Swimming Pool Sanitation and Maintenance Service - Business Ideas

Swimming pool sanitation is the process of ensuring healthy conditions in swimming pools, hot tubs, plunge pools, and similar recreational water venues. Proper sanitation is needed to maintain the visual clarity of water and to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. Contamination can be minimized by good swimmer hygiene practices such as showering before and after swimming, not letting children swim with intestinal disorders. Effective treatments are needed to address contaminants in pool water because preventing the introduction of pool contaminants, pathogenic and non-pathogenic, into swimming pools is impossible. Swimming pools abound in the Unites States, with 8.6 million counted in 2007, according to a market research report titled “U.S. Market for Swimming Pool Equipment and Maintenance Products.” Consumers spent nearly $3 billion on pool equipment and maintenance products in the years 2002 through 2006. This figure is projected to reach $3.8 billion in 2011. With organization and some planning, it’s possible to launch a successful and profitable swimming pool cleaning and repair business.

If you want to start a pool cleaning small business, you'll find plenty of opportunities -- meticulous pool maintenance is critical for homeowners, gyms, and apartments and motels.

Swimming Pool Sanitation and Maintenance Service Instruction:

Things Needed:

• Permits
• Liability insurance
• Pool cleaning equipment
• Pool repair equipment
• Vehicle
• Business cards
• Flyers
• Discount cards
• Brochures
• Workers
• Website
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Drinking water
• Oxygen supply systems

Operating a pool cleaning service is one of those small business ideas where you might have business year round or you might be able to take time off in the off season. Those who live in warmer climes will be able to boost their income due to the large number of private pools needing cleaning year-round, while in colder regions, pool cleaners can earn money by helping owners shut down and reopen their pools as the seasons change. Based on four weekly visits, experienced pool cleaners can expect to earn between $75 and $165 per customer per month.

Pool cleaners adjust the water's chemical balance and keep pumps and filters running. They scrub and skim when necessary. Their services are often needed after weather disturbances that can shower a pool with leaves and debris. The goal for most pool services is to establish weekly repeat business, because an individual startup will have a tough time attracting new customers.

Pool cleaning is not a learn-as-you-go enterprise. Pool cleaners should know their stuff, either through apprenticing or tagging along with a respected practitioner. Due to health codes, some states require certification for those attending to public and health-club pools, Jacuzzis and spas. In Florida, for instance, candidates must take an open-book test to become 

Pros of a Pool Cleaning Small Business

• Fresh air, water and nice homes are part of the pool cleaner's territory.
• Some of the manual pool cleaning tasks can help keep you fit.
• Because the work is usually done outside, pool cleaning hours can be planned around a regular workday.
• A casual dress code is acceptable; it's a physical job, after all. But you'll want to look like a professional pool cleaner, regardless.

Cons of a Pool Cleaning Small Business

• Constant sun and prolonged exposure to some pool chemicals can be health hazards.
• Like many small business ideas, it can be tough to build a pool cleaning clientele at first.
• Pool cleaning business may be tougher to find in colder regions, but you may also offer snowblowing or plowing during the winter. Additionally, many homes have year-round spas, even in colder regions.

What You Need to Get Started in a Pool Cleaning Small Business

• Good physical health. Efficient pool-cleaning requires energy.
• Business cards and flyers to pass out to pool-supply stores and contractors in your area. These sources will likely help you land your first customers. You can approach motels, apartments and spas as well.
• About $2,000 for basic pool cleaning equipment and chemicals. On this note, a knowledge of environmentally friendly products, including chlorine alternatives, can be a plus these days and help you set your pool cleaning small business apart from others.
• Reliable transportation to tote all of your pool cleaning gear.
• Certification. Check with your area's health department.
• Insurance
• Ability to swim. This cannot be overemphasized for those with ideas of starting this type of small business.

Pool Cleaning Services Small Businesses: Real-Life Examples

• BrenCon, a family business in Phoenix, charges $75 a month for weekly basic pool service, according to its website.

Tips:

• Adding hot tub cleaning and repair services is an easy way to diversify your offerings and up-sell to current swimming pool clients, suggests Entrepreneur.com.

• Maintain communication with pool owners throughout the year, not just in summertime. Cleaning and repair opportunities include cleaning up after storms and preparing for long holiday weekends.

• Consider selling pool cleaning supplies and retail items on your business website to increase sales.

• Apply for permits and protection. Start by applying for a business license, tax identification number and liability insurance. Some areas may have additional requirements specific for cleaning pools and working on different properties, so check with your local authorities, including the health department. Public pools may also have special licensing requirements.

• Purchase necessary equipment. To start a swimming pool cleaning and repair business, you need to buy a pool skimmer, hoses, poles, pool-testing chemicals and pH test kits. Leaf rakes and scrub brushes are also good purchases. Lease or purchase a dependable vehicle with plenty of storage space for pool cleaning and repair equipment.

• Market your business. Pitch your swimming pool cleaning and repair business to homeowners, apartment and condo property managers, hotels and motels, pool supply stories, fitness facilities and schools. Leave business cards and flyers at pool supply stores, and check with your county tax assessor’s office to see if they maintain a list of addresses of people who own swimming pools. Mail brochures, discount cards and promotional offerings to those addresses, or visit in person to introduce yourself. Join a pool association to meet pool owners and learn more about the industry.

• Hire workers. As the swimming pool business grows, you might hire licensed workers to complete the swimming pool cleaning and repair as you focus on administrative, marketing and accounting duties. Do background checks on all workers before permitting them to enter client properties, and advertise this security measure to customers.

Warning: 

• Working outdoors and with swimming pools can be potentially dangerous. Wear a hat and sunscreen, and keep plenty of drinking water on hand to avoid dehydration while working outdoors. Take care when repairing swimming pool electrical systems in wet environments, and you should also know how to swim in case you accidentally fall in. Be cautious when working with powerful pool chemicals.

• Cleaning swimming pools does require an element of strength to continually pull pool cleaning and repair equipment through water. Some repair jobs may involve underwater labor with oxygen supply systems. If you’re not comfortable or licensed to complete such tasks, outsource these responsibilities to an independent contractor.

Reference

• Pool Cleaning Service
• Pool Sanitation and Maintenance Service