It is never to late to put in place new systems to make your pool business run more efficiently.

In our pool business customers experienced so much confusion over swimming pool openings. We felt we had to define every aspect not only for our customers but also for our employees taking the calls. Customers would call in daily asking why something was or wasn’t done during the opening. I have listed below 8 questions we would get most often related to our pool opening services and how we would answer each question.

• Why does the water in my pool look worse after it was opened?

After sitting dormant all winter, it is impossible to predict how any pool will react to start-up chemicals or turning on the pump. Dust, organic matter in decay, pollen on the cover, etc… are just a few components of swimming pool water that have not been chemically treated or filtered for months. A properly functioning filter system and chemical treatment will usually clear up even the worst pools in 3-5 days.

• Why was my pool not vacuumed?

Pool vacuuming is only included with the deluxe pool opening package. When your pool is opened we can only vacuum what we can see. If your pool is green or cloudy we are unable to see the bottom to vacuum the day it is opened. In many cases, the bottom of the pool may be covered in a fine powder of dead algae, rust or iron that has dropped to the bottom of the pool. Our regular pool vacuum would only suck up the fine powder and blow it back out into the pool. In this situation we would need to vacuum the bottom of your pool to waste sucking up all the fine powder and wasting it directly out into the yard. We can do this with our pump cart but vacuuming a pool to waste could take 1 – 2 hours. We charge $85.00 for each extra hour we are there vacuuming the bottom of the pool to waste. The customer is responsible for re-filling the pool back to normal operating level. We could leave the hose running but we recommend you turn on the hose when you return home. All of this will be communicated to you prior to any work being done. You may call us for help clearing your pool. We also recommend bringing in a water sample to our store.

• What if my tarp pool cover or my Fox Lock-In cover is full water, leaves, and debris?

We recommend pumping the water off of the cover using a sump pump and removing the leaves and debris with a pool net prior to our crew arriving to open your pool. Because of the extra time it takes to remove the water and debris during the opening other charges will be applied. For all tarp covers or Fox Lock-In Pool Covers we must  have a credit card number be kept on file. We charge $125.00 per hour for draining water, netting leaves & debris, cleaning, removing and storing your pool cover. You can save this money by completing this work on your own.

• Do I need to be present for my pool opening?

We discourage customers from taking time off of work and/or arranging plans to be present at the pool opening. We do this for many reasons, one being that every morning we arrange the best economic route possible. This saves time and gas getting from one place to another. We do not work on timed appointments.. Why? Because we often run into problems such as repairs, leaks, electrical problems, or inclement weather at each stop. All of these things take extra time and will change our route/timeline for the day. Our main goal is to be as convenient and simple as possible and for that reason we are unable to make timed appointments or guarantee a specific date for our openings or closings. In your pool opening packet we requested that you fill your pool up to normal operating level, give us a contact phone number, and leave any notes that we need to know. By completing those tasks we are able to give you the best service possible. On your pool opening form please select the week you would like your pool opened.  Our staff will contact you the day before that we are coming to open you pool.

• What products work best for my salt pool?

We recommend Natural Chemistry’s Salt Water Magic Kit. This product will help to extend the life of your salt generator by reducing the common maintenance problems. Another product would be installing an Anti-Electrolysis Skimmer Basket Weight in the skimmer basket. This product will stop metal erosion on pool walls and hand rails that are often caused by the high salt content and electrolysis in the salt cell. Natural Chemistry’s Scale Free prevents calcium and mineral scale build-up, controls staining, and protects the salt generator cell.

A new product called PEPPER by API is designed to prolong the life of the salt generator, prevent scale buildup, improve sanitizer effectiveness, greatly enhance water clarity, limit troublesome pH fluctuations, prevent scale buildup in the cell, pool equipment and surfaces, help maintain low phosphate levels, and increase the life and performance of the salt cell. PEPPER is compatible with all pool surfaces and equipment plus there is no waiting to swim. After the first application, most salt water generators can be operated at lower settings. Use Pepper weekly to keep your salt water swimming pool perfectly seasoned!

• When do I add chlorine to my pool?

Do not add chlorine to a freshly filled pool. You must add a sequestering metal remover first to filter the metals. Please allow the filter to run for 24-48 hours before backwashing the filter. After backwashing the filter you can begin to introduce chlorine into the pool.

• Why is my heater dripping and feel as if it is not heating the water?

It is common for heaters to create heavy amounts of condensation as thousands of gallons of cold water pass through super-heated heat exchanger tubes. Small fittings on heaters will initially leak but will then seal themselves as warmer temperatures cause parts to expand. If the drips do not subside within 48 hours, please contact us for a follow-up service call. We recommend installing a heater bypass manifold on the heater.  This will allow you to bypass the heater during pool startup, when adding aggressive chemicals, and when you are not using the heater.  A bypass manifold could double the life of your pool heater. Water does not need to be flowing thru the heater 24/7 all season long.

• How can I speed up the process of preparing my pool to be swim ready after my pool is opened?

• First, your pool will not be swim ready the day your pool is opened. Your pool water has been dormant for months and will not be safe to swim in until it is chemically treated and balanced.
• Check your filter system and clean your pump basket several times daily until the water is clear.
• Continue to run the system 24 hours a day. Continuous filtration is important, especially when starting up a system.
• Empty skimmer baskets daily.
• Don’t skimp on Chlorine. Your pool must reach break point chlorination to maintain a residual of free chlorine. Sometimes it can take 2-3 times testing water and adding chlorine daily to reach the required chlorine level.
• Purchase a Taylor Test Kit. Electronic testers often give inaccurate results in extremely cold water.
• Now is the time to test and adjust for CYA.. High Cyanuric Acid levels will cut the effectiveness of chlorine. 30PPM of CYA = 2.25 PPM of chlorine being the starting point. CYA of 100PPM or greater = 7.25 as the zero starting point of chlorine. Many people do not realize this when testing water in a pool store and wonder why their pool is not clearing after shocking the pool over and over. Lowering the CYA level requires draining the pool and adding fresh water.  DO NOT drain your pool all the way.  Accomplish this by draining 2-4 inches at a time and refilling with fresh water. Repeat this process over the summer season. You can also switch to liquid chlorine or Granular Calcium Hypochlorite Chlorine. Both of these do not contain Cyanuric Acid and will not cause your CYA levels to increase over time.
• Brush and vacuum the pool surfaces at least once a day until the water is clear OR buy a robotic pool cleaner that will come on daily to clean & scrub the bottom and walls of your pool.
• Backwash your sand filter as soon as the pressure rises by 5-8 PSI
• Bring a water sample into our store 24 hours after the pool is opened. We will test & analyze your water.
• Test your water at home using a Taylor K-2006C-FAS Test Kit.  This kit will easily and quickly tell you how much chemical to add.
• Be sure you are testing for phosphates. By eliminating phosphates from your pool water you greatly reduce any chance for any algae issues.

I hope this FAQ list helps you in your pool business. Let us know if you have anything to add by commenting below.  Everyone has their own processes. We love hearing from our readers.

If you have not yet read Cash is King Part 1 or Part 2, I recommend taking a look. I think you will find useful information that will help you start or grow your business.

Back in 2006, I had gotten into some trouble with back taxes. I ran my business using what Michael calls the, “Bank Balance Accounting Method”. Until I read the book, Profit First I didn’t know what it was called. Like Michael explains in his book, I would log in my bank account and I would see money available to spend.. After many years of using this method, I learned all that money didn’t belong to me.. I needed help. I went looking for an accountant that could help me figure out my business and take over certain aspects of my business finances. I finally found one that taught me how to divert funds that came in to different accounts.  Not to the extent that Michael writes about but I was able to finally see some progress in getting caught up with my taxes and start growing my business.  I also learned along the way how to pay myself first and how to restructure my business to help save both time and money.

Working with my accountant we came up with a plan to do the following:

1. Set up a payment plan with the IRS to pay down my back taxes.
2. We diverted $500/wk into a (TAX ONLY) savings account
3. We paid sales tax and payroll taxes out of my business checking as we incurred them.

Michael writes, every business should have five foundational accounts. All the income of your business will be carved up and diverted into one of these five foundational accounts.  The percentages will be slightly different with any business.  The percentages I have used are suggestions.  Work with your accountant to come up with a plan that suits you and your company. The bank accounts are as follows:

1. 1. In-Bound Depository Business Checking Account: This is the income account where all the money goes waiting to be carved up. Remember, all the money in this account does not belong to you. Once money is deposited in this account you will carve it up into the following accounts…
   2. Profit Account(10%): As the owner of your business, you should be rewarded through the profits of your company. This profit account will be used to reward you in the form of an annual bonus. You can choose to take that bonus or let it ride.
   3. Owners Compensation Account (10%): Pay yourself first. You are sacrificing time and hard work to run your business. You should pay yourself a wage based on how much you would make in the same position working for someone else. Your business should pay you a normalized salary as the best employee. You are the hardest working employee in your business, you should have consistent pay to maintain a certain lifestyle like all the rest of your employees. If the business grows by a certain amount each year and you are the sole reason for that growth, your pay should also increase.
   4. Tax Account(15%): Back when I got in trouble with the IRS, I remember seeing what I owed and thinking, there is no way I can pull that money together. Well, turns out Michael experienced the same anxiety when tax time came in his businesses. Let the business worry about paying taxes by allocating money immediately as it comes in to account for taxes that always come due..
   5. Operating Expense Account(65%): This money runs the business operating expenses.

