About Pool Scouts Franchise

Pool Scouts Support standing in front of company vanPool Scouts launched in 2016 as the newest addition to the Buzz Franchise Brands family. Buzz Franchise Brands is a multi-brand franchising company founded in 2012 in Virginia Beach, VA and got its start developing the Mosquito Joe brand, which grew from a local business to a powerhouse franchise brand with over 350 locations sold in less than 6 years. When the company looked to develop their second brand, research showed that the pool cleaning industry was in dire need of a better and more professional solution. After many months of strategic planning and preparation, Pool Scouts was born.

Our brand promise is to create Perfect Pools, Scout’s Honor, and we take that job very seriously as our certified technicians served thousands of customers across 8 states in 2019. We have plenty of room to grow and continue to make a splash across the country, and we encourage you to continue diving into one of the best home service franchise opportunities that exists today. We would love to welcome you to our Scout family!

OUR POOL CLEANING FRANCHISE

Pool Scouts offers a great opportunity as a low-cost franchise in the pool services industry providing an essential service to homeowners. There are over 10 million residential pools in the United States, and they all need to be cleaned and maintained. Having a pool is a wonderful perk, but they take work to keep swim-ready, costing homeowners valuable belly-flop and cannonball time. That’s where Pool Scouts comes in.

All too often pool service providers are made up of a guy with a truck and a net and a sporadic schedule. However, with a Pool Scouts business, you can be part of establishing a new benchmark in pool service by adding a level of professionalism and technology unparalleled in today’s market. Through a consistent offering of recurring services, you’ll be making an impact for your community, while building a business that allows you to take charge of your future.

THE POOL SERVICE INDUSTRY IS POISED TO CLEAN UP

There are many advantages that come with running a franchise business in the home services sector: lower investment levels and overhead costs – with many opportunities affording the ability to begin operation out of the home, faster startup time timeframe, commonly a recurring revenue business model, and the list goes on. But you may not be as familiar with the pros of operating specifically in the pool service industry. Let’s take a look at some of the key benefits of this estimated over $6 billion industry. 

• THE POOL SERVICE INDUSTRY IS THRIVING DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES. - It’s safe to say that 2020 brought unique challenges to all business owners, as operating models were forced to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic environment. Fortunately, pool cleaning and maintenance businesses are recognized as essential, and our adaptable business model has allowed our franchisees to continue their growth. With the introduction of some new procedures to support CDC guidelines and best practices, Pool Scouts franchisees have continued to meet the needs of customers and growing demand for pool service.
• WITH MORE THAN 10 MILLION RESIDENTIAL POOLS IN THE U.S., THE NEED FOR QUALITY POOL SERVICE IS EVIDENT. - Across the United States, trends are positive in pool construction, which is great news for pool service businesses. And with more homeowners spending time outside and at home than ever before, residential pools are offering the perfect oasis. Keeping a pool swim-ready requires ongoing care, and Pool Scouts offers the perfect solution.
• CONSUMERS ARE RESISTING THE DIY APPROACH TO POOL CARE. - For busy pool owners, just looking at a pool is no fun, especially when it’s unclear what lurks at the bottom of it. One thing is clear – cleaning your pool is much less fun than swimming in it, and there are added benefits to working with a professional. First of all, if you don’t have professional training and education on pool care, mistakes can be costly; so while you think you’re saving money in the short term, you could end up costing yourself even more. Additionally, most manufacturers' warranties are void if service and repair work is not done by a professional. Working with a professional pool cleaning service company like Pool Scouts provides pool owners access to expert resources and keeps them up to date with the latest laws, pool care technology and tips that can save money along the way.
• THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE IS BARELY TREADING WATER. - According to IBISWorld there are over 66,000 pool cleaning companies in operation nationwide – yet pool owners struggle to find adequate service. The industry is fragmented and full of unreliable, unprofessional providers, leaving consumers frustrated as they jump from company to company. Our Scouts are highly trained and equipped with the industry’s best pool cleaning equipment to ensure a quality service. Using best-in-class technology, our customers know when we’ll be there and receive a detailed report of each job.
• IT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. - Worried about lack of pool experience? Don’t be. Pool Scouts provides an effective yet simple business model, and our experienced team will lead you through full business and field training to help you become an expert in all things pool-related. That’s one of the greatest advantages to choosing to pursue franchise ownership!

DIVE IN WITH CONFIDENCE

The Pool Scouts franchise model gives you the independence you’re looking for in running your own business, but it’s backed with a strong support team at the home office to provide guidance, answer questions and be there for you when you need a lifesaver.

Take a deep dive into our team profiles and you’ll see that our leadership is steeped in franchise knowledge (over 80 years combined!), with skills and experience across marketing, operations, finance and customer service. The day you sign on as a Pool Scouts franchisee, we are working for you. As a franchisee, you’ll benefit from our established brand and a strong marketing and operations team ready to provide you with tools to recruit and serve your customers.  We help you navigate the waters to a successful and easy-to-manage operation. 

