How To Start A Pool Cleaning Business – When the weather is hot, many people take a dip in the swimming pool to cool off, have fun, and exercise. Keeping swimming pools clean and running safely is big business, as there are nearly 11 million swimming pools in the US. The pool cleaning industry has grown 6% over the past five years, reaching $5 billion in 2018. In the same timeframe, the number of businesses increased by 3.4%, while the number of employees grew by 3.5%. It’s the perfect time to start your own pool cleaning business, but doing so successfully means proper planning before you start.
All good businesses start with a business plan that defines the business mission, analyzes the target market, competition, start-up costs, revenue projections, marketing plan, business structure, and more. The more time and effort you put into your pool service business plan, the better prepared you’ll be when it’s time to open up to customers. There are several templates available to make it easier for you, and absolutely necessary if you plan to find investors to help you get up and running.
How To Start A Pool Cleaning Business
At this stage, you’ll want to focus on market research. How many pools are in the area? How many pool cleaning businesses are in the area? How can you differentiate yourself to attract more customers? You’ll want to use a tool like KWFinder for some local keyword research to help you find the competition and start working on your digital marketing strategy.
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It is also important to consider the legal structure of your business. Sole proprietorships are the simplest form and easiest to start, but leave you legally responsible for any business debts. LLCs are an affordable way to provide asset protection, but it’s best to consult with an attorney to see what’s ideal for your situation. There are also local, state, and federal legal requirements to ensure you are in compliance, such as obtaining a business license, before you begin taking on clients.
While creating your business plan, you’ll also want to think about business accounting. You’ll need a bank account to hold all income so you can easily pay any employees, cover your expenses, and prepare for taxes. This is also a good time to know your income, so you can use it in your competitive analysis as a basis for setting your rates.
Be prepared to handle extra seasonal business if you are operating in an area where it is not ready for swimming all the time. This may mean hiring seasonal help to cover increased demand. In the off season, focus on servicing indoor pools and spas to keep the business running.
When dealing with all the financial aspects of starting your new small business, you’ll need to factor in all business expenses. The good news is, there’s a low barrier to entry, especially if you already have a truck or trailer. Your initial startup costs shouldn’t run more than about $2,000, not including any fees paid to setup your legal business structure. You will need:
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As a pool service professional, you obviously need to know how to clean and service swimming pools. One of the best programs available is the National Swimming Pool Foundation’s Certified Pool/Spa Operator Certification Program. You can also look into the Certified Service Professional (CSP) certification from the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals. In certain states, such as Florida, the health department requires an open-book inspection to be certified to clean public and health-club pools, spas, and hot tubs.
Investing in your professional growth and education helps to keep your pool cleaning service growing, but also allows you to offer additional services, such as pool maintenance, to increase your income. Continue to make investments in your education to give yourself an edge over the competition.
Since many of the chemical pool cleaners on the market today are dangerous to your health, it’s worth learning about environmentally friendly alternatives. Some customers may not want to rely on the harshness of chlorine, and having something just as effective available for them can set your business apart from others in the area.
Most pool owners have had bad experiences with fly-by-night pool cleaners, and pool cleaning is a business that requires a certain amount of trust. To present a professional appearance even if you’re new, set up a business website with information about your company and your services, and get a business email with your URL (for example: JoeZ@OrlandoSparklingPools. com). There are times when you won’t be able to answer the phone, so you’ll also need a professional voicemail . Signage on your vehicle and a neat appearance – including a company logo if possible – add an air of professionalism and can ease neighbor concerns.
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The goal of almost every small business owner is to increase revenue, and that can be difficult. Here are four cost-effective strategies for a small local business to build a reputation, make sales, and establish an online presence without breaking the bank.
Invest resources in building an online presence that includes a website and social media channels. Use your website to chat with potential customers and use social media to get leads. Post pictures of pools before and after you finish them, and share customer stories.
Expand your skill set so you can do more than just pool cleaning and offer maintenance and minor repairs. A quick and easy way to increase your income potential is to sell supplies to pool owners who want to clean the pool between professional cleanings.
Make providing great customer service a priority, as people will share their experience with friends and family. Remind your customers that your business depends on reviews. Use reputation management to your advantage. Always be friendly and helpful to your customer’s neighbors. Hand out flyers or business cards. Connect with pool builders and ask them to recommend your company to their customers. Most importantly, pay attention to customer feedback and use it to adjust your operations accordingly.
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Make sure your website information is complete and detailed, and claim your Google My Business listing. It may not be logical for a mobile service like pool cleaning, but add your business to Google Maps . Remember, some people will search for “pool cleaning near me,” and you want that business. Start a Facebook Business Page , and a linked Instagram account, and fill them with eye-catching pool photos, fun stories, and helpful tips.
Research is a periodic expense. Find ways to save money by buying in bulk, whether it’s through a dedicated pool supply store in your local area or a wholesale club like Costco. Remember, just because you’re getting the best deal you can find today doesn’t mean a better one won’t come along in the future. As you grow older, you may find bigger savings with bigger goals.
As your business grows, you’ll want to have a plan for scaling without sacrificing quality of service. Develop a training system for new crew members that includes how to behave with customers and passing neighbors. Add an incentive bonus for generating new sales so your crew is your sales team. Add new trucks and equipment so you can expand your service area.
If you’re not ready to dive into pool cleaning full-time, it’s a good business to work part-time and scale up as you can. Even if you don’t live in a tropical climate like Florida or California, you can still be successful in the industry. To start a pool cleaning business, you need to purchase pool cleaning equipment and a well-maintained vehicle, obtain your Certified Pool Operator (CPO certification), and define your customer base. For more details on each of these steps and others you can take to start a pool cleaning business, use this guide:
Solved: Sam Is Planning To Start A Pool Cleaning Business. If Sam Meets His Profit Goal Of 45,000 The First Year And Expects His Annual Profits To Increase By 5.5% Each Year
The average cost to start a pool cleaning business is $19,267, and the maximum cost to start a pool cleaning business is $35,923.
These figures take into account all the equipment and vehicles needed as well as any necessary permits or licenses you may need to obtain.
You can find all pool cleaning equipment at a pool supply store. Depending on your budget, you may want to buy a new or used truck or van. Just make sure the vehicle you get can hold all of your pool cleaners.
Certified Pool Operator (CPO) is a pool and spa health, safety, and maintenance certification, certifying that an individual has the skills to operate, and service public and residential pools and spas. This certification is administered by the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA).
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This certification is often required for Pool Service Technicians, depending on the state in which they work. CPO certification is valid for 5 years, upon expiration, certification holders must re-certify.
The course provided by the PHTA covers many different areas of concern for pool and spa knowledge, including:
The CPO certification is recognized throughout the United States, Canada, and 105 countries worldwide. To get this certification you have to pass an open book exam. Courses and exams can be taken in person or online.
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