The Pool Pros Podcast

Pool Pros
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Interviews with pool service company owners who've built successful businesses. Each episode, we sit down with a pool industry pro to hear how they started their pool route, grew their team, and scaled their business. Real strategies and lessons learned from the people actually doing it — covering everything from pool maintenance and service to marketing, hiring, and operations.

  1. 25 ago

    AI, Automation, and Smarter Marketing with Rich O’Neill

    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.

  2. 18 ago

    From 0 to 900 Pools and a Successful Exit with Gianluca Carella

    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.

  3. 11 ago

    What Residential Pool Companies Can Learn from Commercial Pools with Craig Sears

    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.

  4. 4 ago

    Pool Marketing That Actually Works with Garrett Preston

    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.

  5. 28 jul

    What Happens After an Acquisition? Lessons from Integrating 1,000+ Pool Accounts with Mikenzie Ryan

    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.

  6. 21 jul

    20 Acquisitions in Two Years: Scaling a Pool Service Roll-Up with Ryan Marcinik

    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.

  7. 14 jul

    The Future of Pool Service: AI, Consolidation, and Scaling with Skimmer’s Niki Acosta & Hal Denbar

    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.

  8. 7 jul

    How Adam Courter Doubled His Pool Business and Built a Performance Pay Culture

    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.

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Interviews with pool service company owners who've built successful businesses. Each episode, we sit down with a pool industry pro to hear how they started their pool route, grew their team, and scaled their business. Real strategies and lessons learned from the people actually doing it — covering everything from pool maintenance and service to marketing, hiring, and operations.

Información

  • Creador
    Pool Pros
  • Años de actividad
    2026
  • Episodios
    18
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Pool Pros
  • Mostrar sitio web
    The Pool Pros Podcast

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