A41/100FDD 2025
Aqua-Tots Swim School — Litigation & Risk
Education - Tutoring & Test Prep · FDD Items 3, 4 & 5
Lower Risk
No litigation cases disclosed in FDD Items 3 and 4.
Source: FDD Items 3–5
FDD Items 3 & 4
Litigation Metrics
Cases disclosed
0
Total from FDD Items 3 and 4
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
—
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Overall risk score
41 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite
Rating
STRONG
STRONG / MODERATE / CAUTION / AVOID
7(a) FOIA data · FY2020–present
SBA Loan Performance
Aggregated from public SBA 7(a) loan disclosures. Default rate is the share of loans that were charged off or settled for less than the full balance.
Total 7(a) loans
53
Government-backed loans issued
Default rate
0.0%
vs <3% typical · system-wide
5-yr default rate
—
Defaults
0 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted
FDD Items 5, 6 & 17 — what you give up
Contract Risk Indicators
Mandatory arbitration
Required
Disputes resolved outside court — limits your legal options
Jury trial waiver
Waived
You give up the right to a jury trial
Non-compete
2 yrs
Post-termination restriction on similar businesses
Franchisor can compete
Yes
Franchisor can open competing locations in or near your territory
Right of first refusal
Yes
Franchisor can match any purchase offer when you try to sell
Governing law
Arizona
State whose law governs disputes — relevant if you're not based there
What drove the 41/100 rating
Risk Score Breakdown
- 01MEDNo average unit volume (Item 19) disclosed—impossible to assess ROI or payback period on $1.6M–$2.9M investment
- 02MEDHigh initial investment ($1.6M–$2.9M) with 6% royalty on undisclosed revenue creates opaque financial picture
- 03MINOR11.0% YoY unit growth is modest for a swim school franchise in a growing category; slower than comparable brands
- 04MINORNo disclosure of average net income means franchisees cannot validate profitability claims or break-even timeline
- 05MEDModest unit count (132 locations) suggests limited scale and brand recognition vs. larger competitors
Severity inferred from FDD text — not a regulatory or legal classification
Litigation data from FDD Items 3, 4, and 5. SBA data from public 7(a) FOIA records (FY2020–present). Not legal advice — consult a franchise attorney before signing any franchise agreement.