Goldfish Swim School the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 64/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 32 | 132 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $1.6M to $2.6M | $488K to $2.6M |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 4% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $600K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $1.5M |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 30 | 110 |
Franchised Units | 30 | 110 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 15 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1991 | 2006 |
Franchising Since | 2007 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 19 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | Mesa, CA | Naperville, IL |
Category | Sports | Sports |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Goldfish Swim School?
Lower upfront capital required
Goldfish Swim School
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: $1.6M starting · Goldfish Swim School: $488K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Goldfish Swim School
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 32 SBA loans · Goldfish Swim School: 132 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 0.0% · Goldfish Swim School: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Goldfish Swim School
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 30 units · Goldfish Swim School: 110 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 6% · Goldfish Swim School: 6%
More lender financing options
Goldfish Swim School
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools: 16 unique lenders · Goldfish Swim School: 43 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Goldfish Swim School: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Aqua-Tots Swim Schools and Goldfish Swim School is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $488K to $2.6M.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has 32 SBA loans on record and Goldfish Swim School has 132. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools vs Goldfish Swim School, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Goldfish Swim School?
How much does a Aqua-Tots Swim Schools franchise cost compared to Goldfish Swim School?
Can I finance Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Goldfish Swim School with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Aqua-Tots Swim Schools or Goldfish Swim School?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman