Tax season can be one of the most ominous times of the year for business owners. Even the most organized tax filers can be caught off guard when the proverbial smoke clears and they’re left with large and looming payouts. Pool companies looking to decrease their tax burden can start planning and adjusting now to…
Responding quickly to homeowners about their pool service could be the difference between retaining customers or losing their business. “If you know consumers, they like the quick reaction times,” says Chris Cavanaugh, owner of Cavanaugh Pool, Spa & Patio in Kentucky, “and if you get to them quick, typically you will land a sale or…
Many companies have entire fleets of Hammerheads, Riptides or other battery-powered pool vacuums. These receive heavy use and can rack up damages. The cost for these vacuums can be in the thousands, and replacement parts are several hundred dollars. Making these units last as long as possible is paramount for a growing company. At MPS,…
Since its modest 1947 beginnings in founder Al Whittell’s Southern California garage, Raypak has manufactured all manner of heating products, including high-efficiency residential and commercial swimming pool heaters. Now headquartered in Oxnard, California, the company has been a subsidiary of Rheem Manufacturing since 1985. Last December, Raypak introduced the AVIA pool heater, which the company…
The overall concept of the Sutro Smart Monitor water system for pools and spas is quite simple: The monitor automatically tests the water three times a day and gives exact instructions on how homeowners should treat the pool. Customers purchase the Sutro, drop it into their pool and get readings on an app. Ravi Kurani,…
Lenny Maffei, one of Poolcorp’s first-ever hires and a major contributor to its staying power, retired March 1. Since Maffei joined the company, it has grown to over 400 branches nationwide. Maffei credits his drive and focus to his faith in God and his family, who have given his hard work a purpose. “I call…
Being in or around a pool, working or playing on a hot day or even driving to a job site presents unique safety hazards. Top Safety Products offers solutions for those moments where things do not go as planned. Incorporated in 1991 by Gerald Kutsop, Top Safety Products Company, Inc., assembles quality first aid kits,…
When I first bought the magazine, I had grand ideas for new products and changes I wanted to make right away. About five months into ownership, though, I realized they were unrealistic in the timeframe I had envisioned. I’ve since realized that changes in business, at least in ours, look more like this: Create goal,…
In 2018 we wrote an article about running a stress test on your business (January/February 2018 “How Low Can You Go”). That article posited that if sales stopped or slowed tremendously, there were certain actions you’d need to take to survive. The last couple of years have shown us that threats to small business are…
The guys from Pool Nation are tired of answering one question about their business: “ ‘How profitable is it? How are you gonna make money off it?’ ” says founder Edgar De Jesus. As hard as it may be to believe, De Jesus and his partners John Chakalis, co-owner of J&J Flawless Pools in the…
An Austin, Texas, ordinance allowing pool builders to use third-party inspectors on their projects has fostered a more streamlined experience for both builders and city municipalities. “Due to the lack of available city inspectors [in Austin], it can take days or even weeks to move onto the next part of the pool installation process,” says…
In my consulting work, I encounter pool operators who bemoan how little management understands about the work that goes into running a commercial swimming pool. At the same time — often in the same facility! — I encounter managers who bemoan how little pool operators understand what’s at stake in terms of customer reviews and…