This story first appeared on watershapes.com.
For the past 38 years, I've operated an independent service company, working countless pools, both residential and commercial, in and around my home in Huntington Beach, Calif. Itโs been a great career that has provided a comfortable living for my family and me, but it does come with challenges.
I started the company Purity Pool Service with my father, Robert Foutz, Sr. We learned the business together, and there was always so much to discover. He passed away several years ago, and Iโve been running the company ever since. I miss him terribly, of course, but his partnership and friendship have never left me.
Purity is a true family business. Besides my father and me, my mother, wife and all three of my daughters have worked with me. When I was in the hospital with COVID, my daughters told their bosses they needed an extra day off to run the family business. They got it and were able to run our commercial pools until I returned to work!
Pool service is a challenging way to make a living, to say the least; one that requires both physical and mental endurance. And, thereโs always lots to learn about the various aspects of taking care of pools and spas, and keeping your clients happy.
While I realize nothing can replace hands-on training and learning from your mistakes, I thought Iโd share some of the wisdom I gained with my dad and while on my own through many years of hard-fought experience. So, for what itโs worth, hereโs some advice Iโd like to share with todayโs new generation of service professionals.
I sometimes see โ30 under 30โ magazine articles about young people who will change their industry and the world. Put this story below the heading โone under 61.โ
AFFILIATE
My No. 1 piece of advice is to join a service association, and specifically, one that provides sick-route coverage. As an independent operator, there are going to be times youโll need help. Iโm a long-time member of the Independent Pool & Spa Service Association (IPSSA). Itโs the largest organization of its kind with chapters in a majority of the biggest pool and spa markets, especially here in the West where independent service companies are the most common.
Over the years, IPSSAโs sick-route coverage policy has saved my business on more than one occasion. Like a number of service professionals at my advancing age, Iโve used the sick coverage to get through various health problems, including knee surgery and, most recently, a nasty bout with COVID.
In those situations that have kept me sidelined for extended periods of time, Iโve had to rely on my fellow IPSSA chapter members to cover my routes. Itโs something we all do for each other when needed, and I have gladly repaid them many times. Yes, these technicians are competitors, but we all know there will come a day when we all need an assist; and, therefore, we step up to make sure we all stay in business by continuing to service our accounts.
I donโt know of another industry where thatโs the case. The trust, comradery and, indeed, gratitude that grows from having a colleague step into the breach on your behalf is profound.
Also, because service is such a lonely business, itโs helpful to affiliate with other professionals who share in the daily challenges. We learn from each other, develop friendships, and work together to collectively elevate our businesses and the trade at large.
I like IPSSA guys and other pool people because they understand what I go through. Itโs fun to have a cold beverage and shoot the breeze about crazy customers and the challenges we face on a daily basis.
IPSSA also provides business liability insurance tailored to the needs of service companies โ another major benefit. Add it all up, and you cannot place a dollar value on belonging to an organization like IPSSA. If you take only one piece of advice from this discussion, this would be it.
POWER IN AN APOLOGY
In this line of work, mistakes are inevitable; everyone makes them, particularly when youโre just starting out. There are times when a customer calls with a problem, and sometimes they will be extremely upset or even worse, looking for a fight. Donโt give it back to them and argue; instead, listen and accept responsibility.
If thereโs a problem, especially if itโs your fault, say youโre sorry and try to get to the property at your earliest convenience to set things right. I know it doesnโt always make sense, but there truly is power in an apology. Itโs amazing how quickly you can defuse a negative situation by simply taking responsibility. The vast majority of people can understand making a mistake; but, most of us will push back against someone who is non-responsive or makes excuses.
It may sound simplistic, but by accepting responsibility, you develop trust with the client and ultimately you will enhance your reputation. And donโt forget, we all learn by making mistakes. If you screw it up, own up to it, correct the situation in good humor, and do whatever you can to make sure you come away wiser for it.
THE RIGHT WAY
Thereโs an old saying that there are three ways to do any job: the right way, the easy way, and the cheap way. Usually the cheap and easy ways are not the right way. Because weโre always busy, thereโs a natural tendency to do things as simply as we can. Thereโs a natural desire to control costs, too; so, doing things as inexpensively as possible becomes an MO for some technicians.
