Established
2003
Franchise Units
00
Minimum Investment
$994,400
Franchise Fee
$50,000
Total Investment Range
$1,424,550
Home Based
No
Description
Dive Into a Purpose-Driven Business with Water Wings Swim School
In the world of youth enrichment, few services are as essential as life-saving swim instruction. Water Wings Swim School isn't just a place where kids learn to paddle; it is a premier aquatic education brand dedicated to transforming lives through water safety, confidence, and joy. With a reputation built over two decades, Water Wings has carved out a unique position in the USA market by blending a rigorous, safety-first curriculum with a fun, child-centric approach that keeps families coming back year after year.
As part of the Unleashed Brands family—the world’s leading youth enrichment platform—Water Wings offers a sophisticated business model that meets the urgent, recession-resilient demand for early swim education. Unlike seasonal programs, Water Wings operates high-end, temperature-controlled indoor facilities that provide a consistent, year-round learning environment. For entrepreneurs, this means a stable revenue stream and the opportunity to own a business that makes a profound, measurable impact on the safety of their community.
Why Invest in this Franchise?
Investing in Water Wings Swim School is a strategic move into a $1.2 billion industry that is currently underserved. While the need for swim lessons is universal, high-quality, professional facilities are still lacking in many American suburbs.
Recession-Resilient Demand: Water safety is a non-negotiable priority for parents. Even in shifting economies, families prioritize essential life skills for their children.
Lower Buildout Costs: Water Wings is engineered for efficiency. Compared to many competitors in the swim school space, the brand offers a more accessible entry point with lower construction and startup costs.
Recurring Revenue Model: The membership-based enrollment system provides predictable monthly cash flow, while diverse add-ons like swim camps and clinics maximize the lifetime value of every customer.
The Platform Advantage: You aren't just buying a swim school; you are gaining the backing of a powerhouse platform that manages over 1,300 locations across various youth brands, providing unparalleled data, technology, and marketing muscle.
Background
- Established Year: 2003
- Founders: Avi and Tracy Shafshak
- Headquarters: Bedford, Texas
- Current Market Presence: Nevada, California, Idaho, and Texas (with rapid nationwide expansion underway).
- Industry Category: Children’s Education & Enrichment / Fitness & Sports
- Franchise Active Units: N/A
The Water Wings story began when husband-and-wife duo Avi and Tracy Shafshak opened their first location in Las Vegas. Combining Avi’s business acumen and swim management expertise with Tracy’s background as a competitive swimmer and child psychology expert, they created a curriculum that respects a child's developmental stages.
In January 2025, the brand reached a pivotal milestone by joining the Unleashed Brands ecosystem. This partnership accelerated the launch of their national franchise program. By early 2026, the brand has already signed dozens of new agreements, bringing life-saving instruction to new markets across the country.
Support Training
Water Wings ensures that you don't need to be a swim expert or a pool technician to succeed. They provide a "deep dive" into their operational systems through a comprehensive support structure:
Pre-Launch Support: Expert guidance on site selection, lease negotiation, and facility design to ensure your school is optimized for both safety and profitability.
Initial Training: Over 50 hours of intensive in-person and online training. This covers financial management, the proprietary curriculum, staff hiring, and labor optimization.
Academic & Operational Support: Access to a dedicated field consultant and a proven "playbook" for running daily operations, maintaining water quality, and ensuring instructor excellence.
Cutting-Edge Marketing: Benefit from a national brand presence while receiving a tailored local marketing strategy. This includes social media advertising, paid search, and localized PR to drive grand opening enrollment.
Technology Suite: Use of a proprietary, fully integrated business management platform to track customer data, memberships, and financial performance in real-time.
Ideal Candidate
Water Wings is looking for high-energy, community-focused entrepreneurs who are ready to lead. You don't need a background in swimming, but you do need:
Leadership Excellence: The ability to inspire a team of young instructors and provide top-tier customer service to parents.
Growth Mindset: An interest in scaling to multiple units or diversifying within the broader youth enrichment market.
Passion for Impact: A genuine desire to improve child safety and provide a positive environment for kids to grow.
Investment Capability: Financial stability to cover the initial buildout and launch phase.
Flexible Ownership: The model supports both active "owner-operators" and semi-absentee owners who prefer remote management.
Financial Detail
| Category | Details |
| Total Initial Investment | $994,400 – $1,424,550 |
| Minimum Cash Required | Approx. $250,000+ (Varies by lender) |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 7% of Gross Sales |
| Marketing Fund | 2% of Gross Sales |
| Infrastructure Costs | Range from $721,000 to $975,000 (included in total) |
| Revenue Streams | Group/Private lessons, Swim Teams, Camps, and Retail |
