Start a Swim School Renting Lane Time at a Local Pool

Parents enrolling children in weekly classes, adults wanting stroke improvement or water confidence, and sometimes homeschool groups.

Fees per class or per session block, charged per swimmer. Your profit is the fees minus pool rental and any instructor pay.

• Swim teaching and class planning
• Organizing schedules and signups
• Basic marketing
• Managing and training other instructors

• General liability insurance, and check what the pool owner requires in the rental agreement
• Workers' compensation insurance once you hire instructors, and check how your state treats contractors versus employees
• Check your state or county for background check rules for people working with children
• Rental costs are fixed, so a few empty classes can wipe out your profit
• Pool owners may change schedules or raise rates

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on lane rental rates, insurance, equipment and marketing. Rental costs are fixed, so a few empty classes can wipe out your profit. Treat this as an estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many classes you fill, your prices and whether you add instructors. Estimates assume at least about 10 hours a week.

Check liability insurance and what the pool owner requires in the rental agreement. If you hire instructors, check workers' compensation and how your state treats contractors versus employees. Also check background check rules for working with children.