Pool Cleaning Business Overview
Pool cleaning businesses maintain residential and commercial swimming pools to ensure safe and enjoyable swimming conditions. These businesses handle tasks ranging from basic cleaning to complex water chemistry management and equipment maintenance.
Most pool cleaning businesses operate year-round in warmer regions, while those in colder areas often diversify their services during off-seasons. Many pool cleaners begin as solo operators and grow their business by adding employees and expanding their service area.
Related: Checklist To Start A Business
How Do Pool Cleaners Make Money?
Pool cleaning businesses generate income through various service offerings and product sales. The most common include:
- Regular Maintenance Plans: Scheduled weekly or monthly cleaning services include skimming debris, vacuuming pool floors, and cleaning filters. These plans provide steady income through service contracts.
- Chemical Balancing: Testing and adjusting pool water chemistry by adding chemicals to maintain proper pH, chlorine, and alkalinity levels. Businesses charge for both the service and chemical supplies.
- Equipment Cleaning: Cleaning and maintaining pool equipment such as pumps, filters, and heaters to ensure proper operation. This includes backwashing filters and removing debris from pump baskets.
- Opening/Closing Services: Preparing pools for the swimming season in spring and winterizing them in fall. This includes removing covers, cleaning surfaces, and adjusting chemical levels.
- Equipment Repairs: Fixing or replacing pool equipment like pumps, heaters, and filters when they malfunction or wear out. Services include parts replacement and labor charges.
- Chemical Supply Sales: Selling pool chemicals, testing kits, and other maintenance supplies directly to customers. This provides additional revenue beyond service fees.
- Inspection Services: Conducting thorough pool inspections to identify potential problems and recommend necessary repairs or maintenance. These services often lead to additional repair work.
Industry Statistics
Pool cleaning is classified under NAICS code 561790: Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings. These businesses perform regular cleaning, equipment maintenance, and water chemistry management for swimming pools. Here are some statistics about the industry:
Pool Cleaning Industry Size & Growth: The pool cleaning industry generated $7.2 billion in revenue last year. The industry has shown consistent growth, with an average annual increase of 2.8% over the past five years. Growth trends indicate continued expansion due to rising consumer spending on pool maintenance and increasing residential construction, including backyard pools (IBISWorld).
Number of Pool Cleaning Businesses: There are 89,046 pool cleaning businesses operating across the country. The industry remains highly fragmented, with most businesses being small, locally-owned operations serving specific geographic areas (IBISWorld).
Pool Cleaning Profit Margin: The pool cleaning industry typically maintains net profit margins that average around 11%.
States with Most Pool Cleaning Businesses: Florida leads the industry with the highest concentration of pool cleaning businesses, followed by other warm-weather states. This distribution correlates directly with the number of swimming pools and the length of the swimming season in these regions (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Startup Stories
Also See: Ideas for Naming a Pool Cleaning Business
Costs To Start a Pool Cleaning Business
Starting a pool cleaning business typically costs between $10,000 and $50,000. The range varies based on equipment quality, vehicle choice, and initial supply inventory. Here are some of the common startup expenses:
Equipment and Tools: Professional pool cleaning equipment includes telescopic poles, vacuum heads, nets, brushes, test kits, and automated cleaning systems. A complete set of commercial-grade equipment typically ranges from $2,000 to $5,000.
Vehicle: A reliable truck or van is needed to transport equipment, chemicals, and supplies to customer locations. The vehicle needs storage space for equipment and should be presentable to customers. Vehicle costs range from $15,000 to $25,000.
Chemical Inventory: An initial stock of chemicals is needed, including chlorine, pH adjusters, algaecides, and testing supplies. Building a starting inventory usually costs between $1,500 and $3,000.
Insurance: Business liability insurance protects against accidents and damage that may occur while servicing pools. Insurance also covers equipment and vehicles used for the business. Coverage typically costs between $2,000 and $4,000 annually.
Training and Certification: Professional certification courses teach proper pool maintenance, chemical handling, and safety procedures. Training programs and certification fees generally cost between $500 and $1,500.
These estimates represent average costs, and actual expenses may differ when starting your business.
Resources:
Pool & Hot Tub Alliance