Here is how this works out.  If $1000 came in today you will divert $100 to the profit account, $100 to pay yourself, $150.00 to pay your taxes leaving $650.00 to run your business. The mistake I made was, I have $1000 in my checking account I have $1000 to spend.  I learned the hard way this was not how to run a successful business.  I wish I would have read this book much earlier in life.

In my own pool business, after just setting up a tax payment plan and taking money out to pay existing taxes as we incurred them I remember thinking I would have no money left to pay my bills. I’m sure many of you are thinking the same thing. Michael explains, that is your business talking to you. Your business is telling you – you can’t afford those bills..  You need to cut your expenses, change your buying habits, sell at better margins, raise your prices…  You need to make some modifications so that the Profit First Plan works.

Here is what you need to do to implement this plan –

Go to your bank: Ask them to open up four more accounts. I hope you already have a Business Checking Account. Michael takes this a step further by opening two accounts at a different bank. This makes it harder to gain access to your profit hold account and your tax account removing the temptation to borrow money from either of those accounts to operate your business.

Work with a good Accountant: Your accountant can help hold you accountable to your plan.

I highly recommend reading “Profit First”. You will find a link at the bottom of this post. I also recommend listening to the podcast, Self Made Man” with Mike Dillard. Mike Dillard interviews Michael Michalowicz in the episode called, “How to always Profit First” Dated February 7th.

I also recommend listening to Michael’s Podcast, “Entrepreneurship Elevated”.

I hope you find this information useful.  Please comment below any struggles you are currently facing or share how you maintain success in your business. We would love to hear from you.

The Orenda App has proven to be extremely useful. This app will allow you to enter your water tests, measure the pool with the pool volume calculator, adjust chemicals & LSI, balance water chemistry, watch easy to follow educational videos on water chemistry, and dose chemicals after the water tests are entered. I believe this app should be in every pool service professionals phone. You can follow Orenda Technologies on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook,  and Instagram. A 28 year veteran recently wrote, “If there was a million stars to give I would..  This app Completely changes the way we balance water.”

The GLI Pool Products app allows you to see all of GLI’s products including liner patterns, safety covers, solar reel systems, safety fencing. Its a service guys dream to be able to show customers products on a tablet right in the backyard. You can also register a warranty of a product on the app. GLI Pool Products can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram.

QuickBooks Online is the most popular accounting software for small business. QuickBooks online allows you to conduct your business while on the go. One thing that sets QuickBooks apart from the others is the ability to snap pictures of receipts and attach them to transactions. You can generate invoices, email them to clients, and get paid on the spot.

Google Calendar is probably the most overlooked app available. We used this app to schedule our entire service crew.  Our guys would be notified of any changes in the route in real time, Jobs can be color coded for each crew or service, our crew can see days in advance what’s going on day to day and week by week. Guys can type in notes if they have any input to the job and the office would be notified of any changes right away.

If you have a website and want an @yourbusiness.com email.. Sign up for a Google G-Suite Account.

The Latham EZ Measure App is an onsite tool the allows you to measure, document and submit measurements for pool liner replacements and safety covers for all different shapes of pools.  You will get all the measurements right the first time by tracking your drawing right on your smartphone or tablet. No return visits will save your crew time and money. You can also add pictures of the pool in the app. Latham EZ Measure will detect common issues or oversights and warns the user to correct the entry before leaving the site.  The job can be stored with pictures and sent to Latham or to your Distributor for quoting or ordering.

AB My Pool by GLI Liners is a fast, easy & accurate way to measure your pool liner or safety cover. Add users, Enter your distributors information, add multiple projects, take pictures, choose the type or shape of the pool, get help on how to measure a pool, load examples, enter customers information, type in measurements, Select bead type and liner pattern, review your project and email it off to your distributor for a quote.

Tara Liners is set to release a new liner measuring app sometime in February or March 2019.  A beta version is out there being used by the TARA Reps. I got an opportunity to check it out at the Mid America Pool & Spa Show back in January. The app works very well and will offer some features not currently available from other apps.

Dropbox is a place to store all of your work and pictures. Get to all of your files quickly on your phone, tablet or computer. Use the scanner feature to scan documents or receipts and save them as a PDF. Share files easily with your accountant, employees, or family. Stay up to date with your teams activity in real time in one place.

I wish I would have had an app like this when I had a pool weekly service business. From what I have read this does look like the best pool service app on the market.  Track all your customers, locations, and multiple bodies of water. Customize your routes, email service reports to your customers, add recurring services, upload pictures, create shopping lists, invoice your customer, track your service history, and know where your techs are at all times. Track water tests and dosages, sync your info to the cloud so you always have the most up to date information, create parts lists and so much more.  This app sounds amazing.

