This was the question asked by a prospective franchisee in a recent get-to-know-you meeting. It didn’t take long to come up with the required set of compelling reasons, plus a few more for good measure. After the meeting, we thought it made sense to pen a blog on the subject, just in case anyone else out there might be wondering the same thing.
Reason 1: Swimtime is a company you can trust.
Trust is a vital ingredient in business and Swimtime has all the right credentials. For a start, we’ve been around for over 25 years and we now operate in hundreds of venues, teaching over 20,000 people to swim every week with industry-leading levels of satisfaction. That’s the kind of track record you can really believe in!
Thanks to this wealth of experience, Swimtime is now at the forefront of setting global teaching standards, being an official advisor to the International Swim School Association.
Another good indication of trustworthiness is our 5-star Franchisee Satisfaction award from WorkBuzz. This was presented after measuring a whole range of criteria including training and support, company culture and leadership.
Last, but not least, we’d point to our British Franchise Association (BFA) membership as evidence that we’re an organisation that people like dealing with. The BFA has been setting the standards for ethical franchises in the UK since 1977. The fact that the BFA is a voluntary organisation suggests that members like Swimtime always like to do things in the right way.
Reason 2: Swimtime is a forward-thinking business
It’s all very well having an impressive past, but you’re probably more interested in joining an organisation that has a promising future.
We’re a forward-thinking business, always quick to adopt innovative strategies and the latest technologies. Central to our success is our multi-award-winning bespoke software SwimCloud, developed with our technology partners, FranScape.
SwimCloud automates large parts of running a Swimtime franchise using highly sophisticated, cutting-edge technology, allowing our franchisees to work from anywhere in the world and enjoy a fantastic work-life balance.
Reason 3: Swimtime provides a safety net for entrepreneurs
Starting a new business is a sure way to accelerate the pace at which your hair turns grey! But Swimtime can slow things down with the reassuring support of a successful and well-established network, that’s one of the best things about the franchising model; there are so many people to learn from.
With the benefit of all our experience, we provide you with a tried-and-tested support package that will enable you to hit the ground running with complete confidence. This package includes initial training, best practice business examples and tried and tested marketing campaigns. Over the years, we’ve developed a template for business success that has steadily evolved with new learnings every year and we’ll be happy to share it with you. After all, if you flourish, so will we.
Perhaps the most valuable support available is ongoing guidance from experts across every area of business. It’s like having a highly paid consultancy of super-qualified experts on hand that you don’t have to pay for.
Reason 4: You don’t need any previous experience
When you set up your own business, most experts would recommend that you have both business management experience and relevant sector experience. Unfortunately, not everyone can tick both of those boxes.
But, while experience is always desirable, it’s certainly not essential to start a Swimtime franchise. That’s because we provide comprehensive training, as a matter of course, as well as a range of follow-up training when it’s needed. Besides, as we suggested earlier, any lack of experience on your part will be more than made up for by the abundance of it in those supporting you.
Reason 5: Swimtime gives you the feelgood factor
Financial success is likely to be top of mind for anyone who sets up a business but it’s not always the only consideration. In tune with today’s changing values, a Swimtime franchise can offer you emotional as well as financial rewards.
Swim England’s recent Value of Swimming report estimated that swimming is generating £2.4 billion of social value, helping to boost the wellbeing of the nation. That’s something you could play a part in.
Better still, by recruiting individuals to work in your business, as swim teachers and admin staff, you will be helping boost employment levels in your local area.
The average Swimtime franchise hires 11 people. While that might not seem like a large number in the grand scheme of things, every little adds up to make a big difference, particularly within the small local community where you live.
If you’d like to find out more about Swimtime and our successful franchise model, please just follow this link. We’d love to hear from you and we’ll be delighted to answer any questions you might have with no obligation whatsoever.
