Advertise on podcast: The Pool Pros Podcast

Ryan Flannery helped build a pool company from zero to 700 accounts in just 18 months—without buying routes. The primary growth engine was paid advertising, and in this episode he breaks down the marketing and sales playbook behind that growth.  We cover: Google Ads vs. Meta Ads for pool companiesWhy some pool markets are much harder to grow inUsing video and the owner’s face to lower lead costsWhat makes a pool service ad actually convertWhy Ryan prefers price anchoring over discountsSpeed-to-lead and why most companies follow up too slowlyWhen to hire a dedicated salespersonThe follow-up cadence Ryan recommendsAutomation vs. human sales follow-upTurning old leads into new customersIf you want to grow your pool route organically instead of relying solely on acquisitions, Ryan lays out a highly tactical approach to generating—and actually closing—more leads.

Off the Deep End Pool Service has grown to 650 maintenance customers—and now the goal is to build a company that can thrive without depending on its owners. Angie Reinhardt shares how they’re creating the systems, team, and structure to make that happen.  We cover: Creating career paths that retain great techniciansUsing objective testing and performance reviewsCompensation, commissions, bonuses, and employee benefitsBuilding maintenance and repair departmentsManaging overhead while continuing to growThe KPIs Angie watches every weekUsing route density to improve efficiencyIdentifying more repair opportunitiesBuilding systems that replace the ownersCreating a business that can eventually be passed down or soldIf you want to build a pool company that operates like a real business—not just a job that depends on you—this episode is packed with practical ideas.

Tom Walsh left a 20-year corporate IT career, bought a 72-pool route, and eventually built Integrity Pool Service to 500 accounts. His approach isn't growth at all costs—it's building a simple, efficient, profitable company that can eventually operate without him.  We cover: Going from single-pooler to building a teamGetting through the difficult "toddler stage" of growthBuying small routes at attractive multiplesTargeting acquisitions that improve route densityTransitioning acquired customers and raising pricesWhy repairs now generate nearly half of company revenueFlat-rate repair pricing and margin targetsHourly technician compensation and guaranteed hoursUsing a warehouse to improve operational efficiencyBuilding the business into a retirement assetIf you're trying to grow beyond the owner-operator stage without unnecessarily complicating the business, Tom offers a practical blueprint for doing it.

Parker Conley and I are both newcomers to the pool industry—but we’re approaching it from very different angles. He’s building pool service software with Pool Dial, while I’m acquiring and operating pool companies with Best Day Pools.  In this episode, we compare notes on: Why we both chose the pool industryBuilding a business without a technical pool backgroundThe opportunity for better software in pool serviceWhy Nashville is an attractive market for pool companiesAcquiring routes vs. growing organicallyHiring and building a strong technician cultureWhat makes the pool business attractive to entrepreneursThe advantages of being an outsider to an established industryWhy there’s no single “right” way to build a pool company If you’re new to the pool industry—or considering jumping in—this is a candid conversation about what we’re learning, what we still don’t know, and why we’re both betting on the industry.

Brian Cox has quietly built one of the most impressive pool service businesses in Alabama—not by chasing acquisitions, but by creating exceptional systems and executing them consistently. Today, Blue Water Pool Service manages more than 450 weekly pools while running a highly organized operation built around quality, efficiency, and custom software.  In this episode, we discuss: Growing to 450+ pools without buying competitorsWhy premium pricing beats competing on priceThe 4-day workweek for techniciansHiring for character over experienceTechnician bonus structures that actually workThe importance of the first 6 months of the customer experienceBuilding custom software (“Flow”) to run the businessMargin targets every operator should knowWhen to invest in systems—and when not to Brian also shares why many owners build sophisticated systems too early and what he would do differently if starting over today.

Rich O’Neill has built one of the most technology-forward pool companies in the country by combining acquisitions, automation, AI, and creative marketing systems. In this episode, we explore how Happy Pools uses technology to generate leads, improve customer experience, and help technicians work more efficiently.  We discuss: Growing through acquisitions and seller financingWhy Google Local Service Ads outperform other channelsAutomated postcard campaigns for new homeownersInstant online pricing and AI-powered lead captureGoHighLevel and Pool Brain integrationsUsing AI voice agents after hoursCustomer sentiment tracking with AITechnician tools and AI troubleshooting assistantsWhen to build custom software—and when not toTurning internal systems into a SaaS product Rich shares a practical look at how AI is already changing pool service operations—and where operators can use it today to save time and grow faster.

Gianluca Carella entered the pool industry with no technical background, scaled a company to nearly 900 pools in just over a year, and then sold the business before pivoting into software.  In this conversation, Gianluca shares the marketing, operational, and leadership strategies that fueled that rapid growth. We discuss: Scaling from startup to nearly 900 poolsWhy acquisitions can become a bottleneckBuilding a premium brand instead of competing on priceMeta Ads vs. Google Ads for pool companiesThe “Free Month” offer that converted customersReducing churn through better onboardingGrowing repair revenue proactivelyWhy customer lifetime value changes marketing decisionsBuilding Splash to replace disconnected pool softwareCreating Pool Service Academy to elevate the industry If you’re trying to grow quickly while building a business that’s valuable at exit, this episode is packed with practical ideas.

Craig Sears has spent decades building one of the Southeast’s leading commercial pool management companies, and many of the lessons apply just as well to residential operators. In this episode, we discuss professionalism, pricing, specialization, and why raising industry standards benefits everyone.  We discuss: Residential vs. commercial pool serviceWhy specialization creates better businessesBuilding trust through professionalismFlat-rate pricing for repairsCreating scalable pricing systemsThe importance of insurance and risk managementHiring and retaining seasonal employeesWhy continuing education mattersWorking with HOAs and commercial clientsRaising the reputation of the pool industry Craig also shares why trying to serve every customer often limits growth—and why the best companies choose a lane and become exceptional at it.

