For 13 years, Jeff Bouck ran a successful pest control company, working alongside his son. But when his son moved on to new opportunities, Bouck faced a tough decision: keep running the business alone, hire and train a new team or explore something different. Selling his company seemed like the best move, but his next step remained uncertain.
That all changed when he came across Pool Scouts. The franchise opportunity was located right in his own community and offered the structured, service-based model he was already familiar with. What set it apart, however, was something he hadn’t experienced before — unwavering support from a franchisor committed to his success. With weekly coaching sessions and an established system designed for growth, Bouck saw the potential to build something bigger than just a job.
Now, just two months into his journey as a Pool Scouts franchisee in North Fort Worth, Texas, Bouck is already planning for expansion. Inspired by fellow franchisees who have scaled their businesses to 10+ technicians, he’s set his sights on rapid growth. With a strong foundation and a franchise system backing him every step of the way, his new career is already making waves.
1851 Franchise spoke to Bouck about his franchise journey 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?
Jeff Bouck: For the last 13 years, I owned my own pest control company. I worked with my son for the last three years, but he moved on to do something else. That left me with the choice of running the business alone, which became more difficult as I got older, or hiring and training someone new. I wasn’t sure if a new hire would do things my way, and hiring can be challenging.
I decided to sell my company to another business and joined them in a management role. After a few months, I realized we had different viewpoints on how to run things, so I decided to move on and explore my options. Since I couldn’t go back into pest control due to my non-compete, I started looking at industries with a similar business model — recurring service-based work.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Bouck: During my search, I found this franchise for sale in the same territory where I had run my pest control business. The price was right, and after researching it, I saw it as a great fit both personally and professionally. I bought in, and now, two months later, here we are.
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?
Bouck: Before franchising, I hadn’t thought much about it. I knew about restaurant franchises and saw them as a good setup for someone who wanted an established business model but still some independence. Beyond that, I hadn’t considered it deeply. Now that I’m in it, I see the benefits, having a structured system in place and access to support. If I have questions, I can go to the franchisor or other franchisees for guidance. That structure and support help you find success as quickly as possible. Franchising has been a great experience.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Bouck: Initially, I chose Pool Scouts because it was the only franchise for sale in my area. But as I learned more about the company and Buzz Franchise Brands, I saw how professional they are and how their process is designed for success.
They provide strong support with multiple points of contact throughout different business phases. They’re invested in making franchisees successful. We have weekly meetings with a business coach to ensure everything is on track and to address any questions. They don’t just hand you a business and say, "Good luck." They actively support us to help ensure our success.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Bouck: Initially, I planned to expand from my current team of two technicians and an office person by adding two or three more employees. But after connecting with other franchisees, I’ve seen the potential for even greater growth. There’s a franchisee in McKinney with 10 to 15 technicians, which shows what’s possible with the right approach. My goal for the next year is to add at least two more routes. Within five years, I hope to double that, reaching eight to ten routes, and then continue expanding from there.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Bouck: Definitely talk with franchisees. The franchisor will provide support and guidance, but their goal is to make franchising appealing. Speaking with franchisees gives you a clearer, more unbiased perspective on how the business works and how it might fit into your life. You’ll get real insights into the day-to-day operations and the realities of running the business. I’d recommend reaching out to multiple franchisees to gather as much information as possible.
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/.
Pool Scouts
SPONSORED
After selling his pest control business, Bouck discovered a fresh start in franchising and is now building a high-growth business with a company invested in his success.
For 13 years, Jeff Bouck ran a successful pest control company, working alongside his son. But when his son moved on to new opportunities, Bouck faced a tough decision: keep running the business alone, hire and train a new team or explore something different. Selling his company seemed like the best move, but his next step remained uncertain.
That all changed when he came across Pool Scouts. The franchise opportunity was located right in his own community and offered the structured, service-based model he was already familiar with. What set it apart, however, was something he hadn’t experienced before — unwavering support from a franchisor committed to his success. With weekly coaching sessions and an established system designed for growth, Bouck saw the potential to build something bigger than just a job.
Now, just two months into his journey as a Pool Scouts franchisee in North Fort Worth, Texas, Bouck is already planning for expansion. Inspired by fellow franchisees who have scaled their businesses to 10+ technicians, he’s set his sights on rapid growth. With a strong foundation and a franchise system backing him every step of the way, his new career is already making waves.
1851 Franchise spoke to Bouck about his franchise journey 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?
Jeff Bouck: For the last 13 years, I owned my own pest control company. I worked with my son for the last three years, but he moved on to do something else. That left me with the choice of running the business alone, which became more difficult as I got older, or hiring and training someone new. I wasn’t sure if a new hire would do things my way, and hiring can be challenging.
I decided to sell my company to another business and joined them in a management role. After a few months, I realized we had different viewpoints on how to run things, so I decided to move on and explore my options. Since I couldn’t go back into pest control due to my non-compete, I started looking at industries with a similar business model — recurring service-based work.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Bouck: During my search, I found this franchise for sale in the same territory where I had run my pest control business. The price was right, and after researching it, I saw it as a great fit both personally and professionally. I bought in, and now, two months later, here we are.
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?
Bouck: Before franchising, I hadn’t thought much about it. I knew about restaurant franchises and saw them as a good setup for someone who wanted an established business model but still some independence. Beyond that, I hadn’t considered it deeply. Now that I’m in it, I see the benefits, having a structured system in place and access to support. If I have questions, I can go to the franchisor or other franchisees for guidance. That structure and support help you find success as quickly as possible. Franchising has been a great experience.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Bouck: Initially, I chose Pool Scouts because it was the only franchise for sale in my area. But as I learned more about the company and Buzz Franchise Brands, I saw how professional they are and how their process is designed for success.
They provide strong support with multiple points of contact throughout different business phases. They’re invested in making franchisees successful. We have weekly meetings with a business coach to ensure everything is on track and to address any questions. They don’t just hand you a business and say, "Good luck." They actively support us to help ensure our success.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Bouck: Initially, I planned to expand from my current team of two technicians and an office person by adding two or three more employees. But after connecting with other franchisees, I’ve seen the potential for even greater growth. There’s a franchisee in McKinney with 10 to 15 technicians, which shows what’s possible with the right approach. My goal for the next year is to add at least two more routes. Within five years, I hope to double that, reaching eight to ten routes, and then continue expanding from there.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Bouck: Definitely talk with franchisees. The franchisor will provide support and guidance, but their goal is to make franchising appealing. Speaking with franchisees gives you a clearer, more unbiased perspective on how the business works and how it might fit into your life. You’ll get real insights into the day-to-day operations and the realities of running the business. I’d recommend reaching out to multiple franchisees to gather as much information as possible.
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/.
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