i9 Sports vs Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of i9 Sports vs Aqua-Tots Swim Schools including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
i9 Sports Franchise
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise
Investment $59,900 - $69,900$502,095 - $1,150,237
Franchise Fee $24,900$40,000
Royalty Fee 7.5%6%
Advertising Fee 1%2%
Year Founded 20021991
Year Franchised 20032007
Term Of Agreement 7 years-
Term Of Agreement 7 years-
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
i9 Sports Franchise
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    i9 Sports Franchise
    Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/Yes-/-
    Payroll No/Yes-/-

    Training & Support

     
    i9 Sports Franchise
    Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise
    Training Optional refresher training availableOn-The-Job Training: 2 weeks Classroom Training: 1 week Additional Training: Regional training
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations
    Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising
    Operations Franchise can be run from home.

    International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 20%% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (20% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 20

    Expansion Plans

     
    i9 Sports Franchise
    Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion No-

    Company Overviews

    About i9 Sports

    i9 Sports was founded by Frank V. Fiume, Jr., in 2002 and began franchising in 2003. Franchisees operate local amateur sports leagues, tournaments, camps, clinics and special events for kids. Sports include flag football, basketball, cheerleading, and soccer. i9 Sports is the first and fastest-growing youth sports league franchise company in the United States. With more than 1,000,000 registrations in communities from New York to Hawaii, i9 Sports offers leagues, camps, and clinics for boys and girls ages 3-14 in today's most popular team sports such as flag football, soccer, basketball and baseball. A privately held company, i9 Sports was founded in 2003 by CEO Frank Fiume on the principle that the number one reason kids play organized sports is to have fun, not to become the next draft pick. Reinventing the youth sports industry, customers enjoy the i9 Sports Experience which emphasizes fun, safety and convenience as well as teaching the value of good sportsmanship. Named #1 Children's Fitness Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine, i9 Sports has been ranked in their prestigious Franchise 500 issue the past eight years. i9 Sports has also been listed among INC Magazine's 5000 Fastest Growing Companies for the past five years and received Franchise Business Review's Top 50 in Franchise Satisfaction Award for five years.

    "Entrepreneur
    #457 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

    About Aqua-Tots Swim Schools

    We offer franchisees one business model and a choice of two business plans to meet the needs of our franchisees during the start up phase of the franchise program:
    Store Front Location (Business Plan Option #1) Begin with your own Aqua-Tots Swim School in a storefront location.
     * The franchisee will be trained, certified and equipped to develop, design, build and train their employees to showcase their Aqua-Tots Swim School location. A franchisee that chooses this option is required to purchase an exclusive territory in which to establish an Aqua-Tots Swim School location to service clients.
     * The franchisee will be given access to the Aqua-Tots Swim Schools facility strategies, custom pool designs, marketing plans and expert experience of establishing the business to help ensure success.
     * The franchisee will be trained, certified at Aqua-Tots corporate training center headquarters for up to three weeks with our master franchisee trainers. Franchisees that lease or build an indoor pool in an existing facility have the most flexibility and foundation to build additional swim school locations in their exclusive territories and have the potential of offering the most profitable services to their clients.

     Home Based Plan (Business Plan Option #2) Begin by establishing contract agreements to utilize pools within your exclusive territory: (Master Planned Communities, Hotels, Resorts, Health Clubs)
     * The franchisee will be trained and certified at Aqua-Tots corporate training center headquarters for up to three weeks with our master franchisee trainers.
     * Franchisees learn the art of establishing contracts for satellite pool locations in their exclusive territory while conducting the business administration and scheduling functions from their home based operation. This business plan allows the new franchisee an opportunity to build a strong client base, maximize profits, reduce overhead costs, and minimize the initial start-up cost.

     * To help ensure success, the franchisee is given access to the Aqua-Tots Swim Schools facility strategies, custom pool designs, and marketing plans. All home based franchisees are required to progress towards leasing a stand alone facility with a pool or buying an existing facility within two years of signing their franchise agreement.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a single unit Aqua‐Tots Swim School is $502,095 to $1,150,237. This includes between $40,638 and $40,957 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Multi‐Unit Development Agreement for two Aqua‐Tots Swim School Outlets is $517,095 to $1,165,237. This includes between $55,638 and $55,957 that must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliate. You must purchase a minimum of 2 units under the MUDA. The MUDA fee for each additional unit is $30,000 with 50%, i.e., $15,000 per additional unit, due at the time of signing the Multi‐Unit Development Agreement.

    Seeking new franchise units throughout the U.S., Africa, Asia, Canada, Eastern and Western Europe, Middle East, Mexico and South America

    Veteran Incentives  5% off franchise fee
    "Entrepreneur
    #232 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #174 in Franchise 500 for 2021.