If you’re looking to join the 4607 US pool operators in a rewarding career path, you likely have several questions about how to start a pool business. The first thing to consider is whether you want to open up a new one or purchase a pre-existing pool cleaning business for sale.
Read on to learn the difference between these two methods and get help deciding which is right for you as a pool tech.
Should You Buy a Pre-Existing Pool Cleaning Business for Sale?
Buying a pre-existing pool cleaning business for sale means that someone has already done the startup process for you. They have obtained licenses, created a business plan, developed financial models, and more.
You’ll already have an established clientele and many metrics about your target market. This means that you can start profiting quickly from pre-existing customers.
The process of purchasing a pool cleaning business is fairly easy. You get CPO certified so that you know the ins and outs of pool maintenance. This makes you more competitive and lets you turn a higher profit because you have more credentials.
Buying a Pool Business
When you look for a pool cleaning business for sale, don’t randomly buy something off of Craigslist. If you do, you’re just giving a stranger a lot of money in exchange for a random company you know nothing of. You don’t know its licensing or credentials.
Instead, go through a qualified brokerage company. They have qualifications for the pools they sell. They also have protection plans in place including money held in escrow and pool-related warranties.
You may want to use a lawyer when purchasing a pool business. They’ll help you draft up fair contracts and interpret pre-existing ones. They also understand the legal barriers to buying a business thoroughly so they can help you overcome them.
The Benefits of Owning a Pool Maintenance Service
However, the purchasing process is usually worth it. There are a wide range of advantages to buying a pool business, one of the best being rewarding work. You get to solve immediate issues with a hands-on approach and always feel like you’re doing something actively.
You also will have flexible control of your workload since you can decide which projects you want to work on. You can turn down those that don’t interest you. You can also choose which clients you work with for a better experience.
You gain exposure and experience as a pool technician. This lets you develop your career into whatever you want it to be in the future. If you want to specialize in a certain type of pool maintenance, assist with spas, or become a business manager, this gets your foot in the door.
Finally, you’ll have a predictable cash flow and steady income. This is because you choose the number of clients you take on and know how much they’ll consistently pay you. You’re in control of your profits!
Starting a Pool Cleaning Business
Starting a pool cleaning business means building a brand from the ground up. After getting CPO certified, you’ll create a brand name and image. You’ll then invest in machinery and tools for pool cleaning, get an office space to deal with daily operations, and create a business and marketing plan.
As you may expect, this takes a lot of work. Starting a pool cleaning business can take several months or even years, and you’ll need to find investors. It’s not going to turn a profit right away, especially since most businesses aren’t lucrative until two to three years after opening.
The good news is that beginning a pool business has lower startup costs than other industries have. Some people find that they can begin a pool cleaning business for as low as $36,000.
The Biggest Problem
Starting your own pool business has many benefits, but they’re generally the same as the advantages of buying one. You gain experience, are your own boss, get unlimited income potential, and more.
However, there’s one massive hurdle toward starting your own pool business: licensing.
Before you can start a pool service, you’ll need a written plan. You’ll also need to legally register your pool business with the state as an LLC, sole proprietorship, or partnership. This takes a lot of research-related time and startup fees.
Paying for an office space and business insurance are other hurdles you’ll need to contend with. You’ll also need permits, licenses, and equipment.
Missing just a single piece of documentation could land you in legal hot water, so you’ll need to be meticulous and organized. You’ll also need to deal with a lot of fees and have money available, which is a difficult hurdle for some.
Who Should Start Their Own Business?
The best person to start their own pool cleaning business is one who’s interested in business and business ownership rather than pools specifically.
Since the startup costs for a pool cleaning business are relatively low, they’re a great way for entrepreneurs to get their foot in the door of the business industry. You can run daily operations, come up with business plans, contend with cash flow, determine marketing strategies, and build a brand over time.
This will let you indulge your passion for business and critical thinking. You can hire other people to actually get into the nitty-gritty of pool cleaning.
If you’re someone who’s passionate about pool cleaning and maintenance, you may want to purchase an existing business. You won’t need to worry about overcoming the challenges of business startup and can put your CPO certification to good use faster.
Get Started With PoolCerts CPO Certification
Now that you know the ins and outs of starting vs buying a pool cleaning business for sale, it’s time to develop the credentials needed to become a quality pool technician. Our team is committed to providing virtual self-paced certified pool operator courses so that you can obtain CPO certification.
We’re excited to teach you all the skills you need to keep people safe in the water and ensure that pools are up to code. Register for a PoolCerts course today to begin your journey towards owning a pool cleaning business.