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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
What to charge for pool service is not often discussed in our industry due to fear of anti-trust laws or price fixing. But while we need to be careful, everyone must figure out what to charge to run a profitable business. I’m not talking about cash flow or moving money around; I’m talking about understanding…
As summertime approaches, pool companies are preparing for another jam-packed season that could match last year’s surge in consumer demand for new pools. Despite the increased workload expected this year, many companies will offer employees vacation breaks during peak season. To prepare for both a busy season and planned staff vacations, companies have boosted hiring…
Working around beautiful pools all day sounds nice in theory, but when a repair or touch-up needs to happen in a customer pool, service pros must plan and prepare. No, we’re not talking about tools and materials here — we’re talking about the logistics of looking and staying professional when you may need to get…
Preconceived notions are a tricky thing, especially in the business world. And regardless of whether we recognize it, we all tend to assume things from time to time. Gender bias is the tendency to unconsciously attribute certain behaviors to one gender. In the pool industry, it can tend to show up on the sales floor,…