Advanced Chelation and Scaling Your Pool Business

Episode Overview: In this episode, Rudy Stankowitz kicks off Friday's show by sharing his personal experience with Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that recently hit Florida, causing widespread damage and flooding. Rudy recounts how the storm tore through his own backyard, damaging his screen enclosure and pool. He provides an update on the BioLab fire in Conyers, Georgia, which is raising concerns about the chlorine supply chain—especially for trichlor tablets—potentially leading to another industry-wide chlorine shortage similar to what occurred in 2020.

Despite the troubling news, Rudy brings a bright spot with an update on San Juan Fiberglass Pools expanding its operations to Walcott, Indiana, to serve the Midwest market. The episode then transitions into an educational segment where Rudy delves into advanced chelation chemistry and how chelating agents can help manage metal ions like iron and copper in swimming pool water, preventing stains and discoloration.

Finally, Rudy outlines strategies for scaling a pool service business effectively, emphasizing the importance of streamlining operations, leveraging technology, and focusing on recruitment and customer service to expand sustainably.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Hurricane Helene Aftermath:
   • Rudy shares personal damage from the hurricane, including a large tree crashing into his pool area.
   • The storm caused significant flooding and destruction in Florida’s Big Bend area and up through Valdosta, Georgia.
   • Rudy extends thoughts and prayers to those who lost their homes and loved ones, noting the tragic loss of 44 lives.
2. BioLab Fire and Chlorine Supply Chain Concerns:
   • BioLab's facility in Conyers, Georgia, caught fire for the third time in recent years, sparking concerns about future chlorine shortages, particularly trichlor tablets.
   • Rudy explains how the fire may impact the pool industry, recalling the severe chlorine shortage in 2020.
   • Authorities, including the EPA, are monitoring the situation closely, but the extent of the disruption remains uncertain.
3. San Juan Fiberglass Pools Expansion:
   • San Juan Fiberglass Pools expands its operations with a new facility in Walcott, Indiana, to better serve the Midwest region, reflecting growing demand in the industry.

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Transcript

Rudy Stankowitz (00:01)
Hey guys, it's Rudy Stankowitz. This is the Talking Pools podcast and welcome to Friday. I want to sound excited, but it's kind of hard to do that because there's a lot of things going on. First, hurricane. A week ago, Thursday, Helene came through Florida. Massive hurricane, huge. Category four, tearing shit up. eye of the storm hits the Big Bend area.

Everybody thought it was going to hang a left, it went straight up and through Valdosta, wreaking havoc. The folks on the dirty side of the storm, all underwater. That's where you have the greatest amount of surge. that's on that. Well, coming in the way that it came in, that would have been on the southern side of Helene. Me, I was caught up in the hurricane, not in the eye, but probably halfway between the eye and then the

being outside of the hurricane, so. Just enough to shake up some things leaves all over the yard twigs, things like that. Giant humongous branch in my front yard and then. At 1130 Friday night I heard a big crash. A boom of. Tree in my backyard snapped in half. Humongous huge massive tree. Probably 20 inch diameter.

maybe 50 feet tall from across the yard comes down through the screen enclosure for my pool into my pool. Well, half into the pool, half up on the pool deck. So right now, if it was a couple of inches over, it would have taken out one room in the house. But right now I have this big tree torn to shit screen enclosure waiting on the.

Insurance adjuster to call me back. I'll put some pictures in the video version of this I know you won't be able to see those and on Apple Spotify what have you but on YouTube Where it shows I'll put up some pictures and you can take a look at that

Ahem.

And again, for as bad as it is here, I know so many people have had it so much worse and my prayers and I'm sure everybody's prayers go out to those folks. A lot of people lost their homes. I mean, forget about pools underwater, which is a fact. A lot of people lost their homes and I believe Helene took 44 lives. So awful news there.

Cough cough

On a bright side, San Juan Fiberglass Pools, they've expanded their operations, opening a new location in Walcott, Indiana.

This move is aimed at serving.

