Real notes from running pool service businesses.
Payments, route economics, hiring techs, chemistry callbacks, and the numbers we wish someone had told us earlier. Written by the people building Pooly, for operators running 1 to 50 routes.
Featured
Pool route valuation: a complete guide to pricing your business
Pool route valuation guide. The 8-12x MRR multiple, what moves the number up or down, how to document for sale, and what brokers actually pay in 2026.
Payments
Payments and cash flow
How long pool service companies wait to get paid in 2026
Pool service operators wait 30 to 45 days to get paid. What slow payment costs your business and how to cut days to cash with auto pay and e...
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Embedded payments vs payment integrations for pool service software
Embedded payments vs partner routed integrations for pool service. How each model works, what it costs, and how to evaluate which one fits y...
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Operations
Operations and migration
Auto pay for pool service customers: how to enroll 70% of your route
A practical guide to auto pay for pool service businesses. The script, the timing, the objections, and the math on what high enrollment does...
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Switching pool service software: a 30 day migration plan that does not break your route
A 30 day plan for switching pool service software without losing customer data, billing continuity, or sleep. The week by week timeline oper...
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How to hire your first pool service technician (and not regret it)
A practical hiring guide for pool service technicians. When to hire, what to pay, where to find techs, how to screen, and the 90 day plan th...
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Reducing pool service customer churn: a 12 month operator playbook
Pool service customer retention guide. How to measure churn, why customers leave, the 90 day onboarding plan, auto pay as a churn shield, an...
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Pool service marketing in 2026: the playbook that actually works
A pool service operator marketing playbook. The 5 channels that actually fill a route in 2026, what each costs, what to avoid, and a 30 day ...
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Pool service business insurance: what you actually need (2026)
A practical guide to pool service business insurance in 2026. The 4 policies every operator needs, what each one costs, and the mistakes tha...
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Pool service truck setup: what to carry on every visit
A pool service truck setup guide. Pickup vs van vs trailer, the tool list, chemical storage, testing kits, and the layout that saves 20 minu...
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Pool service pricing: how much to charge per pool in 2026
A real pool service pricing guide for 2026. Monthly rates by market, chemicals included vs separate, dual pricing for card costs, and how to...
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Green pool recovery: the operator playbook
How a pool service operator handles green pool recovery in 2026. The SLAM method step by step, when to drain, real chlorine usage, and what ...
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Pool route density: tighter routes, better margins
Why pool route density is the biggest lever on pool service profitability. How to measure it, the math behind it, and the plan to tighten a ...
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Pool chemistry essentials: the 6 numbers every tech should know cold
The 6 pool chemistry essentials every tech should know: free chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, CYA, and TDS. Target ranges a...
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Pool service customer onboarding: the 90 day playbook
A 90 day pool service customer onboarding playbook. The day 1 welcome, day 14 check in, day 45 chemistry summary, and the day 90 call that c...
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Pool acid washing: when to recommend it and how to price it
A pool service operator guide to pool acid washing of plaster pools in 2026. When to recommend, when to avoid, the procedure, the damage ris...
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Pool service quotes and estimates: a process that closes
A pool service quote process playbook for 2026. The intake call, on-site walkthrough, branded quote document, and the follow-up sequence tha...
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Pool service Google reviews: a strategy that compounds
A pool service Google reviews strategy for 2026. Why review velocity beats total count, the request that hits a 30% response rate, and how t...
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Pool service multi-tech operations: managing 2+ techs without losing the route
How pool service multi-tech operations run without service quality dropping. Route ownership, ride-along cadence, chemistry standards, and t...
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Cyanuric acid management: the most ignored number in pool service
A pool service operator guide to cyanuric acid management. Why CYA is the most ignored chemistry number, target ranges, testing accuracy, an...
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Why is my pool cloudy? Causes, fixes, and what a service tech actually does
Why pool water turns cloudy, the 5 most common causes, the exact test order a service tech uses to diagnose it, and the fix for each one. Op...
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Why does my pool chlorine drop overnight? The CYA explanation no one gives you
Why does pool chlorine drop overnight? 3 causes: low cyanuric acid, organic load, or a chlorinator problem. How a service tech diagnoses eac...
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Why is my pool foamy? The 4 common causes and how to clear it fast
Why is my pool foamy? Almost always sunscreen, soap, or low calcium hardness. Here is how a service tech diagnoses which one and the fix for...
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Why is my pool water yellow or brown? Iron, manganese, and tannin stains
Pool water that turns yellow, brown, or orange is almost always metals or tannins, not chlorine. Here is the diagnostic order and the fix fo...
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Why is my salt cell not producing chlorine? The 6 things to check
A salt cell that stopped producing chlorine has 6 common causes. Here is the diagnostic order and the fix for each, including when to replac...
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Why is my pool pump losing prime? The 5 causes and the fix for each
Why is my pool pump losing prime? Air in the suction line. The 5 common causes, the test order a service tech uses, and the fix for each one...
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Why is my pool filter pressure high? Diagnose and fix in 10 minutes
High pool filter pressure has 4 common causes: dirty filter, clogged filter media, restricted return, or a stuck valve. Here is the test ord...
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Why is my pool losing water? Evaporation, leaks, and the bucket test
Pool losing water has two causes: evaporation or a leak. Here is the bucket test that distinguishes them in 24 hours, plus what each repair ...
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Industry
Industry data and trends
Pool industry statistics 2026: market size, growth, and operator data
A 2026 update on pool industry statistics. Pool counts, business counts, market size, growth rates, and the data points pool service operato...
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How many pool service companies are in the United States in 2026?
How many pool service companies are in the US? About 125,000 in 2026, most with fewer than 10 employees. State by state breakdown and what i...
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Pool technician wages by state: a 2026 operator guide
Pool technician wages by state in 2026. Hourly rates and salaries for California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and more. CPO premium and ...
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Guides
Operator guides
How to win commercial pool service contracts (HOAs, hotels, apartments)
How to bid and win commercial pool service contracts. HOA, hotel, apartment, and gym pricing, what property managers want, the bid document,...
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Saltwater pool maintenance: a service operator guide
A pool service operator guide to saltwater pool maintenance. Chemistry baseline, CYA for salt pools, cell maintenance, pH drift, and how to ...
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How to buy a pool service route: a complete buyer guide
A complete buyer guide to how to buy a pool route in 2026. Where to find routes, due diligence checklist, purchase price math, seller financ...
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How to start a pool service business in 2026
How to start a pool service business in 2026. Real startup costs, licensing by state, getting first customers, and the 90 day timeline from ...
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Pool filter types: DE vs sand vs cartridge for service operators
A pool service operator guide to pool filter types. DE, sand, and cartridge filters on filtration micron, cleaning frequency, cost, and reco...
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Variable speed pool pump conversion: when it pays off (and when it does not)
A pool service operator guide to variable speed pool pump conversion in 2026. DOE mandate details, real payback math, when to recommend, and...
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Pool heater types: gas vs heat pump vs electric for service operators
A pool service operator guide to pool heater types in 2026. Gas, heat pump, and electric resistance compared on cost, efficiency, and climat...
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Pool service business taxes: deductions every operator should claim
A pool service business taxes guide for 2026. Section 179 for trucks, mileage vs actual expenses, home office, chemicals, and the deductions...
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