The problem is that when you do things easy and/or on the cheap, it rarely results in doing it the right way. There are infinite examples: Many years ago, I found a company that reconditioned pumps and motors and sold them for much less than brand-new ones. The first time I tried one, the thing heated up and threw the bearings. It was a complete waste, and I realized I would have been much better off simply using a new pump.
Even if it takes more time and more money initially, doing things the right way and not cutting corners saves you both effort and coin in the long run โ and you donโt have to deal with frustrated customers nearly as often.
TOSS THE BAD APPLES
This is about both self-respect and practicality. The unfortunate fact is everyone in this business runs into problem customers. For whatever reason, there are always going to be those people who are a constant pain in the backside, and no matter what you do to make them happy, they will always find something to complain about.
These are often the same customers who will try to nickel and dime you about pricing. Iโve had clients go years without any kind of complaint, and others that seem to have some kind of problem on an almost constant basis. Those problematic clients will cost you time, money and frustration.
Iโve also experienced problems where the customers may be reasonably nice people, but there are other issues, such as vicious dogs, which as we all know, can be a significant safety hazard, just ask any mail carrier. And there have been unruly customers that do stupid things like tossing patio furniture into the pool or generally trashing their backyards. Iโll usually put up with those kinds of problems only once. Many times the customers will apologize to me, and it never happens again; but if it continues, Iโll make the decision to step away.
In those situations, there is nothing wrong with โfiringโ a customer. I always do so in a polite way and donโt necessarily offer an explanation because thereโs really no point in discussing it. It doesnโt happen very often, but I canโt recall ever regretting letting go of a bad account.
NO MONEY IN THE TRUCK
This is a practical issue that can make a huge impact on the bottom line. Always remember that when youโre driving between accounts, youโre not making money. In fact, with fuel expenses and automotive wear and tear, time spent driving only increases your cost of doing business. And, it extends the time it takes to get through your day.
This is why when youโre building a service route, either by acquiring new individual customers or purchasing an existing route, you always want your accounts to be as close together as possible. When youโre just starting out, there might be a tendency to take on every account you can get. Iโve certainly done my share of traveling between stops that are far apart and have learned in many situations, itโs just not worth it.
You might be able to offset the costs by raising prices for distant accounts, but that can only go so far because you quickly become uncompetitive with service companies that are more proximate. I do sometimes shave a few dollars off my price to land accounts that are close to others. Itโs great when you can find multiple clients on the same street or in the same neighborhood.
The bottom line is thereโs no money in the truck. You always want to spend the lionโs share of your time doing the actual work rather than driving.
TAKE CARE OF YOU
Pool service can be a grueling way to earn a living. You spend long days in the sun doing physical labor, handling chemicals, moving your equipment in and out of backyards, and sometimes fighting the elements. I know young people can feel indestructible, but the wear and tear will inevitably add up, especially if you donโt take care of yourself on the route.
That means staying hydrated. Most people donโt realize when theyโre dehydrated, and it can be easy to forget to drink enough water, but it makes a huge difference in your endurance, energy level, mental acuity and overall health.
Itโs equally important to protect yourself from the effects of the sun. Skin cancer is an occupational hazard for anyone who works outdoors all the time. And in the case of pool service, youโre exposed to the sun reflecting off the water. Thatโs why wearing sunscreen and wide brim hats is so important.
And, finally, listen to your body. There is no shame in wearing a back brace when you do heavy lifting, and when I have repair work that requires spending time on my knees, I wear kneepads.
I now hire young people to remove old heaters and lift new ones into place. I am willing to pay good money not to spend the weekend with a sore back. When you simply decide to fight through nagging aches and pains and not do anything about it, youโll eventually pay the price with downtime and doctor visits.
Thereโs more to say here, such as the importance of educating yourself, establishing good vendor relations and how to promote your business, all of which could be long discussions unto themselves. But for those just getting into the business, if you follow a few of these suggestions, youโll be off to a good start.