Most pool companies don’t have a lead problem—they have a marketing and sales process problem. Garrett Preston joins me to discuss the marketing systems, sales strategies, and operational decisions that help pool businesses grow. From Google Business Profiles and Local Service Ads to customer retention and lead nurturing, this episode is packed with practical advice for operators looking to add accounts consistently.   We discuss: Why Google Business Profiles outperform most marketing channelsGoogle Ads vs. Facebook AdsThe importance of long-term lead nurturingConverting more estimates into customersWhy technical expertise beats high-pressure sales tacticsBuilding a marketing foundation before spending on adsStandardizing service across acquired routesChemical markups and profitabilityHiring and training techniciansCommon mistakes operators make when scalingGarrett also shares lessons from building, growing, and ultimately selling his own pool company—and what he wishes he knew earlier.

Buying a pool route is one thing. Successfully integrating it is something entirely different. Mikenzie Ryan has spent years helping scale pool businesses through acquisitions, including the integration of routes involving hundreds of accounts at a time. In this episode, she shares practical lessons on customer retention, team integration, systems, and operational growth.   We discuss: The first 30–60 days after an acquisitionHow to minimize customer churn during transitionsManaging relationships with selling ownersRetaining top technicians and leadersCreating incentives that actually drive performanceWhy transparency matters during changeBuilding SOPs that support growthScaling beyond 100 pools without chaosLeadership lessons from private-equity-backed operationsAligning systems, people, and culture during growthIf you’re buying routes—or planning to—this episode provides a practical roadmap for successful integrations.

Ryan Marcinik has completed more than 20 acquisitions in less than two years and built one of the fastest-growing pool service platforms in the country.   In this episode, Ryan breaks down the systems, incentives, leadership structure, and acquisition strategies that have fueled that growth. We discuss: Why the pool industry is ripe for consolidationFinancing acquisitions with seller financing and cash flowBuilding a leadership team that scalesUsing phantom equity and profit sharing to retain talentThe KPIs every operator should trackIntegrating acquisitions successfullyRaising prices without significant customer churnGrowing repair revenue without neglecting serviceBuilding a culture of transparency and accountabilityCreating career paths for techniciansRyan also shares why recurring service accounts remain the foundation of a great pool company—and why many operators overlook their true value.

The pool industry is changing fast—and technology is driving much of that change. In this episode, I sit down with Niki Acosta and Hal Denbar from Skimmer to discuss where the industry is headed and what operators need to do to stay ahead. We cover everything from AI-powered phone systems and workflow automation to industry consolidation, professionalization, and building businesses that can scale without depending on the owner.   We discuss: Why the pool industry is maturing rapidlyHow AI is changing customer service and lead managementThe risks of relying on disconnected software toolsBuilding systems that remove owner dependencyIndustry consolidation and private equity trendsWhat makes a pool company valuable to buyersWhy many operators struggle to grow past a certain pointThe future of technology in pool serviceSafety, insurance, and professionalism in a changing industryIf you’re building a pool company for long-term growth, this episode offers a look at what’s coming next.

Adam Courter didn’t grow up in the pool industry. After a career in banking, he acquired a pool service company and has since grown it from roughly 630 pools to more than 1,100.   In this conversation, Adam shares the systems, hiring practices, and performance-pay structure that helped fuel that growth while maintaining a strong company culture. We discuss: Transitioning from banking into pool serviceLessons learned from acquiring an established companyHow to build a hiring process that attracts the right peopleWhy culture is created through daily decisionsImplementing performance-based pay for techniciansTracking productivity without sacrificing qualityBuilding custom software with AI toolsTechnician onboarding and training systemsUsing technology to improve accountability and efficiencyManaging growth while keeping your team engagedAdam also shares why some customers aren’t worth taking on and how protecting your team can be more important than chasing revenue.

Most pool companies focus on getting more customers. Ronny Barrett focuses on keeping them. Ronny is the owner of Top Notch Pool Management in the Atlanta area, where he’s built a business around high-touch service, strong client relationships, and a concierge approach that stands apart from the industry’s “splash and dash” model.   In this episode, we discuss: Why customer loyalty matters more than rapid growthHow to maintain relationships as your company scalesThe systems Ronny uses to deliver a premium customer experienceHiring, training, and retaining high-performing techniciansPerformance pay, sales incentives, and upselling opportunitiesThe shift to flat-rate pricing and what customers really wantWhat concierge pool service looks like in practiceHow to vet customers and know when to say noThe impact of private equity on the pool industryWhy Ronny stepped back into the service manager roleRonny also shares lessons learned from route acquisitions, building a premium brand, creating trust when mistakes happen, and staying focused on your niche as you grow.

Dave Hawes has spent decades building H&H Pools into one of the most respected service companies in Northern California, growing to nearly 1,000 pools while staying intentional about culture, pricing, profitability, and lifestyle design.   In this episode, we talk about: Why most pool companies struggle when they start hiringThe difference between being a great technician and a great business ownerHow Dave thinks about payroll, margins, and route densityWhy he pays techs hourly instead of commissionThe operational bottlenecks that show up as you scaleHow they structure service tiers and pricingLessons learned from growing too fast geographicallyThe role delegation and middle management play in scalingWhy intentional vacations and lifestyle design matter for entrepreneursDave also shares practical insight on private equity in the pool space, route acquisitions, CRM tools like Skimmer and Pool Brain, and the long-term mindset required to build a sustainable home service business.