About the Franchise

COST
A franchise costs R 50,000. This gives you trading rights and sound basic training to start you up. Further training is ongoing at no extra cost.

CONTRACT
You will be able to trade as an AQUATOTS franchise according to a contractual agreement. 

MONTHLY MANAGEMENT FEE (MMF)
The AQUATOTS franchise owner pays an ongoing 5% Monthly Management Fee (MMF) not less than a stipulated minimum amount.

AUDIT
There will be one annual audit visit to every franchise by the franchisor in addition to a private one-on-one workshop with each instructor at their franchise venue once a year.

WORK-SHOPS 
At present there are 4 major workshops a year. At least one of these takes place in the most densely concentrated AQUATOTS areas which are Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. 

ANNUAL MEETING
There is an AQUATOTS Franchise Anniversary Meeting (AFAM) on the first week-end of June every year. This is a big event and takes place over a 3 day week-end (Fri. - Sun. inclusive). Franchise owners are expected to attend.

INCOME
The cost of a course of lessons is revised annually. Individual franchises can set their price within a fixed range according to the area and attributes of the facility. 

A course consists of 12 lessons of 30 minutes each.  A course is normally spread over a period of 6 weeks with 2 lessons per week. Lessons are also given 1 X per week on Saturdays for working parents but progress is very slow.  Working parents are best advised to make arrangements for a second lesson during the week in the late afternoon. The best results come with lessons 3 X per week but most parents find this impractical.

Lessons are in groups of up to 6 pupils (parent-tot pairs) in a group. Instructors are bound to take a break of at least 30 minutes after giving 6 (six) consecutive lesson sessions. 

TO QUALIFY FOR A FRANCHISE

There are certain requirements that have to be met in order to qualify to apply for a franchise. You should check these first to see if you qualify. To find out what they are, CLICK PREREQUISITES TO APPLICATION FOR A FRANCHISE. If you can meet all of the requirements listed, or if there is anything more you would like to know, we will be happy to assist you in making decision that is right for you.

Prerequisites to Application for a Franchise

Please consider the following conditions which should either be in place or which you will be able to put in place when applying for a franchise: 

1. You will need to be the owner of an all-year (enclosed) swim teaching facility that includes changing rooms and toilet.

2. The size of the pool should be a minimum of 24 sq metres with a length of 8 metres.  This does not include the shallow/step area.  Pools that work well are 4 X 8 metres, and 5 X 8 metres. If you intend to build a pool, talk to us first so that you will not miss out on considering including factors that offer excellent results.

3. The depth of the pool must not exceed 1 - 1.2 metres.

4. Water temperature should not be less than 32 degrees Celsius.

5. The air temperature should always be comfortably warm.

6. You will need enough off-road parking for at least 12 cars. With class size at 6 parent-tot pairs in a group, you could have up to 18 cars at one time.

7. You will require permission from your local council / municipality to conduct a business in a residential area. Many swim schools that have operated without this, or merely with consent from their neighbours, have been closed down when new neighbours have moved into the area.    

8. You have to be committed to the philosophy of AQUATOTS. A franchise is not for you if you feel you cannot accept the principles on which the program is founded. You will find it impossible to teach according to these principles unless you believe in them.

9. Personality characteristic of the applicant should be conducive to the operation of a successful AQUATOTS franchise swim school.

10. The applicant must be familiar with the content of AQUATOTS Swim Program website notably the section ABOUT AQUATOTS SWIM PROGRAM.

If you can meet with all of the above conditions, or would like to discuss any particular one of them, you can contact Vincent Wood (AQUATOTS Franchise Marketing & Finance Director) at vincentwood@aquatots-swimprogram.com, or phone (011) 616-5468. He will be able to advice you on how to proceed in the event the area for which you are applying is still available for a franchise.

For information on the contractual agreement regarding cost, monthly management fee, returns (expected income) CLICK on ABOUT THE FRANCHISE.