New Franchisee Brings Hard Work and Heart to His New Pool Scouts Business in Greater South Fort Worth

For most of his life, John Oldham has been in construction — running his own company, managing projects, and taking pride in every job that carried his name. But when the pandemic hit, he started rethinking what he wanted next. He didn’t want to go back to working for someone else. He wanted to build something meaningful again, something he could grow and eventually pass down.

That’s when he discovered Pool Scouts*. The model made sense, but what really stood out was the people. “[I]t felt down to earth — more like a family atmosphere,” Oldham said. “From the top down, everyone at the corporate office has been open, supportive and approachable. It reminded me of running my own family business.”

Now, as he prepares to open Pool Scouts of Greater South Fort Worth, he’s focused on creating a company that values quality, builds trust with customers and reflects the integrity he’s carried throughout his career.

Oldham sees Pool Scouts as a way to use his decades of experience to make a difference in his community while setting an example for his children about hard work, perseverance, and doing things the right way.

1851 Franchise spoke to Oldham about his franchise journey with Pool Scouts and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

John Oldham: I have a strong background in construction and home services. During COVID, a lot changed, and I gained a new outlook on the business. I had an offer to work for a larger company, so I closed my own and tried that for about a year. It didn’t spark the same passion. I’ve always owned my own business, and that pull brought me back. About six months ago, I started looking into different franchises.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Oldham: I’ve been in construction my whole life. My family’s been in the industry, and I grew up in that environment. I partnered with a family member, and we started a company in 1995 doing remodeling and construction. I ran that for about 20 years, eventually taking it over. We were doing well, branched into real estate, built new homes and stayed active in the commercial industry. I opened a cabinet shop and started doing both residential and commercial cabinets, as well as kitchen and bath remodeling.

I looked at several different franchises — mostly home service businesses, since that’s what I was familiar with. I explored everything from fence companies to maid services to gutter and leaf companies. I connected with a gentleman who was helping me research options, and one of the ideas he mentioned was a pool franchise.

Pool Scouts was the second company I looked at, and as I started speaking with Luke [Schulte] and learning more, I felt really comfortable. The numbers made sense, it fit my financial ability to start up, and I liked that I could grow at my own pace.

I decided to start small with one territory, build it up and expand as the business grows. That approach was appealing to me. I prayed a lot about it — it’s a big decision, and reading through the FDD and financials can be intimidating. But I felt peace about it and saw a clear need in my area, which is a rapidly expanding residential market. I feel confident about the future and excited about owning a Pool Scouts franchise.

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?

Oldham: I had mixed feelings about franchising at first. I started my own construction business from scratch, put in years of hard work and saw firsthand what it takes to build something on your own — and how it can eventually play out. I also have relatives in restaurant and child care franchises who did well. One is still operating a franchise, and another is looking for a new opportunity.

Learning from their experiences gave me more respect for franchising. You don’t have to do everything yourself or reinvent the wheel. There’s support already in place, and that’s something I value at this stage in my life. Franchises have already gone through the ups and downs and figured out what works, so you don’t have to spend years learning those lessons the hard way.

Ultimately, my goal is to build a business that’s marketable and lasts beyond me — something with real value that I can one day pass on, sell or have my kids take over. Franchising gives me a framework to do that while still letting me grow and manage my own business.

At the end of the day, my old business was all about me. If I wasn’t there, the relationships weren’t there. It wasn’t a marketable business. I could sell the equipment, the properties and the assets I’d accumulated, but the business itself depended on my personal relationships with customers and contractors. Without that, selling the company was difficult. That’s what I’m aiming for with this franchise — to build something marketable and sustainable, whether I’m there or not.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Oldham: What I liked most about Pool Scouts is that it felt down to earth — more like a family atmosphere. From the top down, everyone at the corporate office has been open, supportive and approachable. It reminded me of running my own family business. Everyone has that “can-do” mindset and willingness to help solve problems, which really gave me confidence in the brand.

