Skip to main content

Growing your business

Tap into the community network to buy and sell routes and share information & best practices to help you grow as a business owner and leader.

64 Posts
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
On-demand access: How to Raise Prices (and Increase Profit)

In this webinar, Bryce Sirrine and Niki Acosta discuss the why, when, and how of raising prices, as well as debut the Skimmer Price Increase & Profit Calculator.  

400
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
7 months ago
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
On-demand access: Making Cash Flow - Best Practices to Get Paid Faster

The best pool & spa pros know strong cash flow is the key to growth. Hiring techs, buying new trucks and equipment, and even keeping up with chemical prices all require a healthy bottom line.Join Skimmer and special guest, Professor of Accounting Eric Hirst, as we discuss how to fund growth (or pad your retirement) by making simple changes that accelerate your ability to generate cash. You’ll learn:How to measure the health and speed of your cash flow How to create a payment experience that helps customers pay faster The financial metrics you need to know (and lenders or acquirers want to see) The 3 simple rules to maximize cash flow (spoiler: don’t take cash)  

180
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
7 months ago
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
On-demand access: Managing Expectations with Service Agreements

Do you have customers who refuse preventative service? Do you find yourself chasing down payments for customers who consistently pay late?In this webinar, Beyond Pool Cleaning owner Bryce Sirrine and Skimmer's Niki Acosta share strategies to protect your business and delight your customers. You’ll learnHow to create service contracts with clauses that protect you and your customer Welcome packets that define success and create long-term partnerships Setting healthy boundaries and parting ways with customers who aren’t right for your business  

610
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
7 months ago
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
On demand access: Buying and Selling Pool Routes - Considerations and Best Practices

Buying and selling pool routes is integral to owning a successful pool service business. In this webinar, Owner of Beyond Pool Cleaning, Bryce Sirrine and GM at National Pool Route Sales, Chris Webb discuss considerations and best practices for buying and selling routes.  

260
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
7 months ago
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
sharonburchSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
Customizing QuickBooks for Business Insights

 The key is customizing your Chart of Accounts and Product Income and Expense accounts to align with your business and the reports you want to see. In order to generate reports in QuickBooks that show you the information you want to see, customize your chart of accounts tailored to your pool service business.For example, if you clean pools and charge labor plus chemical, I would suggest creating the following income accounts: Sales of Pool Cleaning Labor Income Sales of Chemical IncomeIn addition, I’d recommend creating a custom cost of goods sold account:Cost of Chemical SoldFor each chemical product you create, designate the income and expense account in QuickBooks accordingly: Examples: Non-Inventory Product: Granular Shock Income Account: Sales of Chemical Income Expense Account: Cost of Chemical SoldIf you charge customers for repair labor separately from the parts needed, I would suggest creating the following accounts: Sales of Repair Labor Income Sales of Parts IncomeIn additio

550
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
7 months ago
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
sharonburchSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
Sales Tax Settings in QuickBooks to match Skimmer

In case you’re struggling with QuickBooks changing the sales tax rate on invoices, this post may help resolve the issue. Without actually seeing your QuickBooks account, I'm guessing what I think may be the issue.My guess is that you may have each customer's tax rate in QuickBooks set to "based on location," therefore, QuickBooks is "correcting" your invoices with the tax rate based on the physical address of the customer and not using the custom sales tax rate you created and assigned in Skimmer.In order to stop the autocorrection, try the following steps:Set up custom Sales Tax rates that are identical to what you set up in Skimmer. Edit each customer's sales tax rate in QuickBooks to the tax rate that you assigned to the customer in Skimmer.Here’s a video to show you how to make the changes. I demonstrate how to use three tax rates, but if choosing to only use one or two, you would only create the custom sales tax rates needed and manually apply it to each customer as shown in the v

602
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
7 months ago
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
sharonburchSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
What’s your biggest challenges when it comes to using QuickBooks?

In talking with pool pros, I noticed there can be some eye rolling when it comes to Quickbooks and bookkeeping in general. Is this true for you? If yes, I’d love to learn what your biggest frustrations are when it comes to using QuickBooks. Would you mind taking a minute to respond to the poll below?I’ll use your feedback to share the top three challenges in a future post, along with specific resources to address those challenges directly, once several people have taken the poll.Thanks in advance! What’s your biggest challenges when it comes to using QuickBooks?

1143
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
7 months ago
nikiacosta
Team Skimmer
nikiacostaTeam Skimmer
posted in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
Clean is Key: Keep Clients Happy Between Service Visits With Pool Cleaners - AQUA Magazine

Upsell opportunities! Bonus if you’re skilled in the art of repairing Polaris units. https://www.aquamagazine.com/retail/pool-cleaners/article/15668847/clean-is-key-keep-clients-happy-between-service-visits-with-pool-cleaners?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATHLCD240530006&utm_term=&oly_enc_id=3792A1312967B9X

180
nikiacosta
Team Skimmer
7 months ago
Michelle Kavanaugh
Skimmer Verified Partner
Michelle KavanaughSkimmer Verified Partner
posted in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
Setting Revenue Goals for Pool Service Pros

