Small swim school renting pool time

Parents enrolling children in weekly classes, adults wanting beginner or stroke-improvement lessons, and sometimes homeschool groups or daycares.

Term or monthly fees per swimmer, paid upfront or by recurring billing. Margin comes from filling each class after paying pool rental and instructor costs.

• Swim teaching and lesson planning
• Organizing schedules and class levels
• Communicating with parents
• Managing and training other instructors

• Get general liability insurance, and ask about coverage for abuse and molestation claims and for the pool owner's requirements
• Check that every instructor and lifeguard is properly certified, and whether your state or county requires background checks or lifeguard presence
• Check your state's rules on workers' compensation once you hire, and how instructors should be classed (employee or contractor)
• Pool rental contracts can be costly and inflexible, so start with a short agreement and few hours
• Classes with low enrollment can lose money after pool and staff costs

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on your insurance, equipment, marketing and how much pool time you rent upfront. These are estimates, and starting with a short agreement and few hours can limit risk.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on class sizes, how many classes you run and your fees. This is an estimate, and classes with low enrollment can lose money after pool and staff costs.

Check that instructors and lifeguards are properly certified, and whether your state or county requires background checks or lifeguard presence. Get general liability insurance, ask about abuse and molestation coverage, and check workers' compensation and employee or contractor rules.