Profit Story & apps like it are very important to the life of your business. Calculate your selling price, cost price, gross profit margin, markup, & break even point. Profit Story will quickly show you the impact of discounts you offer to customers.  You are in business to make a profit. Use Profit Story to see just how much your are or aren’t making in your business.

Pool360 & Pool360Mobile by Poolcorp is the most used tool in my phone.  I can search for the parts or chemicals I need, check my cost, make sure the item is in stock at my local Superior or SCP location, get a parts breakdown and schematic, add it to my cart, template, or shopping list, and submit my order for delivery, priority pick up, or will call pick up.  This app and website is very useful.  If you are not sure how to use pool360 I encourage you to get in touch with your local sales rep. Pool360 can do so much for you in your business. The latest addition is pool360Pay.  You can now view your open invoices and select which invoices you want to pay. If you have an account with Superior Pool Products or SCP, download this app today.

This app contains products through PoolCorps NPT Division including tiles, pavers & pool finishes. If you are a contractor that installs tile, pavers or pool finishes you can use this app at the kitchen table to look at and compare options, colors and styles.

PoolPro is the definitive trade publication for the swimming pool industry.  This app will allow you to read the latest articles written about retail, construction, equipment, commercial, service, marketing, etc.  This is a valuable magazine at your fingertips. The more you learn the more you know about your business and what’s going in in your industry.

This app will allow you to engage with your customers in your retail store or at the kitchen table. You can view all of the Pentair pool products, view vivid photos, convey benefits, watch attention grabbing videos, or use the interactive calculators created by Pentair. This app is the first of its kind. Put it to good use in your store using a tablet, IPad, or interactive media display. Your customers will be impressed.

Track jobs, manage a calendar, look up and search for filters using the filter finder, and watch videos.

Please let me know if I’ve missed something. If you are using an app that works well in your pool business please comment below or join the conversation on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn Pages.

In Part 2, We will cover more practical tips you can implement in your business that will help protect you from future losses and help generate much needed capital to keep your business cash flow positive. Let’s get started…

Take Pictures: This is even better than having an insurance policy. Take pictures of everything.  As soon as you step foot in the backyard, take pictures of the pool & equipment. Take pictures of anything that may need replaced or repaired. Take before & after pictures of repairs or renovations. You can use the pictures on your website, on social media, in your store, in quotes you send to your customers to generate more business, and maybe even to save your ass.

In 2013, a property manager tried to sue us for the cost of a liner replacement claiming we had caused a sink hole in the deep end of the pool. The issue started when my company was hired to fix a pool pump with a plumbing leak at a rental lake home located  in Monticello, Indiana. Luckily my guys were trained to take pictures before and after the job was complete. In the original assessment of the job, my guys had made note of the pre-existing problem with the sink hole. We planned on sending a quote to the property manager for future repairs. Soon after completing the plumbing repair, we were served by a sheriff in our store.  He accused my company of causing the sink hole.  It cost me $600 for my attorney to gather my information and send the property manager a letter, including the pictures. The Property Manager had sued us for $6800. Once he realized we had taken pictures the day we arrived, the suit was dropped.  Had it not been for the pictures taken, this matter might not have been so easily resolved.  You never know how important taking pictures can be. I suggest creating customer folders on your computer. Download your pictures, liner drawings, safety cover drawings, and any other documents that apply to each customer. It’s hard to see in the picture but here it is.

Take Payment Up Front: Take payments up front for pool openings, closings, pool & hot tub service calls, & weekly service. The payment gets your customer on the schedule. Taking the payment up front will get cash quickly flowing in to your business at just the right times. The pool opening season is just when your business will need a big influx of cash to get you moving. The pool closing season is a perfect time to store up dollars for the off season. Collecting in season payments a month in advance will keep you moving forward during the year. You will have a few customers complain about this policy. Trust me, they would have been problem payers anyway. Move on! This will eliminate a lot of hassles & time wasted on the phone trying to dig up dollars to keep your business alive. If you are using money from new jobs to pay for bills from previous jobs you are headed down the wrong path.

Keep a Credit Card on File: This will require having a credit card authorization form on file. Along with the form, I would also suggest adding a signature line in your pool opening/closing, service call, & weekly service contracts stating the customer approves you charging their credit card on file for any small repairs or parts required up to a certain amount.

Be careful though….  Your credit card company will charge you a higher rate for credit card charges typed in manually vs having the card in hand to swipe it. Merchant Fees are a huge expense for any business. If you have a retail store consider asking customers to use the debit card feature. Rates for debit pin pad charges are much lower than credit cards that offer rewards. You will need a pin pad machine in order to take debit cards.