As a pool service professional, setting clear revenue goals and accurate forecasting are crucial steps in ensuring the growth and sustainability of your business. Many small business owners overlook this aspect, focusing solely on daily operations. However, taking the time to plan your financial future can provide significant benefits. I'm Michelle Kavanaugh, President of MK Inc., and I want to share some insights to help you set realistic revenue goals for your pool service business.Understanding the Importance of Revenue GoalsRevenue goals act as a roadmap for your business. They provide direction and measurable targets to strive for. Without these goals, it’s easy to lose focus and miss opportunities for growth. Setting revenue goals helps you:Measure Progress: Track your performance against your targets and adjust your strategies as needed. Motivate Your Team: Clear goals can inspire your team to work harder and more efficiently. Plan for the Future: Understanding your financial ob

801
Travis
Team Skimmer
7 months ago
Michelle Kavanaugh
Skimmer Verified Partner
Michelle KavanaughSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
Mid-Year Strategic Planning

Hello everyone, this is Michelle Kavanaugh and I have been in the pool industry for 20 years mostly on the education side. I was the Mission Development Director of NSPF (the CPO people before PHTA) and then I was the Executive Director of the California Pool & Spa Association. I started my own business in 2019 and I am committed to mentoring small business owners who are ready to transform their businesses from a job to a legacy. Whether you're new to setting business goals or reassessing your current targets, now is the perfect time to review and pivot if necessary. If you haven't been a goal-setter in the past, start today! There's still plenty of time left this year to test strategies and try new things. Here are a few tips to get you started:Set Clear, Specific Goals: Define what success looks like for your business. Break Down Goals: Divide big goals into smaller, manageable tasks. Track Progress: Regularly monitor your progress and adjust as needed. Stay Flexible: Be ready t

551
Josue Sierra
New Member
7 months ago
J
Team Skimmer
JesTeam Skimmer
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
3 easy-to-implement operations improvement

I know it’s sometimes tough to take a step back and look at your business as a whole, especially when things are busy. But consider this your monthly reminder that small tweaks to your operations can drastically improve your business.And as we head into busy season, now is absolutely the time to carve out an hour in your day to make these tweaks. To make your life easier, here are 3 operational improvements you can literally make today to benefit your business tomorrow.🛻 TIP #1: Launch Strategic Discounts to Drive Business (30 minute) There are a few types of discounts to consider: Volume discounts encourage more frequent or larger bookings Seasonal discounts can even out cash flow in the slower seasons Referral discounts turn customers into advocatesHere are some creative discount ideas to attract quality customers and enhance your business:Loyalty Discounts: Reward long-term customers with increasing discounts, strengthening the client-business relationship. First-Time Customer Disc

1171
GreySharkPools
Conversation Starter
7 months ago
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
sharonburchSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
How do I set up a loan and loan payments in QuickBooks?

Loans and Loan Payments in QuickBooksSo you borrow money to purchase a truck or something else. How do you document the loan and loan payments in QuickBooks? A fellow pool pro asked this question and I thought it was worth sharing with everyone.This takes just a bit of set up but worth doing so. This is the way that I document loan payments.I think this will be easier to explain by video:   Loan Accounts needed in QuickBooks (screenshots below)Loan Name - Account type is “Long Term Liabilities” - Detail type is “Other Long Term Liabilities” Loan Interest Paid Name - Account type is “Expense” - Detail type is “Interest Paid”Example of Loan Account - Long Term Liabilities - Other Long Term LiabilitiesExample of Loan Interest Paid AccountLoan CalculatorGoogle “Loan Calculator” and put in your loan information to see the principal and interest allocations per payment. Here’s an example: https://www.calculator.net/loan-calculator.htmlEach time you make a payment, check your payment schedule

320
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
7 months ago
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
On-demand access: Ready, Set, GROW! How to Get Pool Accounts Through Digital Marketing

Thank you for all of your questions for those who could join yesterday's live webinar. It was an action-packed session overflowing with information and tips on using digital marketing to grow your business. There is still definitely lots to discuss and share on this topic, so stay tuned for more community posts!In the meantime, if you missed the live session or want to rewatch, here you go! And the beauty of our new community is that we can keep the lively conversation going in this post thread. So, continue to ask our presenters @nikiacosta @Ryan  your questions, and they'll respond below👇  Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll learn:Building your brand: Learn how to establish a strong and memorable digital brand presence to attract potential clients effortlessly. The anatomy of a great website: Discover the key components of a website designed to capture visitors and convert them into loyal customers. Understanding the digital marketing landscape: Learn the ins and outs of the digi

1464
dazzlepools
New Member
7 months ago
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
sharonburchSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
Why Choose Undeposited Funds for your "Payment Deposit to Account"? Reconciling Online Payouts

Why does Skimmer suggest choosing undeposited funds for payment deposits?Because it will save you frustration and headaches in QuickBooks!Choosing undeposited funds simplifies the reconciliation process and avoids confusion when checking transactions and reports in QuickBooks.How I reconcile Skimmer online payouts with QuickBooksWatch the video to see an example of the process I use to reconcile the payout received summary and payout detail reports matched to the bank deposit to update QuickBooks. Once you do it a couple of times, the process if quick and easy to do.Regardless of the payment source--credit card or ACH via Skimmer, cash, or checks---select “undeposited funds” when receiving payment.NOTE:Check your settings by going to Integrations>QuickBooks Online. Make sure that the “Payment to Deposit Account” is “Undeposited Funds” (or whatever you have Undeposited Funds named in your QuickBooks Online account)Undeposited Funds The steps I use to reconcile online payments in Skim

1610
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
7 months ago

Badge winners

Show all badges
Terms & ConditionsCookie Settings

©The Pool Deck by Skimmer Inc. All rights reserved.