This move is aimed at serving the Midwest more effectively, reflecting the company's ongoing growth in response to increased demand. Back to the hurricane, more bad news, BioLab. Remember in 2020 when the BioLab factory in Louisiana set on fire? Well, guess what? Right now, today, this is when I'm recording this on Sunday.

only a couple of days after the hurricane and after the big ass tree fell through my pool. But Biolab up in Georgia, Conyers, Georgia, it's on fire. What does that mean for us? Well, like I said, the chemical plant Conyers, Georgia sparked a fire erupted early this morning at the Biolab chemical lab in Conyers, Georgia.

sparking widespread concern about the availability of chlorine going into the future. Particularly trichlor products, trichlor tablets. The fire, which started around 5.30 a.m., was triggered by a chemical reaction involving water and reactive chemicals stored at the facility. So don't know if this was due to the hurricane or not. It happened today, today's Sunday. A hurricane passed through, had to be out of the area by

way early Friday morning.

But they do have, right now as we speak, there are emergency services on site.

this is not a solitary instance at this Conyers facility. This is actually the third time this plant has set on fire.

in recent years.

again raising alarms about the potential impact on our supply chain.

The BioLab plant, as you guys know, plays a crucial role in the production of trichlorocyanic acid, or TCCA.

It's an essential chlorine compound for pool care.

Again, a similar fire at Biolabs Factory in 2020 caused poolmageddon, which I know we're all still feeling the pain from. Yeah, there was a spike in the build due to the pandemic, but that fire took out chlorine supply and was the reason that the industry, the rest of the manufacturers couldn't keep up.

which drove up demand, which drove up pricing, which never came back down again.

So again, that fire in Louisiana led to significant chlorine shortages.

and price spikes across the US pool industry. Experts are expecting a similar outcome here with this fire.

Authorities including the EPA, the Environmental Protection Association, they're on site monitoring this situation.

Again, because this is the third incident of this type in recent years at this specific facility.

This only serves to highlight concerns about safety and chemical storage at this plant.

With BioLab as a key supplier of trichlor tablets, pool service professionals should brace for potential shortages and price increases. It's gonna happen again. The extent of it is unclear.

I can't tell you how bad it's going to be. I can't tell you if it's going to be as bad as it was in 2020 or if somehow.

we won't notice this hiccup or somehow this will just be a hiccup in production.

But disruptions in supply could hit the market as early as this as next week. Industry analysts are closely watching the situation and updates from BioLab and its parent company, KiKey, KiKey, KiK consumer products are expecting are expected once the fire is fully contained. So there should be a statement before you guys hear this episode. So.

I will do my best to keep you up to date on the situation. I know this is Friday, this was five days ago, but it's ongoing today. So cross my fingers that crossing my fingers that this was nothing and there is no impact from it. But like the rest of you, I can't help but fear the worst after what happened last time. Now we're going to turn this over to Pete just for a moment.

We'll hear from Pete and our sponsor, Ray Pak. And then when we come back, we're going to talk about two things.

We're going to talk about two things that have absolutely nothing in common. First, advanced chelation chemistry. We're going to jump into that. And then, how to scale a pool service company. Be right back. Here's Pete.

Calculation chemistry is super important in managing metal ion concentrations in swimming pools where you'll see metals like iron and copper can accumulate from a variety of different sources.

That's including your fill water, any metallic equipment corrosion, algaecides containing copper, all of those things left unmanaged. These metals can lead to staining, discoloration, and can actually contribute to water quality degradation.

water quality degradation.

I can't say it any other way.

So the way a chelating agent works is it actually binds to the metal ion, forming this stable complex that inhibit its reactivity. Today,

Today I want to talk about some of the intricate mechanisms by which chelating agents actually interact with metal ions like copper and iron. I want to take a look at the principles behind these interactions and their long-term effects on water quality, which is, you know, what we all want.

The goal of this chat this morning is to provide a detailed understanding of the role of chelation in metal ion management, focusing on the stability of metal complexes, potential side reactions, and their overall impact on your pool chemistry.

So chelation involves the formation of this coordination complex between a metal ion and the chelating agent. This is where the latter acts as a ligand. Hold that thought.

Ligand.

Likened. Likened.

LICK IT

Lick it.

where the latter acts as a ligand, donating electron pairs to form coordinate bonds with the metal ion.

Unlike simple ion associations, chelation often results in highly stable complexes because the ligand forms multiple bonds with the metals. It wraps around it, kind of like a claw.

And actually the name itself comes from the Greek word, chele, which means, guess what? Claw. Claw. So in pool water, metal ions such as ferric iron, ferrous iron, copper.

are present in small concentrations, but they can precipitate as insoluble hydroxides, oxides, or compounds, particularly when pH or oxidizer levels change.

particularly when your pH or oxidizer levels change.

Helating agents such as...

ethylenediamine triacetic acid or EDTA or

Aminopolycarboxylates.

bind these metal ions.

forming soluble complexes that actually keep the metals in solution and prevent their precipitation.

This reaction forms a stable chelate complex where the metal ion reactivity is reduced. The stability of the complex depends on several factors, including the nature of the metal ion, the chelating agent structure, and then of course the water's pH.

The higher the stability content of the metal ligand's complex, the less likely the metal ion

is to participate in unwanted side reactions such as the precipitation or oxidation. So it keeps it from changing.

Iron is one of the more common metal contaminants in pool water. Typically, it comes in from the source water or through corrosion of equipment.

It exists in water primarily in two states, ferrous iron and ferric iron. Ferrous is soluble, ferric is not.

Each state exhibits different chemical behavior and responds differently to chelating agents.

In aerobic pool environments, ferrous iron is readily converted to ferric iron, which is far less soluble and tends to precipitate out as ferric hydroxide. That's the compound that gives you those rust-colored stains on your pool's floors and walls.

Chelating agents prevent this oxidation process by bonding to the ferrous iron before it can undergo oxidation. EDTA, a common chelating agent we mentioned before, forms a highly stable complex with ferric iron.

the stability of that bond, the stability of that complex is extremely high, which prevents iron precipitation even in the presence of oxidizers like chlorine.

The chelated iron then remains in solution, reducing the water's potential for staining, and the chelated iron then stays in solution, resulting in a decrease in the potential for the water to recognize. The chelated iron remains in solution, which reduces the water's potential for staining and turbidity.

But you gotta understand that interaction between iron and chelating agents is pH dependent, like a lot of things. At lower pH levels, iron is more soluble. It remains in the ferrous state.

There, it can be more effectively chelated. However, as the pH increases, the solubility of iron decreases, and chelation becomes critical to prevent the formation of insoluble ferric compounds.

The long-term impact of iron chelation on pool water includes maintaining clear water and a stain-free pool.

However, chelation does not remove metals from the water. It simply keeps it in solution.

However, chelation does not remove metals from the water. It simply keeps it in a soluble, non-reactive form.

Over time, poor water management systems, including filtration and dilution, may need to be employed to reduce the total iron consolation in that system, to reduce the total iron concentration in that body of water.

Now in swimming pool environments, copper typically exists in a plus two stage of oxidation.

that also can precipitate out as copper hydroxide at high pH levels or oxidize to form unsightly blue-green-teal stains.

or oxidized to give you those teal stains.

So we use chelating agents to complex with copper to prevent those same reactions.

the interaction between copper ions and chelating agents, it's much simpler than that of iron to chelating agents.

because again, copper tends to exist predominantly in the plus two oxidation state in pooled water.

Helating agents like EDTA or citric acid form strong complexes with copper, effectively preventing its precipitation.

The stability constant for EDTA is similarly high.

ensuring the copper remains in solution, even under conditions where it would typically precipitate.

One critical mechanism of copriculation is the formation of a six-ring structure when EDTA binds to copper.

This structure provides significant stability to the complex, making it resistant to dissociation, making it resistant to dissociation under typical pool conditions. Furthermore, on top of that,

On top of that, chelation prevents precipitation because copper acts as a catalyst in specific oxidative reactions.

On top of that, on top of that, chelation prevents precipitation because copper acts as a catalyst.

On top of that, chelation prevents precipitation because copper acts as a catalyst in specific oxidation reactions. It reduces copper's catalytic activity, minimizing unwanted oxidation reactions in pooled water.

of copper is more important or extra important in salt water pools because

where electrolytic chlorine generation can accelerate the corrosion of copper containing materials.

By forming stable complexes with chelating agents, copper ions are sequestered, preventing them from precipitating in staining reactions or accumulating to harmful levels.

Like iron, however, chelation is not going to remove copper from the water.

Meaning that you have to keep tabs on this. You have to test your metals. Remember when water evaporates, the only thing that leaves the pool is water. Metals are left behind. So as you top off that water, if your source water is the source of metals, that level, whether iron, copper, manganese, or whatever, is going to increase over time.

The effectiveness of a chelating agent is determined mainly by the stability constant of the complex it forms with that given metal ion.

The higher the stability constant, more tightly the chelating agent binds to the metal and the less likely the metal is to react with other components in the pool water.

Cough

Chelating agents like EDTA have a high stability constant with both iron and copper, but still their effectiveness varies depending upon specific water chemistry conditions, including pH, temperature, and the presence of competing ions.

Selectivity is another critical factor in chelation chemistry.

chelating agents may preferably bind to metal ions over another based off of ionic radius, charge, or coordination geometry.

For instance, EDTA shows a preference for ferric iron over ferrous iron.

For instance, EDTA shows a preference for ferric iron over ferrous iron due to the higher charge and smaller ionic radius of the ferric iron.

Similarly, copper forms more stable complexes with certain ligands due to its ability to adopt a square planar coordination geometry, which is more stable than the octothedral geometry typically adopted by iron complexes.

which is more stable than the octahedral geometry typically adopted by iron complexes.

So the long-term impact of chelation on the pool water, it's closely linked to the stability and selectivity of the chelation agent used.

Highly stable complexes can ensure metals remain in the solution, preventing staining and discoloration.

On the other hand, if the chelation agent used isn't selective enough, it may bind to other essential ions such as calcium or magnesium, leading to potential water hardness or alkalinity imbalances.

So carefully selecting chelating agents, it's crucial to maintaining overall water quality.

chelating agents provide an effective short-term solution to the problem of metal ion contamination in pooled water.

Still, they have long-term implications for water chemistry.

The presence of chelated metal ions can complicate water management by altering the equilibrium between free and complex metal species.

Over time, the buildup of chelated complexes can lead to saturation. That's where the pool water becomes so overloaded with metal ions that they're no longer effectively sequestered by the chelating agents.

At this point, additional metal treatments or dilution may be necessary to reduce the total metal content in the pool. Just compare it to what's coming from the tap. If that's your source, we know that whatever happens, we can at least get it back down to whatever that level is, the incoming water.

Also consider that chelating agents degrade over time, either through oxidation or hydrolysis.

and then they can release these previously bound metals back into the pool water.

This can result in a sudden increase in free metal ion concentrations leading to staining and turbidity issues.

So regularly monitoring your metal ion concentrations and chelating agent levels, it's essential to prevent this. In some cases, using biodegradable or more resistant chelating agents may be preferable to ensure long-term stability and prevent the buildup of harmful byproducts.

The interaction between chelated metal ions and other pool chemicals also requires careful consideration. For example, high chlorine levels or other oxidizers can break down chelate complexes, releasing the metal ions back into solution.

Additionally, presence of phosphates, remember last week we spoke about sulfates, can compete with chelating agents for metal binding sites, reducing the overall effectiveness of the chelation process.

Understanding these interactions is crucial for maintaining optimal water quality in the long term.

Advanced chelation chemistry is essential for managing metal concentrations in swimming pools, particularly metals like iron and copper that can cause staining and water quality issues.

by forming stable complexes with ions, chelating agents prevent precipitation and oxidation, ensuring that the metal contaminants remain in solution and do not contribute to water quality degradation.

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Long-term management of chelated metal ions requires careful monitoring and understanding of the complex interactions between metal ions, chelating agents, and other pool chemicals. By examining the specific mechanisms of chelation, including the formation of stable complexes, the impact of stability constants, and...

By examining specific mechanisms of chelation, including the formation of stable complexes, the impact of stability constants, and the selectivity of chelating agents, water chemistry experts can develop more effective strategies for maintaining long-term quality of pool water.

Chelation alone is not a comprehensive solution to metal ion contamination because it doesn't remove the metals from the water. Instead, renders them inactive.

Over time these chelated metal ions can accumulate and their concentrations must be managed to prevent saturation or loss of chelating efficacy.

This is where regular water testing, dilution and filtration are essential for broader pool water management strategy.

One of the key takeaways from advanced chelation chemistry is the importance of choosing suitable chelating agents based on specific water conditions and the nature of the metals present. Not all chelating agents perform equally well under all conditions and selecting an agent with appropriate stability constant and selectivity for metal ions in question is critical in ensuring the long-term success of that treatment.

