1851

Renee Salley has over 20 years of experience in automotive manufacturing and a background in engineering, but after taking a break from the workforce to care for her family, she has decided to rejoin it in a way that doesn’t just give her a job title, but allows her to build a legacy.She may not have previous experience in business ownership, but her love for a new challenge inspired her to look into the possibility of becoming a franchisee with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/poolscouts">Pool Scouts*</a> in Summerville, South Carolina. After speaking with so many enthusiastic, existing franchisees, she decided to go for it. She hopes this new venture will teach her children that a strong work ethic leads to better opportunities.&nbsp;Salley spoke with 1851 Franchise to discuss her journey into franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://poolscoutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=first-time-franchisee-builds-foundation-for-her-legacy-with-pool-scouts-2725927" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pool Scouts</a>, the 100 plus territory pool cleaning and maintenance franchise.FEATURE QUESTIONS1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Salley:&nbsp;For over 20 years, I worked in automotive manufacturing in a variety of different roles from engineering to middle management positions.&nbsp;When COVID hit, I came home to look after my son, who we had in 2014. We also adopted my daughter in 2019, so I stayed at home and took on the role of teacher and caregiver after schools and daycares shut down. After that, my mom was sick so I had to look after her, as well, and I was just concentrating on taking care of my family.&nbsp;Now that the kids are older — my daughter is four and my son is ten — we thought it was time to look at different opportunities. I wanted to integrate myself back into the workforce with my management experience and technical background in engineering.&nbsp;We considered a few different franchises, but Pool Scouts stood out to us because of the low initial investment and the ability to work from home as a base. It suited our lifestyle and meant I could still help look after my mother.&nbsp;The industry seems to be growing quickly here, too, so that made sense for us. Everybody's getting a pool in our area; there are long wait lists for pool installations. We wanted to leverage this increase in the number of pools because people will need a service to maintain them.&nbsp;1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Salley:&nbsp;I didn’t have a negative perception of franchising even though I had heard some negative views. We always thought about franchising because it allows you to leverage their experience and proven model. They have expertise, so you don't have to go through the severe bumps that you would go through if you were starting a business on your own. They have a recipe for success.&nbsp;Of course, depending on your market it may be a little bit more challenging, but franchises give you a playbook to follow.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Salley:&nbsp;I love that working with this brand provides me with some technical challenges; I love these types of challenges because of my background in engineering. They have a technical team there that's readily available, so you can phone a friend per se if there is a scenario you need help with, but I love a challenge.&nbsp;I also was drawn to the brand because of what I heard from other franchisees. Everybody was very positive. They took time to reach out to me and follow up to see if I had any more questions or wanted more advice. This meant a lot that not just the franchise management team, but also the franchisees were so willing to help. They clearly are enjoying what they are doing.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Salley:&nbsp;We hope to break even in our second year, and we want to become a household name brand. We want people to truly know who Pool Scouts is and that we offer elite pool cleaning services, but more than that we want to be well known and have a good relationship with our community.We also want to teach our children that they can be business owners one day too, if that’s what they want. We are looking to leave a legacy, and we want our kids to know that this opportunity is available. We will support whatever they choose, but they don't necessarily have to work for somebody. They can have their own legacy.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Salley:&nbsp;&nbsp;Building a legacy is really important for us because we want to instill this idea in our kids that they have opportunities. We want to ensure our kids are secure, not just in their financial status, but also in their work ethic.&nbsp;I don’t have previous experience in business ownership. It’s important to believe in yourself, and if you have a desire to do it, whether it's to start a business or something else, don't let don't let the unknown keep you from doing it. Take a chance.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Salley:&nbsp;Be sure to&nbsp;investigate. Don't be afraid to ask questions and talk to franchisees. Seek to understand what particular business model you're looking for, and find the right match for you.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit<a href="https://1851franchise.com/poolscouts"> https://1851franchise.com/poolscouts</a>ABOUT POOL SCOUTS:&nbsp;Virginia Beach, VA-based Pool Scouts is a premier pool service franchise focused on delivering a quality, consistent brand experience while providing pool cleaning, maintenance and minor repair services at residential properties. Technicians are trained in testing, monitoring, treating and servicing pools and can provide ongoing service as well as help at the beginning and end of the summer season. With 110+ territories across 18 states, Pool Scouts offers a great opportunity as a low-cost franchise in the pool services industry with available territories across the United States. For more information or franchising opportunities, visit http://poolscoutsfranchise.com.

Franchisee Brings Pool Scouts to Summerville, South Carolina

1851 Franchise

Salley has considered franchising for years, but it was Pool Scouts’ exceptionally positive franchisees that encouraged her to finally dive in.

First Time Franchisee Builds Foundation for Her Legacy with Pool Scouts

first-time-franchisee-builds-foundation-for-her-legacy-with-pool-scouts

Pet Wants

Investing in Pet Wants: What Makes This Franchise Opportunity Different?

investing-in-pet-wants-franchise-opportunity

Griswold

Griswold - Journal Record Agg - Dec 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Sisters Bring Global Humanitarian Experience Home to Oklahoma City With New Griswold Franchise

sisters-bring-global-experience-to-okc-home-care

SweatHouz

Helping Others ‘Step Into Wellness’ Drives Carrie Ratz’s Journey From Finance to SweatHouz Franchise Ownership

carrie-ratz-sweathouz-franchise-journey

Pigtails & Crewcuts

Pigtails & Crewcuts kids salon, St. Louis, Missouri expansion

Pigtails & Crewcuts Targets St. Louis for Growth, Seeking Family-Focused Entrepreneurs To Lead Expansion

pigtails-crewcuts-st-louis-franchise-expansion

Griswold Franchise - Agg - Lakewood Colorado - 1851 Franchise

Griswold Expands to Lakewood, Colorado, Bringing Nonmedical Home Care to Local Seniors

griswold-home-care-lakewood-golden-expansion

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Domino's Franchise - North Pole - Dec 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Domino’s Pizza Brings Delivery Cheer to North Pole, Alaska

dominos-pizza-franchise-north-pole-alaska

California Pizza Kitchen’s Sale Is the Latest in the Era of PE-Backed Turnarounds in Franchising

california-pizza-kitchens-sale-is-the-latest-in-the-era-of-pe-backed-turnarounds-in-franchising

Buying a fitness franchise, people exercising

Boutique vs. Big Box Gym Franchises: Which Offers Best ROI in the $7 Billion Fitness Market?

buy-fitness-franchise-boutique-big-box-comparison

Pieology Pizza Enters Chapter 11 Following Costly Bid To Save Struggling Stores

pieology-pizza-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

twin-brothers-two-men-and-a-junk-truck-fort-walton-beach

image of ian ruppel and linda kinne franchisee owners from melting pot in syracuse New York

Long-Time Melting Pot Franchisee To Revive Syracuse, New York, Location in Destiny Mall

melting-pot-returns-syracuse-destiny-mall

Do You Qualify? A Look at the Chick-fil-A Franchise Requirements

do-you-qualify-a-look-at-the-chick-fil-a-franchise-requirements

Scenthound Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

scenthound-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Top 15 Pet Supplies and Retail Franchises for 2025

the-top-15-pet-supplies-and-retail-franchises

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

Men In Kilts Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

men-in-kilts-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Christmas Decor Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

First Time Franchisee Builds Foundation for Her Legacy with Pool Scouts

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS