How Pool Scouts Seasonal Franchisees Make the Most of the Off-Season

With more than 20 locations across seven states and several additional territories sold, Pool Scouts is quickly emerging as the premier pool cleaning and maintenance franchise. A pool cleaning and maintenance franchise might sound like a strictly warm-weather venture, but Pool Scouts franchisees who live in seasonal markets keep business booming year-round. Indeed, those who operate their Pool Scouts territories in colder climates and are subject to an off-season can enjoy the chance to focus on marketing efforts for the upcoming spring and summer seasons and invest time in training pool technicians. 

Today, most Pool Scouts franchisees are based in Florida and Texas, two states known for enjoying milder weather year-round. The brand also has a presence in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, with more territories set to open in markets such as Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio.

“In our business in the year-round markets, we service pools 52 weeks a year,” Pool Scouts President Michael Wagner said. “In seasonal markets, the busiest times of the year are April, May and June because of pool openings, and the regular service season runs from June through September. Of course, this can vary somewhat based on the market, but Pool Scouts franchisees who open territories in seasonal markets can expect this.” 

In North Carolina, for example, only 25% of pools are open year-round while in Virginia and northeastern markets around 10% of the market stays open year-round, according to Wagner. 

Business may slow down during the colder months for a Pool Scouts franchisee, but it is far from stopping altogether. For one, franchisees can start scheduling pool openings and maintenance appointments for the following busy season. 

“The off-season is all about planning, budgeting and preparation to drive efficiency,” Wagner said. “If you know you have a certain amount of jobs scheduled for the following spring and summer, you can plan accordingly. You can go ahead and block off time for certain pools.”

The off-season also gives franchisees the opportunity to focus on marketing efforts and networking within their communities. 

“Franchisees have time to network and get involved in their local BNI chapter and with their local Chamber of Commerce,” Wagner said. “They can do public relations work for their business.” 

And franchisees will not be alone in operating the business during the off-season. 

“Depending on the size of the business, franchisees keep one or two technicians on staff and pay them during the off-season,” Wagner said. “The reason to do that is so that the franchisees are not starting off each season with new employees. The last thing a franchisee wants is for April or May to roll around with no one to do the job.”

If any franchisee knows about the benefits of operating a Pool Scouts franchise during the off-season, it’s Tiffiny Consoli. Consoli owns two territories with the brand in the Greater Triangle Area in North Carolina, which encompasses Raleigh, the state capital and a regional hub. She is also set to open a third Pool Scouts territory in the nearby port city and summer haven of Wilmington in February of 2020. 

Her existing franchise’s busy season runs from April through October. November, she said, can be hit-or-miss depending on how long the warm weather lasts. The slowest timeframe for her franchise is typically mid-December through March. 

“That’s our time to regroup and organize ourselves, so we like to take advantage and invest in training for our technicians,” she said. “Our lead technician is employed year-round and we have a couple of technicians who work part-time through the winter. We’ll take advantage of the slower season to get people brushed up on their skills and help them acquire any necessary certifications.” 

This will be Consoli’s fourth winter as a Pool Scouts franchisee, and she’ll be especially busy this off-season thanks to the upcoming Wilmington opening. 

“This is a chance to really regroup and plan for the next year and improve our processes and procedures,” she said. “That way, between the Raleigh locations and the new Wilmington location, we won’t miss a beat.” 

Consoli also looks forward to some self-care during the off-season. The pool cleaning business, she noted, can be very labor-intensive and the off-season is a great opportunity to physically and mentally prepare for spring and summer. 

“I like to take advantage of this slower time to recenter myself, exercise and eat healthily,” she said. “We work really long hours during the spring and summer, so one of the advantages of being seasonal is that you get some of that time back.”

She advises prospective Pool Scouts franchisees who want to open territories in seasonal markets to make sure they maximize their time during the slower season. 

“You want to make sure you’re budgeting accordingly and marketing accordingly,” she said. “This is also a time to hire great people who will be willing to work hard for six to seven months. You really only have one chance to impress your customers and ensure they’ll be back next year. Don’t miss the opportunity to build on your reputation and grow.” 

The startup costs for a Pool Scouts franchise range from $72,200 to $121,475. The franchise fee is $20,000. To learn more about franchising with Pool Scouts, visit https://poolscoutsfranchise.com/.