WASHINGTON — Everyone should know how to swim, and a Maryland-based youth swim school chain is looking to franchise nationally.
Fallston, Maryland-based KIDS FIRST Swim Schools, which opened its first swim school in 2001 in Perry Hall, Maryland, now has 29 corporate-owned locations and four franchise locations. It began franchising in 2010, and says its goal is 12 additional franchises by 2020.
Twenty-three of its swim school locations are in the Washington-Baltimore area, and it says more than a quarter-million students in this region have gone through its schools.
The school also has locations in Pennsylvania, South Carolina and New Jersey.
The school’s classes range from six to 24 lessons and cost anywhere from $65 to about $300 for private to small group sessions. It also offers adult swim lessons.
KIDS FIRST, founded by competitive swim coach Gary Roth, also owns and operates KIDS FIRST Construction company, which builds swimming facilities.
Startup costs for new franchisees range from $550,000 to $750,000, it says.
“KIDS FIRST Swim Schools is based on the belief that all children should know how to swim, and we’ve made it our missions to spread this notion nationally by franchising,” Roth said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 3,500 fatal unintentional drownings each year in the U.S., or about 10 unintentional drowning deaths per day.