I also appreciate the structure and forecasting tools they provide. The projections, network, and guidance on how the business should develop were all extremely helpful. I’d never had that kind of support before. Having someone say, “Here’s what we need to do next,” made me realize how valuable that framework is for growing the business the right way.

Having that partnership is invaluable in helping me grow. It feels like a little kick in the butt sometimes — a reminder not to get too comfortable and to keep moving forward. There’s accountability built in, with timelines and goals to make sure I’m progressing toward where I want to be. That kind of support and partnership helps both me and the brand succeed. That’s what I like most about being part of the Pool Scouts franchise.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Oldham: I’ve always taken pride in my work. For 20 years, when I put my name on something, it was done to the best of my ability. My customers knew that. I respected them, and they respected me. Many of those relationships went beyond business and turned into friendships.

That’s the kind of company I want to build with Pool Scouts — not just a guy with a pole and a truck cleaning pools and moving on to the next one. I want to be part of the community, build a business that’s profitable and sustainable, and provide for my family while building trust with customers. When people call Pool Scouts, I want them to know it’s me and that the job will be done right.

If the company continues in that direction — built on quality work, relationships and community trust — I believe it will grow and become highly successful.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Oldham: I’ve never really thought about my story before. I come from very humble beginnings. I grew up in a small town on the border in West Texas. I’ve always believed the only way to get ahead or even just get by in life is through hard work and doing things the right way.

My family has a background in law enforcement — my dad was a DPS officer, and my grandfather was also in the police force. My dad passed away in an accident when I was eight years old. That experience gave me a deep respect for people and a desire to help others and live with integrity. At the end of the day, I just want to be a good person, contribute to my community and do the right thing. That’s how I try to approach life and business.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Oldham: If you’re thinking about becoming a franchise owner, understand that it’s still a business — it’s not hands-off. Early on, I thought owning a franchise might mean opening up, hiring some people and watching things run smoothly on their own. That’s not how it works.

You have to be prepared to put in the effort, learn the business and be involved if you want to succeed. The key is focusing on what you can control and letting the franchise support you in the areas they’ve already mastered. When both sides do their part, it’s a strong recipe for success.

I’d also say it’s worth pursuing franchising over starting completely from scratch. But make sure it’s something you’re passionate about — that’s what will keep you motivated and make the hard work worth it.

It’s not all about money. It’s about finding something that genuinely interests you — something that can become part of your personal growth and life experience. A franchise doesn’t have to be forever. You can always move on, but it can open doors you might not have considered before.

What’s interesting is that many people I’ve talked to own multiple franchises. Some have two, three, even twenty by the time they retire. I never really thought about that before. Once you get into franchising, it starts to grow on you. You gain confidence, learn the system and begin to see the real opportunities that come with being a franchise owner.

ABOUT POOL SCOUTS:

Founded in 2012 and based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Buzz Franchise Brands is a fast-growing multi-brand franchising organization that builds companies that get people talking. The organization's first brand, Mosquito Joe, was sold to Neighborly in late 2018 after growing to almost 300 locations. Buzz Franchise Brands currently operates pool cleaning and maintenance company Pool Scouts, residential cleaning company Home Clean Heroes*, swim lesson company British Swim School and holiday lighting company Wonderly Lights. The company has been named among the Inc 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies as well as Inc's Best Workplaces list for several years in a row. For more information about Buzz Franchise Brands, visit https://www.buzzfranchisebrands.com/. 

ABOUT BUZZ FRANCHISE BRANDS

Founded in 2012 and based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Buzz Franchise Brands is a fast-growing multi-brand franchising organization that builds companies that get people talking. The organization's first brand, Mosquito Joe, was sold to Neighborly in late 2018 after growing to almost 300 locations. Buzz Franchise Brands currently operates pool cleaning and maintenance company Pool Scouts, residential cleaning company Home Clean Heroes, swim lesson company British Swim School and holiday lighting company Grand Illuminations. The company has been named among the Inc 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies as well as Inc's Best Workplaces list for several years in a row. For more information about Buzz Franchise Brands, visit https://www.buzzfranchisebrands.com/.