WE’RE HERE FOR THE DISTANCE

Pool Scouts makes a dedicated promise to each of our franchise partners to really BE partners. Mutual achievement through teamwork is our mission and we’re focused on being there for you – through every stroke and every lap. As a member of our franchise team, you’ll benefit from:

• A SOLID BRAND: Pool Scouts is a remarkable name and a strong brand that captures the spirit of our work. Customers associate the idea of scouts as trustworthy, honest and prepared, and they’re right! Our marketing materials and messaging all point to that trustworthiness, but with a tongue-in-cheek approach that keeps customers smiling and keeps us top of mind.
• MARKETING EXPERTISE: We provide our franchisees with access to a complete suite of promotional materials (e.g., signage, van-wraps, letterhead, etc.) and the strategic support to deploy them successfully. By arming you with proven methods and effective marketing tools, you can focus on customers and growing your business, the Pool Scouts way.
• CALL CENTER: When customers call, we help franchise partners be responsive. The Pool Scouts Line is ready to receive calls 24/7 so your customers can count on a human experience to establish customer loyalty early on.
• BEST IN CLASS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TOOLS: Our innovative communications and tracking is unique in the industry and simplifies the customer recruitment process, your marketing and scheduling activities. In addition, we offer training and assistance in accounting record-keeping for our franchise partners.
• TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION: Before launching your Pool Scouts franchise, we provide you with a complete training program at Pool Scouts Headquarters in sunny Virginia Beach, VA. Your Pool Scouts education is a comprehensive curriculum covering everything from equipment operation and regulatory compliance to marketing strategies and leading business practices. Learning and maintaining Pool Scouts’ high standards of quality service is dynamic, which is why we also offer ongoing training to our franchisees.
• FRANCHISEE SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: With the disruption that the pandemic has caused, we’ve amplified our high-touch support model even further, working daily with our franchisees to ensure the long-term success of their businesses!

Dedicated to the core, the Pool Scouts organization is here for you at all times. Feel free to pick up the phone and call, whether you need answers, advice or just to say hi. You’re never alone with Pool Scouts.

COVID-19 SUPPORT

FRANCHISEE SUPPORT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Facing challenges is part of the experience of being a business owner. Entrepreneurs take pride in the personal and professional growth that comes with each bump in the road, with each barrier that is overcome. One of the best aspects of franchise ownership is that when these challenges arise, you have a strong support system to work through them with you. Whether facing economic challenges like a recession, environmental challenges such as weather, or labor challenges with the state of the employment market, you are not alone. It’s safe to say, however, that few businesses had previously experienced the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

So what has that meant for Pool Scouts? It’s meant re-evaluating and giving extra attention to every aspect of what we do – from the support we provide our franchisees as a corporate team to the services we provide our customers as a national brand.

COMING TOGETHER AS A TROOP

We’ve always valued being a franchisee-centric organization, but when COVID struck it became even more vital for us to unite as a franchise family. In addition to our regular monthly system-wide “Marco Polo” conference calls, we scheduled working sessions with subject matter experts and dispersed regular emails filled with information on the latest government relation issues, financial options and more. We produced video content to share new best practices for sanitation protocols, and there were one-on-one coaching calls happening consistently to ensure our franchisees were managing their budgets and operations efficiently during the ever-changing business environment. As we all worked through this together, some of the best ideas came directly from individual franchisees as they shared their own local experiences. It’s true what they say, “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

UPDATED TRAINING AND ONBOARDING PROCESSES

The demand for pools has sky-rocketed this year, leaving many pool builders backlogged. Pool service companies like Pool Scouts will reap the benefits of a big construction year with higher demand for service, making this a great time to be a Pool Scouts franchisee. However, today’s environment of limited travel and in person interaction has changed the way we onboard and train our new business owners. From transitioning our Meet the Team Days with franchise prospects to a virtual environment to adjusting our business training to a combination of recorded and live online sessions, we’ve adapted – all the while ensuring our franchisees have the full training and development they need to provide exceptional service in their community.

ADAPTING OPERATIONAL PROTOCOLS

The health and safety of our franchisees, team members and customers are paramount. Deemed an essential business, Pool Scouts continued to operate without pause throughout the year. Fortunately, our operating model allows owners to manage their business remotely through cloud-based systems, and our pool cleaning services are “no contact” – requiring no in-person interaction with customers. Still, we made various adjustments to our processes along the way to ensure the service we provide aligns with all CDC guidelines and state health department protocols. These have included additional PPE, sanitation practices both with our vehicles and on site, social distancing practices and general adjustments to customer communication and interaction. The demand for pool service has increased as families are looking for safe activities to do at home, and Pool Scouts is dedicated to being the trusted brand consumers need to swim safe and enjoy their backyard oasis with confidence.

KEEPING OUR CUSTOMERS INFORMED

When COVID became the topic of every night’s evening news, the general public was inundated with confusing messages and conflicting information – and each local area was acting under different rules. It was very important for our franchisees to cut through the clutter and over-communicate with customers and pool owners in general for what all this meant for their pools and pool care. Our team developed materials across a variety of channels – email, social media, our websites and more – to help educate, update and address concerns. For example, it’s important to know that a well-maintained and properly chlorinated pool will not spread the coronavirus, so a proper pool maintenance plan is key. We also needed to reassure our customers that our health and safety protocols during service visits had been enhanced, with new sanitation methods and social distancing measures. Finally, with more people – and kids especially – at home enjoying time in the pool, it’s vital that we continue to educate on water safety practices. We provided some fun activity sheets and coloring pages to help entertain and educate young swimmers.

REVISITING THE MARKETING MIX

It’s not just our franchisees adjusting to a new operating environment, our customers are also changing habits as they adjust their lifestyle around COVID-19 precautions. This means the marketing plans our franchisees developed for their business at the beginning of the year may no longer reflect the best strategies for today’s world. Throughout the spring and summer we have adjusted brand messaging and revisited marketing approaches with our franchisees to ensure their dollars are being spent intelligently. While we’re bummed to be out in the community a little less with so many canceled events, we’re still finding effective ways to spread the Pool Scouts message to our communities online or through the mailbox.

Ready to take the next step?