- How many pools can be done by someone just starting out per hour/day/week?
15 per day/75 per week. You should be able to service about two pools per hour, including driving time if the route is condensed.
- How long does it take to clean a pool?
Twenty to thirty (20 - 30) minutes. This also depends on the size of the pool, weather conditions, and the quality and type of service.
- How much training do I get?
Typically, a new buyer will get anywhere from two to four (2 - 4) weeks of training depending on how quickly the buyer learns the business.
- Do I need any certification to clean pools?
You should always get a business license, but in most cases you do not need any additional certifications to service residential accounts. Commercial accounts require immediate liability insurance, and, in some areas, health certifications, workman's comp, and a contractors license are required.
- Where does one person max out?
Typically, 70 - 100 accounts by themselves.
- How long is the guarantee period on the accounts I purchase?
Normally, it's 60 - 90 days, depending on the final multiple (9 - 14x's) used in the selling price.
- What is an average range of cancellations during the guarantee period?
If both buyer and seller do as agreed upon in the contract, cancellations are minimal, usually 0% - 10%. If there are any cancellations, they usually take place when the customer first receives the buyer/seller notification letters within the first couple weeks of the guarantee period.
- How much does a route cost?
A well-established pool route will cost anywhere from nine to fourteen times (9 - 14x's) the monthly service, depending upon density, rates, area, additional charges, and longevity.
- Is there room to negotiate?
Then yes, Depending on the motivation of the seller and the buyers' experience level.
- Is there financing when purchasing a pool route?
Typically, routes are paid in full less 10% of the final purchase price which Pool Route Pros Inc. holds back in a trust account for the guarantee period to be distributed accordingly once the guarantee period is up. In some cases, depending on the seller, we can sometimes offer a 1 - 2 month work off, thus shaving off 1 – 2 times of the total purchase price. At Pool Route Pros Inc. we also allow you to put the deposit down on a major credit card if you choose too (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or PayPal) which would be equivalent to two times (2x's) of the total purchase price once you view the route and would like to move forward.
- Are pools serviced all year long?
then yes, in all of the sunbelt regions i.e. pool states (California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Florida).
- What is the best time year to purchase a pool route?
Anytime is GREAT! But for a brand new buyer, probably the winter months (October - March) because the chemicals and usage of the pool are at a minimum.
- How much overhead, on average, does it take to operate a pool business?
On average, conservative overhead will range from 15% - 20% which would include your chemical costs, postage, gas, cell phone, and insurance. During the winter months, your chemical cost will be cut by 50% - 60% from what summer months.
- Do I need a garage to store any chemicals, equipment, parts, etc.
No. All your pool route needs and supplies can easily be stored in the back of almost any pick up truck, you only need to pick up the chemicals you need from the distributors.
- When is the busiest time of the year?
Your busiest time of the year would be from March to September since that is when the pools right the most useage.
- Will I be able to buy my cleaning equipment, parts, and chemicals at wholesale prices?
Yes. Once you have established your DBA, business license, and business checking account, you can open up an account at any local pool supply distributor. Pool Route Pros Inc will provide you with a list of all local distributors plus a application for each with our
buyers packet.
- Why do people get out of the business and want to sell their route?
It can range anywhere from health reasons, desire for a career change, geographics, retirement, and of course personal reasons as well.
- Could I sell the route down the road if I decide I want try another new career?
Yes! A pool route business will always have a market to sell, even when the economy is bad, customers still need to protect their investment and pay to have their pool serviced correctly.
- Are employees readily available to hire or train?
Yes. You just have to find the right niche to locate them, newspapers, colleges, distributors, friends and family, word of mouth, etc. Pool Route Pros Inc. will also provide you with a list of referrals for service, repair, or any other issue you may have with our
buyers packet.
- What is a fair wage to pay a pool technician or a repairman, etc?
A good pool cleaner/technician will be paid $10 - $12 per residential stop. This will also depend on who is supplying the chemicals, gas and insurance for the tech. Some route owners will pay there techs a percentage (%) of each pool that way they are more responsible for what they are getting paid on. Example: Tech 1 - Supplies their own gas and chemicals will usually get paid 65% - 75% of each stop. Tech 2 - Services the route which the owner provides the chemicals for him/her would get paid 30% - 50% of each stop. A good repairman will usually do he repair for you and teach you how to do the repair as well will typically give you anywhere from 10% - 30% depending on the company.
- What about insurance? Is there a low cost way to have liability insurance.
Yes, There are a few organizations out there that will offer affordable liability insurance and specialize in helping out pool route owners. Pool Route Pros Inc. highly recommends you get insurance with any pool route that you purchase and we will provide you with all of the available options in our
buyers' packet. It runs about $70 - $90 a month.
- What happens if I get sick, have surgery done, or have an accident of some sort?
If you become a member of one of the pool associations, then in case of sickness, injury, etc, your own chapter members will cover your pools at no cost for up to six months.
- How do I bill my customers?
Most route owners have their customers set up to be billed either the 1st, 15th, or end of the month and use a certain program to do so. There are certain companies that provide computer and mobile software and applications that cater to the pool industry allowing you to inform your clients of everything going on with their pools, send them a bill, keep updated notes, amongst many other things. With any pool route purchased through Pool Route Pros Inc. we will provide you with a variety of options to choose from with our
buyers' packet depending on your preference.
- Are there trade shows, seminars, or educational classes available to the pool industry?
Always. Most of the trade shows, seminars, and classes are offered from October through March as well as a few others throughout the year when pools guys aren't slammed with work during the summer months (working season). Pool Route Pros Inc. provides all our new buyers with updated dates for events of the year on our buyers packet.
- How about books, manuals, service publications, that I can buy or sign up for membership?
Yes there are a couple publications out there that cater to over 15,000 pool professionals all year around, plus there are several books, manuals, and publications that are available. Pool Route Pros Inc. provdies its buyers with 5+ manuals/pamphlets to start you out with your new pool route in our buyers packet as well.
- Do you have any marketing concepts or ideas on how to grow your route without having to purchase additional pools?
Yes. We offer a 10 step marketing plan as part of our buyers packet that will give you many different proven techniques that will teach you to grow your business more without spending a ton of money out of pocket and also how to run you business more efficiently while your growing on your own.
- Do you provide materials such as start up suggestions, list of pool equipment, supplies, and chemicals needed, etc?
Yes, we include our "Buyers Packet" at no charge to you for all of our completed sales. The 50 page detailed booklet, also provided to you on a jump drive, will cover all of this and more, it is your A to Z on everything you need to know from how to start your business, what you will need, where to get it, educational books, as well as how to operate successfully in our ever growing industry.
- Is there a Non-Compete Agreement.
Yes. With every pool route purchased through Pool Route Pros Inc. our contract has a standard five(5) year non-compete agreement for any accounts purchased.