Offer discounts for cash or check: You can also offer a discount for payment in full.  If you offer swimming pool or hot tub weekly service, considering offering a 5% discount for payment in full. You will be surprised how many customers will take you up on the discount.

You might be able to charge what’s called a credit card convenience fee for anyone using a credit card to pay for large contracts. As a dealer, I would charge a 3% fee for any credit card transaction over $1000.00. I would couple that with a 5% discount if they paid the contract in full with cash or check. Talk about a cash flow generator. I loved getting $4 – $5000 dollar weekly service or liner replacement payments in March & April.

Look for Part 3 next week. If you want to dive deeper pick up, “Building a StoryBrand” by Donald Miller. Learn the real reason customers make purchases, how to simplify a brand message so people understand it, and how to create the most effective messaging for websites, brochures, and social media.

What are you reading to better yourself and your business? Please comment below. Maybe I missed something. Join the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thepoolblog.

This topic has grown since I started writing it. Looking back to owning my own pool business, I began thinking of all the times I failed and had to climb my way back up again. Everything I have written comes from my own experiences and lessons learned.. I truly hope you get something out of what is written and that it helps you and your business.

Cash Flow is important in any business but it really matters when you own a seasonal pool business in the Midwest. The winter season can slow the pace of even the most cash savvy business owners. Many variables can affect your cash flow. Believe me, All of what I am about to suggest I have lived, learned and implemented in my own business.

It’s common knowledge – controlling your expenses & increasing your prices will quickly cure your cash flow woes. Listed below are tips that will help you manage your cash flow and keep your pool business in business for many years to come. Whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned professional, I believe you will find these tips helpful.

Software: It starts with utilizing software or an app that will track your income & expenses. If you are an independent pool service professional I recommend the most popular and simplest accounting app; QuickBooks Online. Download it on your phone and you will have a powerful accounting app to run your small business on the go. Other apps like,

If you have a retail store with one or more locations you will want something more robust. Choose a point of sale system designed specifically for the pool business. The top three pool business Point of Sale providers are Evosus, RB Control Systems and Wise Software. Do your research and find the best company that fits your needs and your budget.

Get Online: Having a professionally designed website that is updated often and being on social media is key to your business success. Your potential customers are dreaming online; Google, Bing, Apple Maps, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snap, Houze, Yelp, Twitter, Pinterest. Make your business easy to find. If your business is easy to find your business is easy to choose. If your competitor is posting pictures of beautiful backyards and happy homeowners they WILL get the first call. When a potential customer is online looking for a builder to upgrade their backyard living space they will choose a business that has a strong website & social media presence. Be present online. Download my FREE beginners guide to social media. I provide tips on how to get your business noticed online, how often to post and how to expand your reach.

For help with your website, logo, blog, SEO, etc I recommend Sumy Designs. Sumy Designs is located in my home town. The owner is a personal friend and former client.  Amy Masson has a pool & spa in her own backyard. When I owned my pool business, Amy was a customer. In fact, Amy first contacted me back in 2011 because she needed pool work done and noticed I did not have a website. We ended up doing business together and have been friends ever since. Amy knows the pool business.

Be Insured: As a former dealer I am well aware how much business insurance costs.  Trust me, it is the most important part of owning a business. You will want to have a business liability policy in place before ever stepping foot in your first backyard. Not only will you want a business liability policy, I recommend also having a commercial auto policy on your work truck.

This concludes Part 1 of this series, Cash is King.. Be sure to keep checking back for future posts on this subject. You can continue the conversation by commenting below or looking us up on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ThePoolBlog. I look forward to hearing from you.

You can learn more about Business Cash Flow Tips by picking up, “Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine” by Mike Michalowicz. With dozens of case studies, practical, step-by-step advice, and his signature sense of humor, Michalowicz has the game-changing roadmap for any entrepreneur to make money they always dreamed of.

Courtesy of Crystal Clear Pools – Lafayette

Many of you already exhibit in local trade shows, flower & patio shows or home & garden shows. Whether you are a trade show expert or you are considering setting up a booth in your first show, use these tips to help you make the most of your event. You’ve invested the money. Now, let’s get a good ROI.. Return on Investment.

1. Plan Ahead: Research trade shows in & around your area by looking online and on your local chamber of commerce website. List them out to see which are the best fit. Contact the event coordinator. Get the dates & times for the event. When can you set up your booth? How much does the event cost? What are the hours? Can you staff the event? I suggest planning your events at least 8 weeks in advance.