Moreover, the pH of the pool and the level of oxidizers and competing ions will influence the performance of chelating agents and must be carefully controlled.

Advanced chelation chemistry provides a sophisticated approach to managing metal ion contamination in pools. Advanced chelation chemistry provides a more sophisticated approach to managing metal ion concentrations in pools, offering a means to stabilize potentially problematic metals like iron or copper.

The formation of strong, stable metal ligand complexes minimizes the risk of metal precipitation and staining, contributing to clearer water and a more aesthetically pleasing pool environment. Nobody likes stains. However, the success of chelation-based strategies depends on in-depth understanding of the chemical interactions at play, continuously monitoring the metal ion levels and

periodic adjustments to water chemistry.

Through careful management, pool service techs can leverage chelation to improve both the short-term and long-term quality of pool water, ensuring a clean, safe, enjoyable swimming experience for pool users. And really, that's what it's all about, keeping the customer happy. We'll be back right after these messages.

We'll be back with how to scale your business right after these messages.

Rudy Stankowitz (42:15)
Hey guys, welcome back. I get it. You want to grow your business. You built it from the ground up. It required vision, grit, and an in. You built it from the ground up. It required vision, grit and an intimate understanding of operational landscape. But scaling a pool service company involves a different set of skills, primarily focused on expanding capacity without sacrificing the quality of service.

How do we do that?

So today, I want to outline some detailed strategies for creating scalable business models, managing growth effectively, and expanding into new service areas.

Scalability is often misunderstood in business. It's not merely about getting bigger. It's about growing in a way that your business can handle.

in the context of a pool service company.

Scalability refers to increasing your client base, service offerings, or operational territory without incurring proportional increases in costs or complexities that could otherwise overwhelm your business.

Consider the core aspects of your business's current bottlenecks to build a scale model. Are your employees overworked?

Is your administrative team unable to handle the volume of paperwork or scheduling tasks?

Is your equipment inventory limited causing delays in service delivery?

Or is your AND consider AND is your equipment inventory limited? Does that cause you delays in service?

Identifying these limiting factors are crucial before you can effectively scale. Before venturing into growth, it's essential to optimize the internal operations of your business. Many pool service companies are set up to work well in their current size, but not with expanded operations.

Streamlining these processes allows for smoother scaling.

One way to start is by evaluating your operational workflow.

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Consider every task from initial customer contact, scheduling, service delivery, invoicing, and follow-up. Use

Consider every task from initial customer contact, scheduling service delivery, invoicing, and follow-up.

Use this audit to identify inefficiencies and redundancies. For example, if your employees still manually log in at each job, transitioning to digital tools like scheduling software, route management systems and CRMs, customer relationship management systems, will create efficiencies.

Automated systems minimize human error. They expedite administrative tasks and allow your team to handle more clients. Another vital aspect of internal optimization is standardization. Transparent, standardized procedures for all types of service you offer will make it easier to train your new employees, delegate tasks, and ensure consistency across your service team.

Establish clear SOPs, standard operating procedures, for everything from equipment maintenance to customer interaction. This standardization also ensures that if you hire a team,

This standardization also ensures that if you hire

This standardization also ensures that if a new hire or team is introduced into the fold, the quality of service remains unaffected, aiding in seamless scaling.

Technology is your best ally in achieving a scalable business model. In the pool industry, technology advancements have changed how pools are maintained and how businesses are managed.

Take a look at something like Buffer Zone, the sponsor for our Monday podcast. They have tremendous, they have an incredible software, they have an incredible pool service software management system.

Whether you use that one or another, implementing a pool service software that handles scheduling, invoicing, and customer communications in one platform is the best place to start.

These platforms enable you to manage more clients with the same number of administrative staff, reducing overhead as your business grows. Additionally, CRM management helps track client history, preferences, and service records, improving customer satisfaction, which again, crucial to your long-term growth.

Routing software can also streamline how your team operates in the field. Efficient route optimization minimizes travel times and technicians can service pools and technicians can service more pools daily. These technologies also provide real-time updates to technicians allowing for flexibility in case of cancellations or urgent new jobs.

Automation is another essential element of leveraging technology.

Huh.

