The Winning Franchisee | Local Entrepreneurs Open Pool Scouts To Satisfy Unmet Demand in the Piedmont

Katie and Jeremy Godfrey are no strangers to business ownership in the Piedmont area. The couple has loved starting and growing successful businesses in their community since 2005. When they had their own pool installed, they struggled to find a pool maintenance company to service their pool. The Godfreys found that their neighbors had the same problem. They decided to take action by opening the pool service franchise, Pool Scouts*, in the Piedmont and greater Greensboro area.

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.

The couple is excited to add another business to their portfolio, especially one that will provide a much-needed service to their fellow community members and bring jobs as well. The Godfreys look forward to growing and expanding their new business so they can continue providing excellent customer service.

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

Jeremy Godfrey: I was involved in law enforcement for 17 years — 12 of those years were with Forsyth County. Katie and I have been business partners and have been married since 2005. Together we owned a residential construction company, JS Godfrey Custom Homes, specializing in custom homes. Katie has been a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty since 2014.

We began looking into franchising because we saw a need for pool cleaning and maintenance in our area. We installed our own pool and quickly realized that there were no professional and reliable companies that would service our inground pool. After speaking to other pool owners, we found that this was not a unique scenario. Pool owners were being stood up on a regular basis, assuming that they could be scheduled at all. If service had been provided, then the services lacked in detail and professionalism. We quickly noticed that our community could greatly benefit from a service like Pool Scouts.

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?

Jeremy: I thought franchising was just a money grab, but in reality, there’s so much added value. Especially with Pool Scouts. Someone without experience in an industry can open a successful business with support from a franchise.

1851: What makes you stand out as business owners in your local community?

Katie Godfrey: We live and have raised our family in the same community that we serve and that has always been important to us. I think the Piedmont will appreciate our drive to create jobs here and an even greater desire to provide exemplary service to fellow pool owners. There are at least 12,000 pools in the Piedmont, and we know that if we had problems finding a reliable pool maintenance company, then other people would, too.

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

Katie: We loved the culture of Pool Scouts. They are always in communication with us and other franchisees for support and training. We aren’t new to business ownership, so it was important to align ourselves with an authentic company from the beginning. Pool Scouts was transparent in their desire to see us succeed, and because of that, we want to exceed their expectations.

Jeremy: We fell in love with the marketing and the Buzz Franchise team. Once we met the team, it reiterated everything we thought we saw.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Jeremy: We want to expand and grow our business within our territory. We will open a second location within the next year in Concord, NC, and then hopefully expand into South Carolina.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Jeremy: We have grit and hustle. We are the type of people to do whatever is necessary to provide next-level customer service.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Katie: Make sure that the company you choose to partner with wants to see you succeed. Make sure they are just as invested in your business as you are.