FDD-based analysis. Item-level data. No franchisor input.
Water Babies franchises businesses that provide swimming and water survival instruction to babies, toddlers, and children, along with underwater photography services and retail product sales. Franchisees operate from one or more rented pools within a defined territory, serving families primarily in urban and suburban areas.
Source: Franchise Disclosure Document, rewritten by Zorzee
Every value here comes straight from the FDD; anything not yet source-verified stays blank rather than estimated. The Pro figures and full interpretation unlock with a Pro membership.
Every data point Zorzee tracks for this brand, in FDD Item order. Missing source data stays blank; Pro-only interpretation remains locked.
| Item | Data Point | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 3 | Litigation Actions (total) | 0 actions disclosed | FDD Item 3 |
| Item 5 | Initial Franchise Fee | The Initial Franchise Fee is $55,000 (Item 5, p.9). | FDD Item 5 |
| Item 5 | Development Fee | No separate development fee disclosed in Item 5. | FDD Item 5 |
| Item 6 | Royalty Fee | 10% of Gross Revenue per | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | National Media Fund | Pro | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | Corporate Ad & Development Fund | Pro | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | Total Ongoing Fee Burden | Pro | Calculated (Item 6) |
| Item 7 | Total Investment (low) | $102,650 | FDD Item 7 |
| Item 7 | Total Investment (high) | $164,217 | FDD Item 7 |
| Item 8 | Required Purchases (food/supplies) | Pro | FDD Item 8 |
| Item 11 | Franchisor Assistance | Pro | FDD Item 11 |
| Item 12 | Exclusive Territory | Pro | FDD Item 12 |
| Item 12 | Territory Size | Pro | FDD Item 12 |
| Item 15 | Operating Participation | Pro | FDD Item 15 |
| Item 17 | Initial Term Length | Pro | FDD Item 17(a) |
| Item 17 | Renewal Terms | Pro | FDD Item 17(b)-(c) |
| Item 17 | Required Remodel at Renewal | Pro | FDD Item 17(c) |
| Item 17 | Termination Triggers | Pro | FDD Item 17(f)-(h) |
| Item 17 | Transfer Fee | Pro | FDD Item 17(m), Item 6 |
| Item 17 | ROFR Provisions | Pro | FDD Item 17(n) |
| Item 17 | Post-Termination Non-Compete | Pro | FDD Item 17(r) |
| Item 19 | Revenue Metric Disclosed | Disclosed (affiliate/corporate example): Water Babies Item 19 reports only the affiliate's blended two-territory Gross Revenue; no franchised-outlet or per-unit average is disclosed. | FDD Item 19 |
| Item 20 | Total Franchised Units (2024) | 0 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Company-Owned Units (2024) | 0 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Total System Net Unit Growth (YoY) | +0 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Terminations | Pro | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Agreements Signed, Not Yet Open | Pro | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 21 | Audited Financials | Pro | FDD Item 21 |
Each signal turns one part of the filing into a read a buyer can act on. Strength means the disclosed data is favorable. In Line means it is typical for the category. Deal-Specific means the term is populated but you still have to model it against your own deal. Concern means the disclosed data is a real risk. The read is free. The reasoning behind it is the Pro read.
Water Babies has Unit Economics data in Item 19, but it does not provide one standard combined unit figure for Free to display. The disclosed cohorts, tiers, ranges, coverage, and read are included in Pro.
The disclosed cohorts, tiers, ranges, coverage, and read are included in Pro. No combined figure is invented or exposed on Free.
Water Babies trajectory is shown only where source-backed. Missing Item 20 fields stay blank inside the locked layout instead of removing the section.
Source: FDD Item 20 where present. Total system units, franchised plus company-owned. Not financial advice.
0 actions disclosed in source-reviewed FDD Item 3.
Zorzee editorial. Independent analysis. No franchisor review or approval. Not financial advice.
The filing tells you what Water Babies costs to open. Pro adds the read on whether the numbers work for you, in your market, and whether this brand is a business or a job you bought.
Four months of research and more confused than when you started?
You've seen the filings and the numbers. What none of it tells you is whether this is a business that fits your money and your life. That is what fifteen minutes with a Zorzee-approved independent Franchise Consultant is for: whether this brand belongs on your shortlist, and what to validate before it does. Working with one costs you nothing and carries no obligation. Your franchise fee is the same whether you use one or not.
A Zorzee-approved Franchise Consultant never charges you. A franchisor pays the consultant a commission only if and when you decide to invest in a franchise they introduced you to. The analysis on this page earned nothing the moment you read it, no matter what you do next. That firewall is structural, not a promise: Zorzee's editorial earns no commission from franchise placements.
Zorzee earns no commission from franchise placements.
More for Pro readers: Browse the Signal Tracker library and get The Zorzee Report Pro.
A Water Babies franchise costs $102,650 to $164,217 to open, disclosed in FDD Item 7 of the 2026 filing, covering the franchise fee, buildout, equipment, and working capital to breakeven. No commissions, no franchisor revenue, independent analysis only.
Water Babies charges a 10% royalty plus a 2% brand and ad fund, a 12% total ongoing fee burden, disclosed in FDD Item 6.
No Item 19 earnings figure is disclosed for Water Babies in its 2026 FDD, so there is no franchisor-stated revenue number to read.
Water Babies's FDD Item 3 discloses no legal actions in the 2026 filing.
Zorzee does not rate franchises good or bad; it reports what the filing discloses so you can judge fit. Water Babies shows Deal-Specific reads on Fee Structure, Unit Economics, Operator Validation, and Term & Exit Terms, In Line on Litigation History. Whether it fits depends on your capital, your market, and your operating style. Independent analysis, no franchisor revenue.