Automating routine customer communication, such as service reminders, appointment confirmations, and follow-up surveys allows you to maintain a personal touch without consuming valuable time. Additionally, integrating with cloud-based storage ensures your data is backed up, protected, and accessible from anywhere, allowing your business to operate effectively, regardless of size.

As your business grows, your workforce has to grow with it.

You're going to have to recruit and retain the right talent over the long haul.

Poor hiring decision can increase costs and harm your company's reputation. At the same time, high employee turnover can disrupt operations and impact customer satisfaction. To scale your business successfully, you gotta have a solid strategy of recruitment. First, clearly define the roles and responsibilities needed for expanding your business. Are you looking for additional technicians to serve as pools?

Or do you need more administrative staff to manage your growing client base?

Use this as a guide when posting your job openings to attract qualified clients. Once you've hired the right people, retaining them becomes critical.

Competitive compensation, benefits, and a positive work environment are essential for employee satisfaction. Beyond that, invest in ongoing training and development. This improves your team's skills and empowers them to take ownership of their roles. Technicians who understand the intricacies of pool chemistry, water treatment, and equipment repair

can troubleshoot issues independently, reducing reliance on management and improving service quality. Retention also ties into your company culture. As your business scales, ensure your team feels valued and a part of that success. Recognize achievements, offer opportunities for advancement. Recognizing achievements, offering opportunities for advancement and maintaining open communication channels

all contribute to long-term retention, reducing the churn that can be detrimental to your growth.

Another critical step in scaling is expanding into a new service area. Geographically, that may mean extending your reach into nearby cities or regions. Alternatively, you may expand by offering new services. Or maybe you want to offer new services that complement your existing ones. Both strategies can potentially increase your revenue, but they must be executed thoughtfully.

When considering geographical expansion, when considering geographic expansion, research the market in your target area. If there's enough demand to justify the cost of expanding,

Is there enough demand to justify the cost of expanding? Look into your competition, large franchises, smaller local businesses, just to get a better feel of where your service might have an edge.

You'll also need to assess operational logistics. Will your team be able to manage the increased travel time? Should you consider setting up a satellite office or base to optimize service delivery in that new area?

On the service side, expanding your offerings can help differentiate your business and attract a broader range of clients. For example, many pool service companies offer regular cleaning and maintenance, but don't provide repair services. Adding equipment repair or renovation services or advanced water treatment options can appeal to customers looking for a one-stop shop.

Consider partnering with specialists such as electricians or contractors to add these services without significantly increasing your costs.

As you expand your offerings, be mindful of maintaining quality. Scaling your business should not result in a diluted brand. Each new service or territory must meet the same standards that helped you to grow initially. Introducing too many new services at once can limit your resources and reduce client satisfaction. So pace your expansion carefully.

Financial discipline is another aspect of scaling your pool service business. As you grow, you gotta carefully balance reinvesting profits and managing expenses. One of the primary reasons businesses fail during periods of growth is poor financial management, particularly regarding cashflow.

ensure your pricing model is both competitive and sustainable. While low prices may attract customers, under pricing services can result in thin profit margins that hinder growth. Undercutting the market devalues the product as a whole.

It hurts the industry. It hurts you. It makes it so you can't do pool service in an area profitably. It makes it so you can't do pool service in an area profitably.

So focus on providing value and communicating that value clearly to your clientele.

high quality service, reliability and expertise, that's worth paying for. Clients understand that. They are willing to pay for something if they think they're getting that value out of it.

Budgeting for growth involves accounting for new hires, equipment, technology. Make sure you set clear financial goals and track that progress regularly.

As you scale, you'll need to more carefully monitor your profit margins and expenses to ensure that growth doesn't come at the cost of profitability.

Consider hiring a financial advisor, why not? Or working with an accountant who has experience in scaling service businesses. They can help you forecast expenses, manage your cash flow, and identify opportunities for strategic investments. allocation is also crucial when scaling. Expanding too quickly without proper resource planning can overwhelm your team and lead to, and quickly,

Expanding too quickly without proper resource planning can overwhelm your team and quickly lead to burnout. So you want to ensure you have enough equipment, vehicles, and supplies to meet the increased demand before you expand. Additionally, growing your team sustainably is vital. Hire based on projected demand, not just to keep up with your current workload. You got to plan for the future.

