There are dozens of great reasons to start a pool cleaning business, and it probably seems like a fantastic plan for your future. You get the ability to work outside, set up your own daily schedule, and earn an income in the process. However, besides coming up with the appropriate pool service pricing for your fiberglass project, you will have to do a bit of research if you plan on starting a pool cleaning business that is successful.
Throughout this post, we will discuss some of the most critical elements you’ll need to consider when learning how to start a pool cleaning business and be successful.
1. Gain Some Experience Before Diving Straight In
There’s more to cleaning a pool than simply keeping it clean. For example, understanding the composition of the water is critical; getting the wrong balance of chemicals could be disastrous. If you understand how various parts of a pool work together, it will be much easier for you to diagnose and treat problems effectively.
In this business, you should always be up-to-date with all of the current chemicals and technology, but some of the knowledge you’ll need is gained with experience. For example, different clients have different preferences when it comes to chemical products.
There are quite a few ways to bulk up your experience in the industry. One great option is working with other more experienced pool cleaners and learning as you go (in the field). Another way to gain some experience is to network with experts in the industry, maybe at industry events.
You are probably very eager to jump right in, but you should not start a pool service business without some previous experience in the industry. Spending some time with an established pool business owner could be key to getting you off to a great start and avoiding some of the beginner pitfalls. Perhaps you could partner up with a mentor outside your local area – so that you are not a threat to his business.
2. Take The Time To Learn About Pool Chemistry
When working in the pool cleaning industry, a simple understanding of high school or college chemistry will not cut it. You specifically need to learn and understand the water chemistry for pools if you want your pool cleaning business to succeed.
There are plenty of ways to learn everything you need to know about pool chemistry. Most trade conferences offer classes. You can shadow and speak with the professionals in your area. You can even do your own research at home to brush up on your knowledge. If you have very little chemistry knowledge, consider learning from a local expert. Chances are if you go asking around, a lot of people will be willing to talk to you.
3. Set Up Reliable Pool Service Software
In order to thrive, you will need a solid and reliable way to track the important details of your business operations.
Pool service software can help you and your employees work on the same page and ensure those important aspects of customer service are not overlooked. Utilizing the right software can provide you with a reliable way to keep track of information about a client’s property, invoicing history, detailed notes from technicians, work history, and images.
Software is great for keeping track of and troubleshooting issues, team transparency, and ensuring that invoicing never gets overlooked. When you start a pool cleaning business, this should be at the top of your list as you get ready to start the process of opening your operation.
4. Make Customer Service A Top Priority From The Start
If you want your pool cleaning service to be a successful business, you need to focus on providing top-tier customer service. This means showing up on time and giving clients exactly what service you promised. Simply put, customer service comes down to understanding what your clients want. If you can give them a personalized experience, you will do better than your competitors. Here are a few tips on how to create a great service rapport:
Always Show Up On Time
If time management has never been your strong suit, now is the time to change that. You can start practicing by showing up for your personal appointments ahead of schedule, planning out your day-to-day meticulously, and setting timers during various tasks to understand how long they might take you. You can easily apply this to your business schedule when you are ready. Showing up on time is the best way to ensure you start off on the right foot with the client.
Communicate With Your Clients
At some point during your interaction with your client, whether before the appointment or after you have finished, you should always make an effort to communicate with them. This means talking to them about the services you provided and explaining what you did during your appointment. If you do not get a chance to speak in person, send them an email or text update after your appointment.
Educate Your Clients In What You Are Doing
This goes along with communicating with your clients. Consider spending some time during your appointment to speak with your client about the specifics of their pool needs. Explain to them the chemicals you used and why those were best for their pool. If you put in some effort to show them your expertise and form a relationship, you will stand out more and are likely to get called again for any future services, and they might also recommend you to their friends!
Do Not Pack Your Schedule
It can be really tempting to fill each and every day with stops and jobs, but keep in mind that the amount of work you take on will affect the quality of service you provide. If you are too busy, you may not be able to provide high-quality service, and this can hurt your business if word gets around.
5. Build A Solid Pool Service Marketing Plan
Marketing and branding are important aspects of starting a business. Branding shows professionalism and well-planned marketing will be essential to launch your new business and help you boost it after the first few months. A marketing plan should also contain some long-term strategies and goals to aim for so that you can grow your business steadily.
This step should be fun because there are so many ways to market your business. Here are a few things that you should be focusing on:
Outline Your Business Goals and a Timeline
You should set some realistic milestones and explain how you will achieve them. Set out specific tactics for promoting and advertising your business, but also for expanding your services and, possibly, hiring more staff, getting a bigger office, etc.
Set Up Your Company Name And Create A Logo
If you have not done so already, choose a name and logo for your pool cleaning business. A good name typically includes something that people around you can relate to. You can use your city, your company values, or your personal history to build a solid name. Make sure that you are very happy with the name you choose because it will be all over every piece of marketing material that you use.
Designing a logo is also important. There are a few free websites you can use to do it yourself. However, not everyone is great at design. If you are one of those people, consider hiring a designer to produce a great logo for you. It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.
Create A Website
To create a website, purchase a custom domain name from a site like Squarespace or Wix (these are easy to use). The company name should be in your URL. Typically, you can set up email domains through these host sites, so you can set up your email address with your company name.
If you are not quite ready to purchase a custom domain and an email domain, you can set up your business through social media instead. Google MyBusiness and Facebook Business Pages are great and easy options. The main objective is to get your business online and give potential clients a place to reach you and learn more about your business.
Once you have established yourself online, build a website that stands out, and helps clients contact you and book appointments. Just like designing a logo, if you do not feel confident in your ability to build a website, hire a developer to help you out.
Focus On Branding
Company branding is a small but very important detail. You want to have your logo printed on your shirts, pens, and vehicles to identify yourself and help you look more professional. Once you have a solid logo, print it on business cards, uniforms, and flyers to distribute. If you have the resources, work with a local print shop to help you do this professionally.
Final Thoughts
When you are starting a pool service business, it is essential that you take the time to learn everything that you can about the industry. This pool-cleaning business start-up guide should help you better understand what you will need to do to ensure that your new business takes off without a hitch and retains customers for years to come.
