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Hi, I’m shopping around for general liability insurance and am looking for recommendations. 

Hi Everyone!My husband and I own Pure Blue Pools. For more than a decade, I have been in the software and web design industry before I was introduced to the world of pools. During my time as a web designer and co-pool business owner, I have learned a few SEO tricks that allow customers to find your website faster without spending any money on ads. For those who don’t know, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s a long, technical sounding phrase that simply means you should add certain keywords to your website, so the right people find you. As you know in the pool industry, when you know certain tips and tricks -- that non-pool industry people don’t know -- it can make your life a whole lot easier. The same goes for websites. All you have to do is make a few small changes to make a huge impact. Here’s what I’ve learned:1.) Before you upload or add images, make sure you rename them with your company name plus any other significant words. Be sure to add keyword-rich ALT tags to e

Hi Everyone - is there a pool app out there that can give you the gallon capacity of a current pool when looking to take on a new customer (maybe just an address to punch in to get the figure) - I understand how to calculate from the CPO course I just completed, but thought there may be a quicker way to get the figure - I’m sure alot of these pool owners don’t even know their gallon capacity or they think they do and the figure is incorrect - Just trying to save time and be accurate….. Thank you all in advance - hope you’re having a good work summer - brutally warm down here in SW Florida right now - take care and invest in some “poweraid” when it’s on sale…. Cheers from the rookie “Big Steve - BBG Pool Services”

This is Part 3 in a series of posts looking at how to stop managing and start managing as a leader. We are exploring are the critical aspects of effective leaders. THEY HAVE A DEEP CONVICTION TO SUCCEEDRegardless of how long it takes, these leaders hold a deep conviction that they will succeed in the end. They are tenacious. They don’t just give up after a short amount of time.In the book Good to Great, Jim Collins describes The Stockdale Paradox. Admiral James Stockdale was the highest-ranking U.S. military officer at the height of the Vietnam War. He was tortured over 20 times during his eight years at a prison camp. When he was asked how he made it through, he said, “I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life.”Jim Collins and his team recognized this was one of the defining principles of good to great companies. Collins writes how Stockd

We try to purchase all of our replacement parts through distribution for various reasons. We also typically only buy the manufacturer replacement parts for warranty and quality. I stumbled across this today and it isn’t the first time I've seen something similar. I was quoting a salt cell power center for a customer and the price difference between the generic part, the amazon manufacturer part, and the distribution part is absolutely crazy. The generic power center is less than $100 a day and I can have it on my door step the same day on a Sunday. Distribution is over $600 and that usually requires me to go to distribution to get it. I know buying the $100 part on amazon is a risk but one I’m considering to start taking more. I can mark the amazon part up to a much higher margin than the other. I will make more on the part and the customer will pay less. Sounds like a win win to me. What are your thoughts on this? Has anyone ran across other parts with such big differences? 

Watch the video or scroll down for step-by-step instructions.Tiers: Scaling Up, Skimmer for Enterprise Step-by-step instructions 1. Jobs → Open the job → InvoicesThis sections shows any invoices brought over from the original Quote and any new invoices added directly to the Job. You’ll see a hyperlinked invoice number, due date, total, remaining balance, and current status.If a deposit was required, it will also show the invoice to collect a deposit. When the deposit is collected, it will automatically be deducted from the next invoice for this job.You can use the trash icon on the invoice to remove the collected deposit. This defers applying the deposit and the deduction will show again the next time this job is invoiced.2. Once a deposit is paid, you can add additional invoices. Once the invoice is ready, you can save it, save and send it to the customer, or save and mark it as sent. Skimmer will continue tracking the status of the invoice, and that will reflect in the Invoices box.3

Watch the video or scroll down for step-by-step instructions. Tiers: Scaling Up, Skimmer for EnterpriseNote: If you have related work orders under the original Quote, they will transfer over to the Job. Step-by-step instructions 1. To create more work, go to Jobs → Open the job → Work → AddYou’ll get a pop-up box with two options: Choose a new work order: Create a work order from the list of your work order types. You will create a new work order and fill in all the necessary details. Choose from work items on job: Create a work order based on a work-related line item.2. Work orders are associated with a service location, and for each work order you’ll see the name, assigned tech and date, status, and associated products or items needed with their related information.3. See whether the work order is Scheduled or Unscheduled. The status of items that haven’t been marked as installed will be “On Shopping List.”For Finished work orders, installed items will show quantity and price. You ca

Watch the video or scroll down for step-by-step instructions. Tiers: Scaling Up, Skimmer for EnterpriseNote: You can only convert an approved Quote to a Job.  Step-by-step instructions 1. Quotes → More → Convert to Job 2. When a Quote is converted to a Job, the “Related Invoices” and “Related Work Orders” boxes are replaced to show the Related Job. Once you have converted a Quote to a Job, invoices and work orders will move over to the Job. You will manage the work and invoicing directly from the Job. 3. Customer info, service location/tax rates, related work orders, and line items all transfer over from a Quote to a Job. Flat rate discounts are transferred as flat dollar value.Percentage discounts and fees are transferred as “normalized” or flat dollar amounts, not a percentage.Deposit invoice and payments are transferred, and deposit status is maintained.The Details box shows Job number and status, customer and billing info, who created the Job and when, and the original Quote. Not S

Scroll down for step-by-step instructions and a detailed guide on how to use this report. Tiers: All The Payouts report displays which online payments and refunds are associated with each successful payout. Use it to match your bank deposits with customer payments and refunds in your accounting system. Step-by-step instructions 1. Select Billing > Billing Reports > Payouts. 2. The report contains two connected tables:Left table: Lists the payouts. Right table: Lists the payments and refunds that belong to each payout.  3. To view more details:In the left table, expand one or more Payout IDs by clicking the “+” icon. This will display the associated payments and refunds in the right table. Alternatively, click a Payout ID directly to open a window that shows only the payments and refunds for that specific payout.   4. You can narrow down the report in several ways:By Payout ID(s): Search for one or more specific payout IDs. By Customer: Search for payouts that include payments or

 In this video I recorded a typical day for me to show you what it’s like running a pool business. Estimates, service calls, incoming and outgoing calls and some tips and tricks along the way. I’d love to hear what other types of “day in the life” videos you’d like to see.Spoiler alert: Skimmer really helped during one of the calls to defend us as a company! Enjoy! 

This is Part 2 in a series of posts looking at how to stop managing and start managing as a leader. We are exploring are the critical aspects of effective leaders.THEY ARE COMMITTED TO A VISION.  Leaders inspire others. They spend time working on their business instead of just working in their business, and they are willing to embody their vision.John Yokoyama, the owner of the world famous Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, appeared on my weekly Business Leadership radio show. People come from all over the world to watch the fishmongers at the Pike Place Fish Market as they toss fish to each other. They are drawn there because the fishmongers have created a playful, boisterous environment.When you enter, you are instantly greeted by the market’s energy. I asked Yokoyama how he supports his crew and creates such a lively and engaging workplace.“Each crew member has made a commitment to making a world-famous difference to each and every customer who walks through the door,” he says. “As