• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Franchise Chatter
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Affiliate Disclosures
  • Subscribers Hub
    • Login
    • New to Franchise Chatter? Start Here
    • America’s Most Lucrative Franchises
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues
    • Franchises Ranked by Average Profits
    • Franchise Winners, Survivors and Losers Last Year
    • FDD Talk
    • Search by Name
  • Top Franchises
  • Franchise Earnings
  • Costs
  • Fees
  • Quiz
  • Search

Q&A with Bonnie Alcid, Owner of the Largest British Swim School Franchise in the U.S.

Published on February 26, 2016 by Franchise Chatter Leave a Comment
in Child-Related Franchises, Education Franchise, Q & A Interview

Bonnie Alcid, British Swim School Franchisee



Learn Which Franchises Can Make You Rich

In this Franchise Chatter Q&A, we get to learn more about British Swim School from Bonnie Alcid, owner of the largest British Swim School franchise in the U.S.

Franchise Chatter (FC):  Tell us more about British Swim School.

Bonnie Alcid (BA):  British Swim School is a private swim school that has been dedicated to teaching water survival for over 30 years. Our methods are based on teaching beginners of all age groups that the ability to float on their back is the most important water survival skill of all. This enables all swimmers to rest, breathe and call for help, thus alleviating the “silent” danger of floating face down.

America's Most Lucrative Franchises of the Year

We start with babies as young as 3 months old up to adult classes.

British Swim School currently operates out of 80 pools in 14 states in the U.S. and the brand provides water safety survival and swimming lessons to more than 8,000 students per week and conducts more than 250,000 swimming lessons yearly.

FC:  Tell us your story with British Swim School. How long have you been an owner?

BA:  In 2008, I gave up 15 years of 60-hour work weeks in downtown Washington, DC (in the middle of a recession) to take a chance on my lifelong love: swimming. In 2009, I took a job as a swim instructor for British Swim School and in 2010, I signed my first franchise agreement.

When I signed my second franchise agreement, it made me owner of the largest British Swim School franchise in the United States. I employ 35 people and we teach in excess of 1,200 life-saving swim lessons a week in Montgomery County, MD, a large suburb of Washington, DC.


🎯Find Good Franchises That Are Still AVAILABLE in Your Target Area (Free Tool)



🚀How to Find, Vet & FUND a Good Franchise. Watch Our Webinar Live or the Recording Later (Register Now – It's Free)



💰How Much Franchise Can You AFFORD? Use Our Free Financial Calculator


In September of 2013, I also became co-owner of a third franchise in Northern Virginia.

FC:  What sets the brand apart from other swim schools in the industry?

BA:  What truly sets this concept apart from the rest is that we focus first on water survival ahead of learning the strokes. We still teach the strokes, but the children do not learn the swim strokes until they have already reached a level of swim survival practices that ensure they will be safe in the water.

FC:  We understand that you have a swimming franchise and yet you own no pools. How is this possible?

BA:  That is correct – I do not own any of the pools that I operate out of and I do not have the need to. Because I did not have to buy or build a pool, I was able to start the business right away – all I had to do was negotiate leasing contracts with facilities that already owned pools.

Franchises Ranked by Average Profits

Not having to buy or build a pool severely lowered my start-up costs so I was then able to focus my time and energy toward initial marketing, hiring, and training.

FC:  Before getting into British Swim School, did you have a background in swimming?

BA:  I actually do have a lot of swimming experience and still participate in triathlons, but I know a lot of owners who do not have any swimming experience. The key to operating a successful swim school is to hire a qualified aquatics instructor so that even if you do not have the swimming background, you have someone on-site who does.

FC:  What do you think made you such a successful franchisee?

BA:  I believe that a lot of my success comes from my passion for the concept. I know that the methods we use really do work and they save lives every day. I still get in the water to teach because it’s still my passion: teaching babies, toddlers, kids and adults how to save their own lives in the water.

FC:  What makes British Swim School a good concept to invest in?

BA:  It’s been proven time and again that children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates. There will always be children and there will always be the risk of drowning – the more swim schools that teach survival skills, the more lives will be saved. In the end, everyone wants to do well in life by hopefully doing some good – I know for certain that I can say I do both.

FC:  How can our readers learn more about franchising opportunities with British Swim School?

BA:  For more information, you can visit www.franchise.britishswimschool.com.

Bonnie Alcid is the owner of the largest British Swim School franchise in the United States, signing her first agreement in 2010. Alcid employs 35 people and teaches in excess of 1,200 life-saving swim lessons a week in Montgomery County, Md. For over 30 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills to children as young as three-months-old in over 90 rented pool facilities.


