Pool Scouts, the pool cleaning and maintenance franchise with more than 80 territories in nine states, has made a significant splash in Texas over the past year. As the COVID-19 pandemic caused people to spend more time in their private outdoor spaces, Pool Scouts saw a massive boom in sales, especially in year-round markets like Texas. Now, that momentum is continuing in 2021 — Pool Scouts locations in Texas saw a whopping 114% YOY increase in revenue from Q1 of 2020 to Q1 of 2021, up significantly from the already impressive 78% YOY increase in revenue last year. Fueled by this growth, the Pool Scouts team has identified San Antonio as a market primed for franchise development. 

Pool Scouts already features 29 territories sold or operating in Texas — including 11 in Houston, 15 in Dallas and two in Austin — and the state’s pool maintenance segment shows no signs of slowing down. In the San Antonio market alone, there are nearly 29,000 pools, and interest in installing new pools continues to climb.

This consistently growing demand in the state is part of the reason why John Breton, the franchise owner of Pool Scouts in McKinney and Northeast Dallas/Fort Worth, is the system’s number one revenue generator for 2021.

“The Pool Scouts business model appealed to me because I knew Texas was full of people who were moving into a home with a pool for the first time,” said Breton. “Also, regardless of where you lived before, when you come to Texas the cost of living is affordable and there is a lot of space, which means homeowners are more likely to build a pool. Plus, there are a lot of affluent areas where people keep their pools open year round. Texas is a land of opportunities, and the local government is very supportive of small businesses.”

When it comes to his achievements over the past year, Breton points to a few different factors. “When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and created an increased demand for pool maintenance, we really rode that wave, and it helped us from a growth standpoint,” he said. “The pandemic also brought a lot of people moving to the state for various reasons, which also resulted in stronger sales. Pool Scouts designed this business opportunity for long term success, and we’ve always focused on building our foundation with that in mind. That infrastructure allowed us to satisfy the increased demand and surpass our sales goals.”

Pool Scouts offers owners like Breton a low-cost, home-based business model, multiple recurring revenue streams, established brand consistency and the robust support of its parent company Buzz Franchise Brands.

“We are continuing to grow our year-over-year revenue at 221%, which is very rapid, but I know I can lean on the Pool Scouts team for help with whatever comes next,” said Breton. “When you are a one-man or one-woman pool company, you can’t grow that fast — you only have so much time and staff to spare. As part of the Pool Scouts system, we are better able to prepare for the growth, whether it be with staffing or training, and be confident we are ready for it when it comes.”

Since the brand has such a robust presence already established in the state, Breton says Pool Scouts franchisees in Texas can also build relationships with other owners, share best practices and help each other with staffing and equipment. 

Looking ahead, the Pool Scouts team has identified opportunities to add four new territories in the San Antonio area. 

“With an abundance of pools, population growth and an ideal climate, Texas is really the perfect market for Pool Scouts, and we are proud of our growth despite the challenges of the past year,” said Michael Wagner, president of Pool Scouts. “Now, we are excited to continue partnering with qualified franchisees who will help us establish a footprint in San Antonio.”

The average startup costs for a Pool Scouts franchise is $113,000. To learn more about franchising with Pool Scouts, visit https://poolscoutsfranchise.com/.