2. Choose The Right Show: Aside from the obvious shows; Flower & Patio – Home & Garden.. Find a Health Fair & promote the health benefits of swimming or hot water therapy with hot tubs. Get connected with a Builders Association in your city – Participate in any home & remodeling shows or get a few hot tubs on display in a Parade of Homes Spring Event. Sponsor local Swim Clubs or get connected with local high school swim teams. Get permission to set up a small booth and display info on water safety. Get permission to sell products like goggles or swimming gear. It’s all about creating relationships and name recognition.

Courtesy of Ship N Dip – Monticello, IN

3. Create Interest: Months before the event you should be posting on social media. If you are not on social media, I urge your to download my Beginners Guide To Social Media Success NOW. Get started ASAP. Your business success depends on it. Ask your employees to share your posts. Create an event on your business Facebook page. Invite everyone you know to the event. Post weekly leading up to the event to generate excitement. Consider raffling off something twice a day during the show. Give away a free opening or closing, a free pool float, a grill.. this will for sure generate excitement to come to your booth.  Email your client base leading up to the show to inform them of the show, link to your Facebook event and your business page.  What you don’t want to do is pay a small fortune to attend a show you aren’t going to promote hoping people walking buy will become solid leads.  Make the effort to generate a profitable ROI (Return on Investment).

Make special offers to customer that like your business pages and share your posts. Enter them in a drawing that will be picked during your show or event. Get on the phones inviting those special VIP Customers or informing any potential clients you’ve talked to in the last 6 months to come by to see your new products.  Call anyone you’ve quoted jobs to in the last 6 months and offer them a discount if they sign the contract and make a deposit during the show.

4. Choose Focus Categories: Chemicals, Hot Tubs, Grills, Liner Replacements, Pool Installs.. Only your most profitable product categories should be displayed. Contact your distributor. I’m sure they would be willing to set you up with eye-catching displays and brochures for the show.

Courtesy of Ship N Dip – Monticello, IN

5. Show Display: Whether you buy a custom display or build one yourself – be sure your display is welcoming and functional at the same time. Don’t worry too much about chairs or stools. A trade show is not meant for sitting. Take lots of pictures of the show and your display. You will want to show off your event on social media and generate buzz. Show everyone your excitement.

6. Dress for Success: Anyone working the event should be in business casual attire with a company shirt.

Courtesy of The Pool Shop – Plainfield, IN

7. Stand Up: Never sit behind a table. All the potential profits you planned on getting will walk right on by. Stand & be ready to say hello. Get out of your booth and let people walk in. Approach them after they have had a chance to look around.

8. Multimedia: Use video whenever possible.  Set up a few flat screen TV’s with DVD players. Manufactures offer product videos on DVD or Flash drives.  People are attracted to video. Press Play and set them on repeat.

Courtesy of Wright’s Pools – Terre Haute, IN

9. Follow Up: Follow up with anyone that gave you their information. I prefer to set appointments right at the show for the week following the event. It’s best to get their contact info or business card and follow-up that night with an email or connect with them on LinkedIn. Follow up again with a phone call 1-2 days after the event to either confirm your upcoming appointment or to schedule an appointment.

10. Take Notes: Keep a folder of all past events. Your folder should have pictures of the event, pictures of booths you liked and pictures of your own display. Take notes on what worked and what didn’t. What would you do differently and what were the highlights. Refer back to your notes before beginning to plan your next event. Follow up with your staff to get their opinions of the show. And most importantly.. Calculate your ROI (Return on Investment). How many leads did you get from the show and how many sales were made from those leads. What was your close rate? Make improvements accordingly.

What show event ideas have worked best for you?  Please share your comments below.

Join the conversation online on Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn. I look forward to responding to your comments and questions.

What are you reading to grow your mind & your business? I highly recommend Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink!

You might think that Social Media is hard or time consuming. This checklist might even appear to be a bit overwhelming. Trust me, neither is true. Especially when we are talking about growing your business. Internet, website & social media is trending to be the way business is done, now and in the future. You will here me say, “We can no longer depend on a store front and an open sign to bring in business”. Word of mouth is now people talking on social media.

Read this guide and take it step by step. You might have completed some of the steps but could use a little refresher or motivation to get back on the wagon. Use this checklist as a tool to grow your business. If you need help along the way I have included references at the end of the checklist.

I look forward to hearing about your success stories. Please feel free to comment if this tool has helped you or if you have any suggestions I may have left out.

This is only a beginners guide to growth. I have intentionally left out more advanced tools such as Google, Facebook & Instagram Ads, Social Media Management, Website Development, & Search Engine Optimization.  I have also left out Snap Chat & YouTube. Those can and will be discussed in future guides to growth.

It is my hope this guide helps you in some way. Download it, read it, & apply it. Comment below or start a discussion on our Facebook & Twitter pages @ThePoolBlog.

Your Guide to Growth Starts Now – Social Media Success Checklist

Dive Deeper with, “The Social Media Marketing Workbook” by Jason McDonald. This book will help you learn even more about how to grow and build your business on social media.

