May is Small Business Month, a time to recognize entrepreneurs building businesses that truly matter in their communities. Some businesses create convenience. Others create impact. Water Wings Swim School was built to do both.

Across the country, Water Wings owners are doing more than teaching children how to swim. They are building confidence, creating safer communities, and delivering a skill that can last a lifetime.

A Mission That Matters

At the heart of Water Wings is a simple but powerful mission: teach children how to be safe and confident in the water.

As Founder and Brand President, Avi Shafshak shares:

“Swimming is important for kids because it is a life-saving skill. That’s the reason why I got into teaching swim lessons.”

What started as a job teaching lessons as a teenager quickly became something more meaningful.

“This is something that you connect with the families and with the kids, and when you see that growth, you kind of take that in as like, ‘I did that. I taught this kid to enjoy the pool.’”

For owners, that means their business is rooted in real impact from day one.

From Humble Beginnings to a Scalable Model

Like many small businesses, Water Wings started with a simple idea and a lot of passion.

“My wife and I… started this company about 20 years ago. We were both college students at the time… and we were at the point in our lives where we said, ‘Okay, what’s next?’”

That “what’s next” moment turned into something much bigger.

“Our first swim school was an outdoor pool in a preschool in Las Vegas… to now, where we build these beautiful 6,000 to 10,000 square foot indoor facilities.”

Today, that evolution has created a model designed for growth and consistency.

“We’ve spent the last 20 years figuring out what works, what doesn’t work… to really make it to where the swim schools can operate when I’m here and when we’re not here.”

For entrepreneurs, that means stepping into a business that has been refined, tested, and built to scale.

A Business Built for Community

What makes Water Wings especially powerful during Small Business Month is its connection to the community.

Each location becomes more than a swim school. It becomes a place where families build trust, where kids gain confidence, and where relationships form over time.

That is by design.

“The ideal Water Wings franchisee is someone who really enjoys working with kids and working with young families, someone who wants to be a part of the community and offer a service that connects them with the people that they live with.”

This is not just about running a business. It is about becoming part of something bigger in your local community.

Built for Accessibility and Growth

One of the most compelling parts of the Water Wings model is that it is designed to be accessible to the right kind of owner.

You do not need a background in aquatics to succeed.

“You don’t have to be a pool professional to be able to run a Water Wings Swim School. You just have to enjoy doing what you’re doing and really love working with children.”

That opens the door for entrepreneurs who are driven by purpose, not just prior experience.

Combined with year-round, indoor facilities designed for consistency:

“Our pools are built to be year-round so that the parents and the students can enjoy a facility no matter what the weather is outside.”

Water Wings offers both impact and operational stability.

Turning Passion Into Ownership

For many entrepreneurs, Small Business Month is a reminder that the best businesses are built on passion.

That is exactly how Water Wings began.

“I was not a swimmer growing up. I fell in love with teaching kids to swim.”

That passion is still at the core of the brand today and continues to attract owners who want to make a difference.

“Anyone who has the passion to teach kids and work with young families, this is the perfect place for them.”

Ready to Make an Impact

Owning a Water Wings Swim School is about more than opening a business. It is about building something that serves families, strengthens communities, and changes lives.

This Small Business Month, we celebrate the entrepreneurs who are doing exactly that.

Because some businesses do more than grow, they give families confidence, connection, and skills that last a lifetime. Talk to one of our franchise experts today.