Why This Corporate Team Member and His Son Decided to Open Their Own Poolwerx Franchise

After joining the corporate team of Poolwerx, the pool maintenance, repair and retail franchise, Matt Johnson started to notice a trend: Franchise Partners were taking control of their destiny and achieving their entrepreneurial dreams left and right. Six months into his role, Matt realized there was nothing holding him back from doing the very same thing. Now, in partnership with his 26-year-old son, Garrett Johnson, Matt has embarked on a journey from corporate insight to entrepreneurial initiative as the owner of a Poolwerx franchise in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Matt comes from a background in e-commerce and marketing dating back to 1999, including a stint as the Director of Digital Media at The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. Ready for a change, he joined Poolwerx as a Digital Marketing Strategist in December 2022. 

“Around that same time, I also became a customer, as I own a residential pool myself,” said Matt. “This dual perspective as a team member and customer made the idea of franchise ownership appealing. When the Southern Tulsa territory became available — a region I'm familiar with and have lived in for about a decade — I saw an excellent opportunity.”

Matt's vision extended to his family, with his son Garrett joining the venture as a co-owner. A journalism graduate who previously worked in a conventional 8-5 job, Garrett saw this as an opportunity to break into something more dynamic. 

“Seeing my dad's involvement with Poolwerx really sparked my interest,” said Garrett. “Over six or seven months, we engaged with the Poolwerx corporate team and spoke with existing franchise owners. Their unanimous feedback was not only would they do it all again, but they wish they could have started young. I felt lucky I was still early on in my career.”

Matt agrees, saying he always wanted to get into franchising but never found the right concept until Poolwerx. “I wish I would have done this 20 years ago,” he said. “That's why I wanted to bring my son into the business. He has the time and bandwidth to grow this business and we can support him as a family venture.”

Choosing Poolwerx: A Strategic Decision 

Familiar with the Poolwerx model, the Johnsons say their decision to join the franchise was also inspired by an unmet need for quality pool services in their community.

“We had a very holistic understanding of the business model — we felt like it was a good time to get involved in this space, especially in the Southern Tulsa area,” said Garrett.

With a robust business model, Poolwerx has made a name for itself in both the residential and commercial pool service sectors. The brand's offering encompasses a wide range from salt chlorinators to preventative maintenance and pool filter installation. This diversity ensures that Franchise Partners have a multitude of avenues to explore within the pool industry, catering to various customer needs. This, coupled with a strong focus on training and technology, positions its Franchise Partners for success. 

“What was even more compelling was the chance to be part of a network where support and collaboration were paramount,” said Garrett. “In this environment, business owners aren’t competitors but collaborators, readily sharing advice and experiences.”

And as a corporate office member, Matt brought an in-depth understanding of how his fellow team members supported those Franchise Partners. “I'm confident in Garrett's ability to manage and grow our business because I know he will be backed by the robust support system from Poolwerx,” he said. “My role will be to assist him from a marketing standpoint and as an owner, ensuring we leverage all available resources for our franchise’s success."

Garrett, who will handle day-to-day operations, aims to deeply embed the franchise within the local community.

"We're planning to open a retail store in the near future and potentially expand further," Matt added. "Our aim is to strategically expand our presence, ensuring we maximize our reach and impact in the market."

A Family Business with a Bright Future

Looking ahead, Garrett says he is most excited to continue working alongside his family while also building the business of his dreams. 

“Our family has been very close my whole life, so when my father presented this opportunity, I was so excited to work together and collaborate on a professional level,” said Garrett. “I know we will make a great team moving forward — my dad used to be my little league coach and now I get to work alongside him as a business partner!”

Matt agrees, saying the family is thrilled to help Garrett seize this opportunity, especially with a brand like Poolwerx. 

“Five years from now, I know I’m going to be very thankful for getting in now,” said Garrett. “I didn’t want to look up 10 years from now and regret not jumping at an opportunity when I had it. You never know how fleeting these things can be in life. It's about making the most of every opportunity that comes your way.”

This year, Poolwerx is looking for qualified and passionate Franchise Partners like the Johnsons to help achieve U.S expansion to 120+ stores, including multi-site Franchise Partners with multiple locations, by adding 30 new franchises annually in the U.S. The team has identified several markets primed for growth, including Texas (Houston, San Antonio and Austin), North Carolina, Georgia, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

For more information on the cost to buy a Poolwerx franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/poolwerx