Choosing a franchise isn’t just about finding the right business; it’s also about finding the right partnership. At Goldfish Swim School, that partnership matters more than almost anything else.

If you ask Co-Founder and CEO Chris McCuiston or President Andrew McCuiston what they’re looking for when they meet with franchisees, their answer is surprisingly simple:

Hungry. Humble. Smart.

What Does Hungry, Humble, and Smart Mean?

At Goldfish Swim School, these aren’t just buzzwords. They’re qualities that help franchisees build thriving businesses, create incredible cultures, and carry the Goldfish mission into their communities.

Hungry: Driven to Build Something Bigger Than Yourself

Being hungry isn’t about chasing the next business opportunity. It’s about having the drive to learn, grow, and continually improve.

Goldfish Swim School franchisees are building businesses that teach life-saving skills to children while creating meaningful careers for their teams. That takes determination. There will be challenges. There will be moments that require persistence. The most successful franchisees are the ones who embrace those moments instead of avoiding them.

Being hungry also means being coachable. Goldfish has spent nearly two decades refining its systems, curriculum, operations, and support model. Franchisees who come in eager to learn from that experience often put themselves in the best position to succeed. Goldfish’s proven systems are the result of years of intentional development and continuous improvement, not guesswork.

Humble: Culture Comes Before Ego

Humble franchisees listen first. They value their teams. They seek feedback. They recognize they don’t have every answer.

At Goldfish Swim School, franchisees aren’t expected to know everything about swim instruction or day-to-day operations before they start. That’s what the franchise support team is for.

Instead, we want owners who trust the process, respect the people around them, and genuinely care about building a positive culture.

That humility creates better workplaces. Better workplaces create better employee experiences. And better employee experiences ultimately create the Golden Experiences families know and love.

Smart: More Than Business Intelligence

When Chris and Andrew talk about being smart, they’re not talking about test scores or MBAs. They’re talking about people smarts.

Can you communicate well?

Can you build relationships?

Can you lead through difficult conversations?

Can you make thoughtful decisions while keeping your team and your members at the center?

We’re a relationship business. Every day, franchisees interact with employees, parents, children, vendors, and their local communities. Emotional intelligence often matters just as much as business experience.

The strongest owners know how to lead people, not just manage a business.

Why Goldfish Swim School Is Selective about Franchisees

Some franchise systems focus primarily on selling more territories. We’ve always taken a different approach.

Our team understands that every franchise awarded represents the brand in a new community. Once a school opens, families don’t separate the local owner from the brand; they simply experience Goldfish Swim School.

That’s why finding the right people matters so much. Every franchisee becomes a steward of the brand’s reputation and mission. When franchisees embrace the culture, families notice. Employees stay longer. Communities become more engaged. Children gain confidence in the water.

The ripple effect extends far beyond the walls of the swim school.

That philosophy has helped Goldfish grow into more than 200 schools while maintaining the family-oriented culture and consistent experience that define the brand. We have long emphasized selecting franchisees who align with our values, not simply those who meet financial qualifications.

Protecting the Brand Means Protecting Every Franchisee

One of the biggest advantages of joining an established franchise system is the strength of the brand. And that strength is built one franchisee at a time.

Every owner contributes to the reputation of every other owner across the system. That’s why we view franchise development as more than awarding franchises; it’s about protecting the culture that existing franchisees have worked hard to build.

When the right people join the system, everyone benefits.

Is Goldfish Swim School the Right Fit for You?

The goal of the franchise discovery process isn’t simply to determine whether Goldfish Swim School chooses you. It’s also to help you determine whether Goldfish is the right place to pursue your entrepreneurial goals.

If you’re hungry enough to keep growing, humble enough to keep learning, and smart enough to put people first, you’ll likely find that those values align closely with the culture Chris, Andrew, and the entire leadership team has intentionally built.

Goldfish Swim School isn’t just looking for operators. We’re looking for partners who will help bring our mission to life, one family, one community, and one confident swimmer at a time.