How commercial pool bidding works
Commercial accounts are not priced the same way as residential stops. Residential pricing is mostly market driven: what neighbors charge for a 18,000 gallon backyard pool. Commercial is built from the ground up. Labor hours × sell rate, chemicals at cost plus markup, an overhead allocation per account, and a target margin on top. The number that comes out is what you bid.
A single commercial account can replace 10 to 15 residential stops on your revenue sheet. Get the math right and one HOA contract pays for half your route.
Sell rate vs pay rate
The hourly rate in this calculator is your sell rate, what you bill the client per hour. Not what you pay your tech. A reasonable spread is 2x to 3x the tech wage. If you pay $25/hr, your sell rate should be $55-$75 minimum. The spread covers payroll taxes, vehicle costs, insurance, equipment, and your margin before you even add overhead.
Chemicals: included or billed separately
Most commercial contracts bill chemicals separately, with a 15 to 25% markup. This protects you from price swings. The calculator treats chemicals as included in the bid for simplicity, but the markup field lets you set whatever pricing you actually use. If you bill chemicals separately, set monthly chemical cost to your estimate and pass through the markup as part of your itemized bid.
Overhead allocation
Every commercial account should carry its share of fixed business costs: liability insurance, vehicle expenses, admin time, software, marketing. A starting allocation is $75 to $150 per month per commercial account, depending on the size of your business and the complexity of the property. Big resorts and municipalities should carry more.
Target margin
Commercial pool service operators target 20 to 30% margin on a well run account. Below 20% and you do not have enough cushion for chemistry surprises, equipment breakdowns, or a tech calling out. Above 30% and you are probably overbidding (or running a very efficient route on a forgiving property).
Property type adjustments
Apartment complexes
High bather load means more chemicals, more filter cleanings, more debris. Plan 5-7 visits per week in summer. Pool furniture and deck cleanliness often part of scope.
HOAs and community pools
Seasonal in many markets. Boards compare bids aggressively. Be prepared to break out the line items and justify pricing. Multi-year contracts can win on stability.
Hotels and resorts
Highest service standard, premium rates. Daily visits, spa, water features, strict health department compliance. Hotels pay for premium responsiveness.
Gyms and fitness centers
Indoor, controlled environment. Lower chemical volatility, higher bather load per gallon. Tight service windows (early AM or late night).
Public and municipal
Lowest margin per pool but volume contracts. Win on efficiency, compliance reporting, and reliability. Often require bonded contractors.
Commercial bidding FAQ
How do I figure out my sell rate?
Start with your tech wage × 2.5. If you pay $25/hr, set sell rate at $62.50. Adjust up for premium markets, complex properties, or specialized commercial work. Adjust down only if you are competing against established commercial operators with overhead leverage you do not have.
Should I include chemicals in the bid?
Most commercial contracts bill chemicals separately. Property managers expect a labor and overhead bid plus actual chemical cost passed through with markup. If you do all inclusive, build in a 15% buffer for usage variability.
How many visits per week does a commercial pool actually need?
Health codes in most states require daily testing for commercial pools. Property managers often handle daily testing themselves and contract pros for 3-5 full service visits per week. Hotels and high traffic facilities may need daily.
What margin should I really target?
25% is a healthy target on an established commercial route. New operators sometimes bid at 15-20% to win the account, then raise on renewal. Anything under 15% means you are paying for the privilege of being there.
How do I handle seasonal scope changes?
Two options. Bid annually with a flat monthly rate that averages summer/winter. Or bid summer (full service) and winter (maintenance only) separately. Annual is simpler. Seasonal scoring usually nets more revenue for active seasons.
Can I use this for multi pool properties?
Run the calculator once per pool and add the totals. Or use total combined hours across all pools at one sell rate. Both produce similar numbers.
Manage commercial accounts in Pooly
Multi pool properties, compliance reports, single dashboard for the office and field crews.