Short No Longer
Shortages, factory fires and record-breaking freezes. Only a few years ago, these were the realities throughout the pool service industry — all while demand for new pools increased during the pandemic.
Tracking Fleets for Safety
GPS trackers are one of the fastest-growing devices on the market. The market size was worth $2.19 million in 2021 and is expected to be valued at $6.38 million by 2030, according to Straits Research. Using GPS trackers has helped many businesses manage its service vehicle fleets as it makes deliveries or performs services. Pool…
PoolTech
Heritage Pool Supply launches PoolTech program for pool service pros On march 23, Heritage Pool Supply Group is debuting PoolTech, a new program designed to benefit and reward pool service professionals. At the beginning of 2021, not many in the pool industry had heard of SRS Distribution, one of the largest distributors of roofing materials…
Successful Fuel Management
With the recent surge in gas prices, fuel expenses have increased from $1,300 to $1,600 per month, to more than $3,500 per month over the last two years. To trim costs, Frank Disher, owner of Poolwerx Keller in North Richland Hills, Texas, says his company is taking measures to be more efficient. However, scrutinizing operating expenses can be stressful, tedious and potentially fruitless.
Tax Shock
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…
Payment Tools That Click
The advent of a mostly cashless society has made accepting payments easier. Or has it? On the one hand, there’s learning to navigate new technology and deciding who will pay the transaction fees, and on the other benefits like the ability to draft invoices and accept payments out in the field. When weighing these pros…
Survival of the Fittest
Service-based pool companies often rely on contractors. Instead of having an employee clean pools and providing them with a vehicle, tools, insurance and paying out the appropriate taxes, they hire 1099 contractors, who need to provide their own transportation and equipment and are responsible for their own taxes. When the status for contractors changes by…
Pump Up the Perks
The signs are everywhere: Now hiring. Help wanted. Bonuses for new employees. But good help still is hard to find. Frank Disher, a Poolwerx franchise partner in Texas, says COVID has had a huge impact on the employment status of local pool pros in his area. He receives a ton of applications but can’t seem…
Highest of Honors
Successful employee-recognition programs have little to do with the awards themselves, and more to do with a company’s culture. Kim Peters, an executive vice president at Great Places to Work, a global authority on workplace culture based in Oakland, California, says before singling out individual employees for awards, build a culture of trust. “Otherwise, these…
Service Records
Keeping maintenance logs when servicing commercial pools is one of those tedious tasks that has to be done, as it is often a regulatory requirement. However, the rules and regulations regarding service logs can vary greatly from one area to another, or even from one health inspector to another. “Every inspector is different and will…
The Apprentice
The Pool & Spa Apprenticeship and Training Committee (PSATC) has launched what is being described as a cutting-edge workforce development strategy, says Jennifer Farwell, program director for PSATC. An apprenticeship program is an approach to workforce development and quality assurance through a formal organized system that combines online training and coursework (144 hours) with on-the-job…