🎯Find Good Franchises That Are Still AVAILABLE in Your Target Area (Free Tool)



🚀How to Find, Vet & FUND a Good Franchise. Watch Our Webinar Live or the Recording Later (Register Now – It's Free)



💰How Much Franchise Can You AFFORD? Use Our Free Financial Calculator



Franchises Ranked by Average Revenues and Profits



Franchise Winners and Losers Last Year

Tagged as: British Swim School

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous post: FDD Talk: The Chronic Tacos Franchise Opportunity (Financial Performance Analysis, Estimated Costs, and Other Important Stuff You Need to Know)

Next post: Managing Your Franchise’s Online Reputation on Yelp: A How-To Guide

Primary Sidebar

🚀How to Find, Vet and FUND a Good Franchise (Webinar)

✅ Is Franchising a Path for You? – Apr. 7 (Fri.), 11 a.m. EST

✅ Popular Trends in Franchising – Apr. 11 (Tues.), 4 p.m. EST

✅ Register Now to Get Free Access to Recordings of Both Webinars

Register Now

🤔Buying a Franchise on Your Own Can Be Overwhelming

✅ Get the guidance and support you need every step of the way (including funding 💵) from an experienced franchise broker at no cost to you.

✅ Fill out this form and a specialist from the Franchise Brokers Association will reach out to you.

⭐️Franchise Chatter is reader-supported. We may receive a commission for leads generated from our site.

As seen in:  New York Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and CNBC

Login

Remember Me
Register | Lost your Password?
Reminder: Your username and password are case-sensitive.

Need help? Email franchisechatterblog@gmail.com

👍”Your website and you have been instrumental in finding this franchise opportunity and I am overwhelmingly grateful.” (David F., subscriber)

🏆 Best Franchises by Industry

Best Franchises by Industry (All Lists)

Best Gym and Fitness Franchises

Best Pizza Franchises

Best Sandwich Franchises

Best Childcare Franchises

Best Ice Cream Franchises

Best Coffee Franchises

Best Hamburger Franchises

Best Salon and Beauty Franchises

Best Chicken Franchises

Best Smoothie and Juice Franchises

Best Maid Service Franchises

Best Mexican Restaurant Franchises

Best Massage Service Franchises

Best Tutoring Franchises

Best Auto Repair Franchises

Best Auto Oil Change Franchises

Best Asian Restaurant Franchises

Best Pet Franchises

Best Commercial Cleaning Franchises

Best Sports Bar Franchises

Best Baked Goods Franchises

Best Moving/Junk Removal Franchises

Best Mailbox Franchises

Best Apparel Retail Franchises

Best Senior Care Franchises

Best Restoration Franchises

Best Tech Franchises

Best Travel Agency Franchises

Best Trampoline Park Franchises

Best Tools Distribution Franchises

Best Property Management Franchises

Best Real Estate Franchises

Best Automotive Wheels and Tires Franchises

Best Weight Loss Franchises

Best Flooring Franchises

Best Eye Care Franchises

Best Physical Therapy Franchises

Best CBD Franchises

Best Tea Franchises

Best Ghost Kitchen Franchises

Best Acai Bowl Franchises

Best Poké Bowl Franchises

Best Donut Franchises

Best Kitchen and Bath Remodeling Franchises

Best Window Coverings Franchises

Best Plumbing Franchises

Best Home Inspection Franchises

Best Garage Franchises

Best Barbershop Franchises

Best Laundromat Franchises

Best Storage Unit Franchises

Best Car Wash Service Franchises

🚀 Daily FDD Talk Posts

Pure Green Franchise

Seniors Helping Seniors Franchise

Best Choice Roofing Franchise

LIME Painting Franchise

milliCare Franchise

One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Franchise

PatchMaster Franchise

Spray Foam Genie Franchise

Bumble Bee Blinds Franchise

Mr. Sandless Franchise

EverLine Coatings Franchise

Blue Kangaroo Packoutz Franchise

Tommy’s Express Car Wash Franchise

Footprints Floors Franchise

Wendy’s Franchise

Clean Juice Franchise

Nurse Next Door Franchise

Made in the Shade Blinds & More Franchise

Five Star Bath Solutions Franchise

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Franchise

Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill Franchise

Uptown Cheapskate Franchise

Pancheros Mexican Grill Franchise

Squeeze Franchise

Mosquito Squad Franchise

The Exercise Coach Franchise

ProLift Garage Doors Franchise

Heroes Lawn Care Franchise

Burn Boot Camp Franchise

Wing Zone Franchise

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Franchise

The Camp Transformation Center Franchise

Brightway Insurance Franchise

Owl Be There Franchise

The Dog Wizard Franchise

Scenthound Franchise

Bin There Dump That Franchise

Gotcha Covered Franchise

Phenix Salon Suites Franchise

AKT Franchise

Kitchen Solvers Franchise

FASTSIGNS Franchise

Zoom Drain Franchise

Pool Scouts Franchise

Ace Hardware Franchise

Signarama Franchise

Jovie Franchise

i9 Sports Franchise

UFC Gym Franchise

Sola Salons Franchise

N-Hance Wood Refinishing Franchise

Franchise Chatter © 2023