The Great Franchisee: Dan Jones, Pool Scouts, Scottsdale, AZ

Dan Jones has spent the past 25 years leading large hospitals and healthcare systems, including St. Francis Medical Center, where he currently serves as CEO. This year, Jones is adding “business owner” to his already impressive resume as one of the newest franchisees with Pool Scouts*, the 50-plus-unit pool cleaning franchise out of Virginia.

Jones has signed on to open six territories with Pool Scouts in the franchise's largest development deal to date. His business, which is set to open in June, will service the Scottsdale area from Cave Creek to Tempe East through Fountain Valley. 

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

Dan Jones: I’ve spent the past 25 years as a hospital CEO in various health systems across the US. I’ve worked across various verticals of the healthcare industry, including hospital operations, multi-site health system management, ambulatory and inpatient care, and graduate medical education. I’m currently the CEO of St. Francis Medical Center, a large safety net Trauma Center in Los Angeles County. My team and I have been working diligently to keep operations running smoothly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last ten years, I’ve been looking at additional business opportunities to supplement my healthcare career and to plan for the future.

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Jones: I started looking into buying existing businesses through brokers over a decade ago. I knew I didn’t want to start something from scratch given my career obligations, and I spent countless hours evaluating various businesses through business brokers, and Franchise Coaches like Tom Scarda. With the advent of podcasts, I spent countless hours on the treadmill listening and learning about various franchise opportunities and experiences.

For the longest time, whenever I heard the term franchise I would always think of “fast food”. The further I investigated, the more I learned about the systems and structure involved in franchising. In healthcare, reducing unnecessary variation and implementing standard work is an important aspect of quality and safety. When I learned more about the industry and their use of systems, I got more excited about it and really immersed myself into all the different facets.

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Jones: I’m the only member of my family to go into the corporate world; everyone else went the entrepreneurial route owning their own business or working for themselves. That entrepreneurial nature is in our blood, and I soon began to get an itch to own my own business, too.

1851: How did you perform your research?

Jones: Mergers and acquisition is a big part of the CEO role in healthcare. I started looking at personal business acquisition over a decade ago. I always knew I would do something for myself at some point. Most recently, I started looking at the marketplace specifically related to the pandemic. I knew I wanted to pursue something that could be scaled. I knew I wanted to grow a large/complex business enterprise. I also knew I wanted my business to be based on a need and not a want. I focused on businesses that had a high demand. I also considered businesses that had a recurring revenue stream and recurring relationships with customers that were performance-driven. I quickly realized that brands in the home service industry were performing quite well and knew that was where I wanted to focus my efforts.

1851: Why did you pick Pool Scouts? What excited you most about the potential?

Jones: Tom Scarda actually introduced me to Pool Scouts, and it checked all of my boxes. I was introduced to the team at Buzz Franchise Brands and Pool Scouts and their approach, culture, and goals were aligned with mine. They really clicked with me. I was fortunate to be awarded the largest territory deal with the brand so far, and my goal is to keep on growing. The business is insulated from many of the headwinds small businesses face. It is based on a need and allows a recurring revenue stream. In addition, the business is outdoors in the sun, which is something that really excited me.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Jones: My first objective is to be recognized as the “best” pool service & repair company in the Valley and then to scale the franchise and to be awarded the entire Arizona market.

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Jones: Partner up with a franchise coach as they provide invaluable insight. Read, research and find some podcasts to listen to on franchising. There are so many podcasts that give you an entire spectrum of insight. Do your research and most importantly find out what motivates you.  When you find a brand you like, just do it. There’s no time like the present to get started.

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Jones: I’m an avid reader, and I enjoy fly-fishing, spending time outdoors camping with my son and/or watching my daughter ride horses with my wife, Leslie.

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 over 65 territories across 8 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.