 

Are you making money?

There are two ways you can make more money: Decrease your expenses and/or increase prices. Preferably both.

1. Expenses: Review every expense in your business.. Utilities, Business Insurance, Rent or Leasing Costs, Automobile Costs (Payments, Insurance, Maintenance, Fuel), Payroll Expenses, Mobile Phone Expense, Eating Out, Software Costs, Accounting, Marketing, Taxes, Product Costs.. Open up your profit & loss statement and go to work.

As a former dealer the first expense I am looking at is payroll.  Are your employees stealing time, even unintentionally? Are you paying attention? Or, do you even care as long as the work is getting done? Payroll can eat you alive. I finally opted to switch from paper time cards to an electronic time clock. This change ended up savings us $1000’s.

Where are you spending your advertising dollars? Hopefully its not in paper, print, or radio. Some TV can be helpful, but it is not the best form of advertising in today’s mobile world. You should be funneling all of your advertising budget into updating or building your website and social media. If you haven’t noticed people are walking around and, unfortunately, driving around while simultaneously looking at their phones. They are aimlessly thumbing through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & LinkedIn. They are googling what they want and viewing websites researching products they have found online. And you should want your business first on the list when they are searching for anything that pertains to what you do and/or the services you offer.

Price Increases: If you’ve been paying attention this year, prices rose on anything manufactured with steel & aluminum. In early 2018, the U.S. Government implemented tariffs on steel and aluminum imports into the United States. That significantly increased demand on North American sources. In addition to the tariffs, the raw material components for steel and aluminum continued to escalate. As a result, the pool & spa industry experienced increased costs upwards of 25%. Steel prices could continue to increase in the 1st quarter of 2019.

The steel manufacturers were first in line to raise prices. It didn’t take long for the rest of the industry to follow suit. If you haven’t noticed, prices have increased on everything you purchase to stock your retail stores &/or service trucks. Price increases are just part of business. When manufacturers raise prices, distributors have no choice but to pass that increase on to the dealers. Therefore, you have no choice but to raise your prices to your end customers.

If you are implementing price increases on your service rates, it is best to make a personal phone call to each of your customers to inform them of your new rates. Hand written letters are acceptable, but I would recommend following up with a phone call.

You may lose a few customers. I have always said if everyone is saying yes, your prices are too low. You will always win some & lose some. Especially when you have competitors in your market.  You can always find new customers that will sign at your new rates. Don’t be afraid to raise your prices.

In closing, I recommend the following.

1. Pay close attention to your P&L: Manufacturers & Distributors will continue to raise prices throughout 2019 & beyond.
2. Job cost every project. What did it cost you to install the last pool? What did it cost you on the last liner replacement? Tracking your real costs of doing business will tell you if you are making any money.
3. Buy products from a distributor that treats you well. You can buy from whoever has the lowest price, but I recommend buying from a distributor that has the best value; Do they offer an annual rebate? Do they help with marketing & building your business? Do they have your best interest at heart? Do they have a knowledgeable staff? Diversification is not always helpful in the pool business.
4. Don’t rely on last years pricing to quote this years work.

Follow some simple guidelines now and you are sure to be profitable in the future.

If you are struggling in your business I bet you could use some help with your personal finances also.. I highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s Book, “Complete Guide To Money”. Free up some financial peace in your life.

What are you reading to build your mind & your business? Comment below or start the conversation online. Join us on Facebook or Twitter at ThePoolBlog.

 

Avoiding these 5 pool care mistakes will guarantee a crystal clear pool all season long.

The #1 mistake is not testing your pool water. Most pool owners own a bottle of test strips, but they can’t tell you what the strip tests for. Water balance and sanitation is the single most important part of maintaining a swimming pool…. yet, even some pool guys do not carry a test kit on their trucks.  One that I highly recommend is the Taylor K-2006C FAS Test Kit.  It’s very user friendly and easy to use.  It even tells you how much chemicals to use based on your results.  Learn how to test your water and keep a log of your test results.

The 2nd most common mistake is not cleaning your filter. Cartridge filters require periodic cleaning and sand filters require weekly backwashing.  Filtration is the most important part of maintaining a crystal clear, healthy, and safe pool.

The 3rd most common mistake is not brushing your pool surface. Proper brushing in hard to reach areas such as behind ladders and in corners (where water might not be circulating well) eliminates the possibility of algae creeping up in your pool.

The 4th, and maybe the most common pool mistake, is not addressing algae problems, both in and out of the pool. Take a look at your pool deck.  Have you ever noticed any little green spots on the concrete and diving boards when they are wet?  Mold, mildew, and algae spores grow all around the pool.  Pressure washing the surfaces outside and around your pool will help prevent algae getting in to your pool. Check out this cool tool for pressure washing concrete decks.

