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Ideas & inspiration for business owners

Discuss ideas and opportunities with other business owners and dive into topics like financial management, marketing, hiring, team engagement, and more.

  • 41 Posts
  • 120 Replies
41 Posts
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.  

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Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
3 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

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sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
3 months ago
J
General Member
jpandlGeneral Member
posted in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
Pricing Presentation and Structure Matters/Change My Mind

     I think that the way that you present the pricing to a customer matters. Specifically, in recurring services here in Florida. The two services here that have very dominate price presentation “ways of doing it’’ are lawn mowing and pool maintenance. Just look at the Skimmer Service Rate Index and you can see that 94.1% of all skimmer users are presenting with a monthly flat rate with chemicals included. Here in Florida when a customer asks you for your price on mowing or pool services, they are already expecting to receive a monthly flat rate number, with no asterisks or caveats. I like to think that this is happening in a Pavlovian way. Meaning that the customer has been trained or conditioned to expect the price presented in a specific way.     I am not concerned with the “how we got here” in this situation, rather I wanted to discuss the history only so that we can solve the problem of how to fix the problem of flat rate pricing in pool service.     I am new to the pool industry

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GreySharkPools
Conversation Starter
3 months ago
Michelle Kavanaugh
Skimmer Verified Partner
Michelle KavanaughSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
The Importance of a Customer Loyalty Program

In today's competitive market, a well-designed customer loyalty program can be a game-changer, providing numerous benefits for both your business and your clients. Here’s why you should consider implementing one and some tips on how to get started. Why Have a Customer Loyalty Program?Enhances Customer Retention: Loyalty programs encourage repeat business, ensuring that your customers return to you for all their pool service needs. Increases Referrals: Satisfied customers are more likely to refer your services to friends and family, helping you expand your client base. Boosts Revenue: Loyal customers tend to spend more over time, increasing your overall revenue. Strengthens Relationships: Building a loyalty program helps create a stronger bond between you and your customers, fostering trust and long-term relationships.Tips for Developing a Customer Loyalty ProgramUnderstand Your Customers: Know what your customers value most. Do they appreciate discounts, free services, or exclusive off

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Michelle Kavanaugh
Skimmer Verified Partner
3 months ago
Justine
The Pool Deck Community Team
JustineThe Pool Deck Community Team
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
On-demand access - Proven Paths to Scaling Your Pool Service Business: A Panel Discussion

This week, Skimmer’s own @nikiacosta hosted a panel discussion with three distinguished experts, each with a proven track record of successfully servicing hundreds of pools. Watch the on-demand recording to learn from their experiences and insights and how they are using Skimmer to scale and succeed!The best part is that we can keep the discussion going here in The Pool Deck, as we are lucky to have all three of our panelists as members!So tag our panel in this post with your questions, and let’s keep sharing and learning from one another, as that’s what community is all about ✨Thomas Diaz aka @365Pools_77 , Founder of 365 Pools, serving Brevard County, Florida Chantel Dooley aka @dazzlepools , COO of Dazzle Pools, serving the Fountain Hills area, Arizona Kyle Peter aka @KPeter , Owner of Nevergreen Pools, serving the Sacramento area, California  

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Bduprest
Conversation Starter
3 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

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sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
3 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?

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sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
3 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

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nikiacosta
Team Skimmer
3 months ago
sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
sharonburchSkimmer Verified Partner
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
If I'm using Skimmer, why do I need QuickBooks?

Greetings!I specialize in setting up QuickBooks for pool service business owners and bookkeepers to track financial transactions and provide the reports needed to make informed business decisions. In The Pool Deck, I’ll share information to help you learn new tips and tricks for running your business more efficiently with your software.I am going to start my first post with one of the most frequently asked questions I get from clients - “If I’m using Skimmer, do I even need QuickBooks?” The answer is YES! This question is typically asked due to frustration with using QuickBooks. They gave up trying to use it or ended up spending more money than expected to have someone else clean it up. If this sounds familiar, here are a few reasons why it’s worth taking another look. So, why do you need QuickBooks?  The answer is simple. It’s the easiest way to know the true financial health of your business. Yes, you can still send invoices from Skimmer (and should) and see the cost of your chemical

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sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
3 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

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Travis
Team Skimmer
3 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

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Josue Sierra
New Member
4 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

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GreySharkPools
Conversation Starter
4 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

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sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
4 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

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dazzlepools
New Member
4 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

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sharonburch
Skimmer Verified Partner
4 months ago
J
Team Skimmer
JesTeam Skimmer
published in Ideas & inspiration for business owners
On-demand access: From 0 to 1000 Pools in 365 Days Strategies for Growing Your Pool Service Business

When it comes to growing a business, there is a LOT of information out there. And with so many different ideas floating around, it’s hard to know just how to go about it. To give pool pros some actionable ideas to help fuel growth, Skimmer recently chatted with Casey Graham, CEO and co-founder of Yummy Pools, and author of ‘The No BS Small Business Book’ to get his tips for growing your pool service business.In this webinar, Casey covers 5 strategies for growing your pool service business:1. Focus! Do a few things really well2. Don’t be afraid to give up control3. Think creatively about customer acquisition4. Take care of your employees5. Don’t be afraid of technologyWatch the whole webinar to hear Casey’s insights on how to grow. 

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J
Team Skimmer
5 months ago

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