Originally posted on franchisingmagazineusa.com
With rising demand for youth swim instruction and an urgent public safety need, a trusted name in aquatics is diving into franchising. Water Wings Swim School, an established brand with more than 20 years of success, has launched a national franchise program, opening the door for entrepreneurs to bring life-saving swim lessons to families across the country.
The franchise launch follows the brand’s recent acquisition by Unleashed Brands, the world’s leading youth enrichment platform serving 20 million kids every year nationwide, which includes other trusted names in the child-focused franchise space like Urban Air Adventure Park, The Little Gym and Sylvan Learning.
With the support of Unleashed Brands, Water Wings is entering the franchise space with a proven model and a clear mission to expand access to swim education – poised to grow a national presence in one of franchising’s most underserved and impactful categories.
Addressing a Critical Public Safety Need
Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death among children aged 1 to 4, according to the CDC. Despite this, many families across the U.S. still lack access to structured swim education.
Water Wings Swim School was created to address this need. Founded in 2003 by a husband-and-wife team with backgrounds in child psychology and water safety, the brand has built a reputation for providing high-quality, engaging, year-round swim instruction for all ages.
Water Wings currently operates in 13 corporate locations in California, Nevada, Idaho and Texas. On average each school serves 2,000 students each year, from three months to adults, offering everything from baby swim classes and recreational teams to camps and private lessons.
High Demand and Underserved Market
Parents increasingly view swimming lessons as a must-have. According to an April 2025 Unleashed Brands Parent Sentiment Survey, 34% of U.S. parents plan to invest in swim lessons for their child over the next year. The interest is even more pronounced among younger families, with 46% of parents with children ages 2–5 and 39% of parents with kids ages 6–9 expressing intent to enroll their kids in swim classes.
Despite this robust demand, the U.S. has fewer than 1,000 swim schools in operation, leaving a massive opportunity gap for both impact and entrepreneurship.
“The launch of the Water Wings Swim School franchise program marks an important milestone in expanding access to high-quality swim education across the country,” said Josh Wall, Chief Operating Officer of Unleashed Brands. “With more than 20 years of experience, Water Wings offers a proven model that meets the urgent need for early swim instruction. Combined with our ability to build efficiently in today’s cost-conscious environment, we’re well-positioned to scale and bring these critical skills to more families nationwide.”
The numbers back it up: the global swim school franchise market, currently valued at $1.2 billion, is projected to grow to $1.6 billion by 2030, according to market analysts—reflecting a 5.6% CAGR over the next several years.
A Franchise Opportunity for Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurs
Water Wings is on a mission to help kids build confidence and learn lifesaving swim skills. With a proven model, strong support systems, and flexible ownership options – including remote ownership – franchisees have the opportunity to bring high-quality swim education to more communities and make a lasting impact on children’s lives across the country.
The brand’s facilities require a lower buildout cost than many swim school franchises, making it a more accessible opportunity for entrepreneurs. The total initial investment range is $994,400 – $1,424,550. Franchisees benefit from several year-round revenue streams, including traditional swim lessons, swim camps, clinics, recreational swim teams and retail.
Water Wings is looking to partner with franchisees who have a passion for community impact, leadership and business growth. They are specifically targeting expansion in key markets in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.