If your pool has an algae problem, choose the Algaecide chemical you are going to use wisely.  Each type of Algaecide has a specific use.  Uses include but are not limited to:  black algae, for general prevention, mustard algae, pink slime, etc.

Copper based Algaecide should only be used for a short time. Chlorine can begin to oxidize excess copper in the water and begin turning the water green. Seek the advice of a pool professional on which type to use.

If you have dead algae on the surface of your pool, you will want to vacuum your pool to waste. Send all that junk out to your yard.. not through the sand filter. Cartridge filters do not have this ability, but with a little re-plumbing you can create a waste line between the pump and your cartridge filter.

Last, we have the 5th common pool mistake which is not running your pump enough. Make sure you are running your pump and filter for no less than 8 hours a day. In the Midwest, I have always recommended running the system 24/7. Stagnant water leads to all kinds of water issues: algae, pink slime, white water mold, etc.

In closing, if you take ANYTHING from this article, take away the IMPORTANCE OF WATER TESTING.  I cannot stress this enough.  With the proper tools, you can do a complete water test like the professionals in less than five minutes. Don’t be intimidated by all the bottles in a Taylor Kit.  You don’t have to be a chemist to use a Taylor Test Kit. You do need to test your water on a weekly basis as part of your regular pool maintenance routine. Your family and friends are depending on you.

If you avoid these 5 common pool mistakes, you will be well on your way to enjoying a beautiful crystal clear pool all summer long. If you have questions please comment below..

In my opinion, the answer is, YES!  Let me tell you why..

For the pool and spa retail store owners.. You are putting your chemical business in the hands of one device. You better make sure that device is giving you, your staff and your customers accurate information.

The manufactures of in store water testing labs are innovating new products for our industry and that is awesome, but..  much is made about the device itself.. I hear no talk of how to program the software to best suit the retail store in which they are placed.

Every water test lab requires programming. You must add your chemical lines that you stock along with the proper dosages found on the label of each product. Be sure to include all of the chemicals you stock, otherwise you will have bottles and buckets that collect dust sitting on your shelves. Your staff may never know to suggest certain specialty products your water test lab wasn’t programmed to recommend.. As you bring in new chemical lines or close out dead stock, those must be added or removed.

If you fail to keep up with software updates and product changes you could be loosing out on sales not to mention giving your customers inaccurate information. Your customers might just visit another pool store because they aren’t seeing the results they demand after visiting your store several times.

In my travels as a pool and spa rep, I see many pool store owners relying solely on a water test lab to give customers the right information. Hand the customer the sheet and away they go. That is the wrong approach!

Here are my recommendations for every pool store owner..

1. Purchase and learn how to use a Taylor Technologies Test Kit. One specifically I recommend for everyone including pool & spa owners, retailers, apartment & hotel maintenance staff – is the TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES INC K-2006 TEST KIT COMP CHLORINE FAS-DPD. Taylor test kits are the gold standard that all other test kits and water test labs strive to achieve. The K2006C FAS kit will give you the most accurate information compared to any in-store lab.

According to Taylor Technologies, “Accurate testing safeguards bather health“. “Accurate test results are necessary to calculate the amount of chemical needed”.  The Taylor test kit won’t just tell you exactly what your test results are – the water testing instruction booklet will tell you how much chemical is required to achieve proper water balance. In the same amount of time you can run an in-store lab test, you can do a test with a Taylor test kit – and at a fraction of the cost.

2. If you already own a in-store water test lab, contact the manufacturer or rep. Ask them to help you program the software for your business and help enter your pool and spa chemicals. You have made a sizable investment on whatever device you have in your water test station – you want to be sure it is making a good return on your investment. I recently spoke to Matt Ribar, Vice President Retail Sales with API. Matt handed me instructions on how to enter one of his chemical lines in the DataMate Software that runs the Spin Lab by Lamotte. Even chemical manufactures are catching on to just how important it is their products get programmed in to water test labs.

3. Make it a priority to learn water chemistry along with proper test kit use. Accurate test results are important, but so too is knowing what those results mean and how to make adjustments using the chemicals you have on your shelves. The water test station is usually the first place your customers walk to after entering your store. Accurate water testing is the most important service every pool and spa professional provides. After all, it’s impossible to properly treat water if you don’t know your numbers; Free & Total Chlorine, Combined Chlorine, total alkalinity (Always Test Before PH), PH, Calcium Hardness, Cyanuric Acid, Salt, Phosphates, Total Dissolved Solids, Metals, Saturation Index, and other key levels.

The most important takeaway from this article, “Know your numbers”

If you have water test question please comment below.  I have over 35 years experience making pools crystal clear.