Pool Scouts Franchisee Is Backed by 20 Years in Franchise Management and Luxury Real Estate Experience

Jaime Ross’ journey into franchising began right out of college with a career in management at ServiceMaster, where she spent 20 years supporting franchisee success through training, mentoring and coaching. After that, Ross transitioned to a successful career in real estate with Coldwell Banker. Her husband, Billy, spent 32 years working in management with Kroger management and was responsible for store budgets and managing people. Despite both of their successful careers, Ross and her husband decided it was time to pursue their dream of business ownership. 

When a Pool Scouts franchise became available in Memphis, Tennessee, they were immediately drawn to the opportunity. Through their initial research into the brand, the couple was impressed by the support offered by the corporate team and Pool Scouts’ modern branding. 

Since taking over the Pool Scouts franchise in June, Ross and her husband have focused on growing the business. They’ve invested in new equipment, provided extensive training for their technicians and improved customer communication. They are looking forward to helping pool owners in their community enjoy their pools without the stress and hassle that results from improper pool care.

Ross took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what she had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Jaime Ross: My career started in franchising. I worked for a franchise company, ServiceMaster, for about 20 years, serving in various management roles. I was responsible for franchisee success, including training, mentoring and coaching. After leaving that company, I became a real estate agent and broker, working for Coldwell Banker, which is also a franchise. My husband and I always wanted to own a business and, after looking around, we found an existing Pool Scouts business for sale. It seemed interesting and unique, fitting well with our backgrounds. We decided to buy it rather than start something from scratch.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Ross: I didn’t really understand franchising before I started working at ServiceMaster. Now, I see it as “business in a box.” With a good franchise company, you get a comprehensive system ready for implementation. As long as you do your due diligence and select the right brand, franchising can provide a solid foundation with established processes. This support allows you to focus on running and growing the business rather than creating systems from scratch.

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

Ross: Pools just make people happy. The only time people get upset about their pools is when it’s not the right color, or something’s broken, or they can’t use their pool. But that’s what we’re here for. We provide services and keep an eye on that pool and try to keep it from ever getting to that point.

Pool Scouts stood out in particular because it targeted a luxury market, which I was familiar with from working in real estate. The brand’s modern imagery, colors and overall professionalism impressed us. During our due diligence, which lasted about three months, we were continually impressed by their presentations and responses to our questions. Their willingness to customize training for us, as we were buying an existing business, showed their flexibility and commitment to our success.

1851: What’s your biggest accomplishment in this job?

Ross: Since taking over in June, we’ve significantly grown the repair side of the business. We’ve revamped operations, invested in new equipment and provided additional training for our technicians. This has resulted in a 194% year-over-year increase for repairs for the month of June. We’ve also improved customer communication, ensuring immediate follow-ups after each service visit. This approach has enhanced customer satisfaction and engagement.

1851: What’s your big goal this year?

Ross: Our big goal for this year was to learn how to install safety covers, which are crucial for maintaining pool quality during the off-season. We recently had a trainer from Pool Scouts spend two days with us, teaching our staff this new skill. We’ve already communicated this new service to our clients and have received positive responses, with many requesting quotes for safety covers. This new service will significantly improve the overall pool experience for our customers.

ABOUT POOL SCOUTS:

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 nearly 100 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.