8 Most Common Pool Service Business Mistakes to Avoid in 2024

Is your pool service business running as smoothly as it should be? If not, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many pool service businesses face this, but do you know the reason behind this?

The same common mistakes that businesses make over and over again lead to costly missteps that cost them hugely in terms of time, money, and reputation.

But with the right insight and knowledge, avoiding these common pitfalls is possible! Read on to learn more about the most common mistakes made by pool service businesses – and how to avoid them.

This article explores pool service business mistakes to avoid, as well as preventative measures you might take.

8 Common Mistakes Made by Pool Service Businesses

1. Not training your staff properly

One of the most common mistakes made by pool service businesses is not training their staff properly. This can lead to a number of problems, including improper cleaning and maintenance of the pool, which can result in health and safety issues for customers. 

Additionally, untrained staff may be unable to properly handle customer inquiries and complaints when starting a swimming pool service business, leading to dissatisfied customers and lost business. To avoid these problems, it is essential that swimming pool service businesses take the time to train their staff properly and guide them about optimal communication.

This includes providing comprehensive training on all aspects of pool care and maintenance, as well as customer service. By investing in proper training, pool service businesses can ensure that their staff is able to provide the highest level of service to customers, even in the off-season.

2. Underestimating the costs

When contemplating the launch of a pool business, it is essential to be aware of all associated expenses. People frequently misjudge the costs and lose money as a result. Here are some of the things you need to factor into your budget:

• The cost of equipment
• The cost of ongoing maintenance
• The cost of pool cleaning marketing and advertising
• The cost of insurance
• The cost of salaries for employees

If you don’t factor in all of these costs, you’ll likely find yourself making losses as a pool service business owner. Make sure to do your homework and understand everything that goes into running a successful pool business before you take the plunge.

Additionally, in order to ensure the financial health of your pool service business, it is essential to regularly evaluate profitability and implement price hikes to cover the rising costs of personnel, chemicals, and equipment.

3. Not adopting advanced software to smoothen operations

Still, there are many pool service businesses that are not adopting advanced technologies and software to manage their business. They still manage things like organizing customers, their requirements, estimates, invoices, payments, and more manually using pen & paper. 

This old technique consumes their lot of time which they can invest on expanding their business. To make things smoother and hassle-free to manage, pool service providers can adopt using estimating software for pool cleaning business and automate operations. From creating estimates and invoices to receiving payments, software like InvoiceOwl is here to help you manage your business in clicks.

4. Not being able to control the population of bugs

One of the most frequent errors made by swimming pools’ service contracts is failing to control the insect population. Although some insects are innocuous, some can transmit diseases to swimmers. In addition, insects are often unpleasant to have around.

There are a few things you can do to help control the bug population around your client’s pool 

• First, ensure there is no standing pool water in the vicinity of your client’s pool. Insects are attracted to stagnant water, thus, eliminating any standing water can inhibit their presence.
• Additionally, you should treat your client’s pool regularly with chemicals meant to eliminate insects and their eggs. These items are accessible at the majority of hardware stores and online.
• Finally, maintain a clean and debris-free pool area. A clean pool area is less appealing to insects than a cluttered one.

5. Not doing a regular maintenance treatment

Another common pool service mistake that pool service providers make is not doing regular maintenance treatments for commercial and residential pool owners. This can lead to several problems, including

• Algae and bacteria growth
• Cloudy water
• Bad smells
• Poor filtration
• Imbalanced pool ph

Regular maintenance treatments and routine manual tasks are required to keep a pool clean and swimmer-safe. Without them, you will certainly experience an increase in consumer complaints and a decline in business.

6. Not keeping all the essential tools in your kit

If you’re a business owner, forgetting to keep essential tools in your kit in your service vehicles can be a costly mistake. A pool kit should include all of the essentials for keeping your pool clean and safe. At a minimum, your kit should contain

• A skimmer
• A brush
• A vacuum hose
• A net
• A test kit
• Chlorine tablets or granules
• Pool pump
• Pump motor

By keeping all the essential tools in your kit; you’ll always be prepared to deal with any problems that may arise. Plus, it will save you time and money in the long run.

7. Not focusing on expanding your business

When you first open a pool maintenance business, you are probably focused on acquiring customers and making a profit. However, it is important to think about the future of your business and how you can expand it.

There are a few things you can do to expand your pool services business. 

• One option is to add new services such as pool cleaning or repairs. This will give customers more reasons to use your business and help you generate more revenue. 
• Another option is to open new locations. This can be especially helpful if you have a large customer base in one area but not others.

Expanding your business may seem like a daunting task, but it is important to think about the long-term health of your company. By taking the time to expand now, you can ensure that your pool business is profitable for years to come.

8. Failing to follow up with customers

Another mistake that swimming pool water cleaning service providers make is failing to follow up with their customers. This can be a fatal mistake, as it can lead to customers feeling neglected and unimportant, ultimately them taking their business elsewhere.

There are a few key ways to ensure that you are properly following up with your customers with their scheduled services:

• First and foremost, always respond to specific customer requests promptly. Whether they’re looking for an efficient solution or request quotes, make sure to get back to them ASAP.
• Secondly, keep in touch even when there’s nothing specific to discuss. Send out periodic emails or newsletters just to let your customers know what’s new with your business.
• Finally, don’t forget the old-fashioned methods of communication like phone calls and personal visits! These can go a long way in building relationships with your customers and keeping them happy.

Conclusion

As a pool service business, it is important to take the time to review common mistakes that can be made and strive for best practices. By avoiding these mistakes, you will be able to provide better customer service and keep your customers happy for years to come. So, run your pool service business with extra care and make it profitable.