And as you scale...

Your brand becomes increasingly important. A strong brand like Pool Service, a strong brand will help you stand out in a competitive market. Your branding should consistently communicate the values and benefits of your services, whether through your website, social media, or how your employees present themselves out in the field.

You also want to maintain the highest level of customer service that you can. That level of customer service that initially brought the clients to your business should remain a top priority as you grow. Regular communication, attention to detail, and going the extra mile will build loyalty and drive word of mouth referrals. That's essential for growing business.

To maintain that level of service during growth, consider investing in customer service training for your staff. It's not a bad idea. Additionally, actively seek feedback from your clients and use that feedback to improve your service continuously.

Additionally, actively seek feedback from your clientele. Use that feedback to improve your service continuously. A scalable business model thrives on repeat compliance, a scalable business model thrives on repeat clients and referrals. So customer satisfaction should always be at the top of your mind.

Building relationships with other professionals in the pool and related industries can open new doors as you expand your business. Strategic partnerships with equipment suppliers, builders, or real estate agents can help bring in new clients and increase your reputation within the community. Attending industry trade shows? Awesome.

Joining trade associations, fantastic, and participating in local business networks can also help you stay connected to the latest and greatest new trends and opportunities. Networking is equally as important when seeking to expand into new territories or services. By building a robust network, by building a strong network, you can gather invaluable insights from those who have scaled their businesses successfully.

Whether it's through mentorship, partnership or collaboration, these relationships provide you with knowledge and resources that can ease the scaling process. Seek somebody out. Scaling a pool service business requires a well thought out strategy, encompassing everything from optimizing internal processes to expanding into new service areas by leveraging technology.

building a solid team and focusing on financial discipline, can grow your company's sustainability while maintaining quality and profitability. With the correct planning, your business can expand its reach and establish itself as a leader in the pool service industry. Strategic partnerships, branding, and customer experience will help you differentiate your business

from competitors while ensuring that your growth is consistent and sustainable. The foundation of scaling is preparing your business internally before seeking external expansion. By implementing efficient workflows, adopting technology that automates and optimizes critical tasks, and standardizing your procedures, you build a robust platform to scale.

These processes will reduce strain on your workforce and allow you to expand without the growing pains companies normally experience.

Recruiting and retaining the right people through training and development ensures you have a capable workforce ready to manage the increased demand that comes with growth.

Regarding regarding

Regarding geographic service or expansion, research and deliberate planning are essential. Expanding into new areas or adding new services requires understanding and market potential competitors.

Expanding into new areas or adding new services requires understanding the market and potential competitors.

Moving too fast without understanding demand or logistical challenges can lead to costly mistakes. Scaling slowly and methodically ensures that you don't dilute your brand or overextend your resources, helping you maintain the highest standards that initially attracted your customer base. Financial planning remains a cornerstone of successful scaling. As you grow,

Keeping a close eye on expenses and maintaining a healthy cash flow is essential. Without proper financial discipline, your business risks growing without profitability. Setting clear financial goals, maintaining reasonable pricing models, and seeking expert financial advice can help you navigate those challenges. Finally, as your business scales, as your brand becomes increasingly important,

A strong

Finally, as your business grows, your brand becomes increasingly important. A strong brand consistently communicating quality and reliability helps distinguish your business in a competitive market.

Customer experience, in particular, plays a significant role in shaping your brand. You build loyalty that fuels sustainable growth by providing exceptional service, gathering feedback, and continually improving your processes based on client needs.

Creating a scalable business model in the pool industry requires meticulous planning, investment in technology, a focus on your workforce, and disciplined financial management. By following these strategies that we've just spoken about, you position your business for long-term growth while maintaining the quality of service that defines your brand. Whether expanding geographically, adding new services, or optimizing internal processes,

A thoughtful approach to scaling will ensure your business thrives and kicks ass in your market. And isn't that what you're looking for?

That's all that I have for you today. Hopefully that fire didn't affect things too much. We'll see.

We'll know about it soon enough.

For those of you on the Gulf Coast of Florida, you guys are in our prayers.

I hope your families are okay. If you guys need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out. If I can help, I will. Talkingpools at gmail.com. Again, talkingpools at gmail.com. Just send me an email. Let me know you're okay. Everybody, until next time, be good, be safe.