Ideas & inspiration for business owners

In this episode of Between Two Stops, I’m chatting with a familiar face in The Pool Deck community ​@sharonburch! We discuss the intricacies of managing a pool service business and focus on the importance of setting up QuickBooks correctly for financial reporting and decision-making.Sharon also shares her expertise in bridging the gap between pool service owners and accountants, emphasizing the need to accurately track income and expenses. We also explore pricing strategies, the significance of preparing for business transitions, and the essential reports every pool business should maintain for effective management.You can watch the video OR listen to the audio-only version of Between Two Stops on all major podcast platforms.  To subscribe, visit http://www.betweentwostops.com.Have an idea or want to be a guest? Drop a comment below👇 

The Hidden Cost of Neglecting Marketing: Why Pros Can’t Afford to Put It on the Back BurnerIn the world of pool service, you're often juggling a dozen responsibilities at once—scheduling routes, managing staff, handling equipment issues, and keeping customers happy. It’s no wonder that marketing often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. But here’s the truth: if you’re not marketing your business consistently, you’re missing out on growth, revenue, and long-term stability.The Problem: Why Marketing Is Often IgnoredMany small business owners, especially in the service industry, operate under the mindset that “good work sells itself.” While great service is essential, word-of-mouth alone won’t grow your business at the pace or consistency you need, especially in a competitive market.Here are the most common reasons pool service professionals put marketing on the back burner:Time Constraints: Daily operations take priority, leaving little time to plan or execute marketing strategi

It’s that time of year again… the start of POOL SEASON! Along with that usually comes hiring and training new staff to prep for the season ahead. My question to you is what do you do for hiring and training employees?? The video above is a cliff notes version of my successes and failures with hiring new staff. There’s been a lot of growing pains with this topic to figure out what we are looking for as a company and how to find them. The team I have now is the best I’ve ever had. Some luck is involved, some is “knowing” someone and the rest is just sifting through hundreds of applications to find the right fit. I’ve hired a lot of bad eggs along the way before I found the solid team I have now. So it’s not all unicorns and rainbows when wanting to grow. Believe me on that one! Hiring: We’re to the point now where we keep an Indeed listing open 24/7 to keep applications coming in to build up a list of applicants you'd like to hire when the time comes. Hopefully, this will create a quick

Tune in for an in-depth discussion with our friends at AQUA Magazine about The State of Pool Service 2025 industry report. This live discussion covers key insights, priorities, and challenges from the report findings that can help you thrive in 2025, including:How pool professionals are navigating economic challenges such as inflation and labor shortages Strategic pricing tactics to remain competitive in 2025 Insights into the growing influence of private equity in the industry Changes in marketing strategies over the past year The gradual adoption of the "plus chems" pricing model This is an excellent opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and enhance your knowledge in the pool service industry. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out, there will be valuable takeaways for everyone 🍿  

In this episode, we speak to Jordan and Maria Thiessen, makers of the Cyclone Filter Cleaner, an innovative product designed to make cleaning filters faster, easier, and with less mess. The best pros use the best tools, and this is one you'll definitely want on your truck! Learn more about the Cyclone Filter Cleaner at cyclonefiltercleaner.com and use code POOLPRO to get 10% off your order! Like and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Audio Podcast: www.betweentwostops.comYoutube Video/Podcast: https://youtu.be/uzL4gjD5_TQ Want to be a guest on our podcast? Email us at podcast@getskimmer.com and tell us what you’d like to discuss!

​We launched Groups in The Pool Deck to connect members with other entrepreneurs in their surrounding community to discuss topics related to owning a pool service business specific to their region. So, it's time to gather our group members, make introductions, and start having discussions to share learnings, collaborate on new ideas, and solve some challenges. If you have already joined your regional group, respond to the meet-up post in your group forum to save your seat and join this industry brain trust's initial gathering. If you haven’t joined your regional group yet, connect now so you don’t miss this opportunity to expand your local network – click here to check out the current groups. Virtual Meet-Up Dates Arizona on Monday, February 3rd @ 2 - 3:15 PM MST Northeast on Tuesday, February 4th @ 2 - 3:15 EST Florida on Wednesday, February 5th @ 3 - 4:15 EST Nevada on Thursday, February 6th @ @ - 3:15 PST Midwest on Friday, February 7th @ 2 - 3:15 CST Northern California o

 I am thrilled to announce the launch of a specialized QuickBooks Online course for Skimmer users, with a unique opportunity for the first people to register! By joining now, those going through the course will be actively shaping the course content by asking questions related to Skimmer usage in QuickBooks. These questions will be answered through personalized video additions to the course while giving you the answers to your specific questions. Additionally, exclusive live Q&A office hours on Zoom will provide further support and guidance.  See below for course details and click the registration link for more information: Register Now Course OverviewTraining Videos and Checklists:How to set up QuickBooks to generate reports specific to a pool service business Custom Chart of Accounts for the Pool Service Business How to set up invoicing in Skimmer integrated with QuickBooks How to reconcile payments received in Skimmer in QuickBooks How to book income in QuickBooks (invoice or sa

Now is the time to get unstuck and step into 2025 with a clear, growth-oriented mindset!  In this webinar replay, ​@nikiacosta sits down ​with ​@Michelle Kavanaugh, a seasoned consultant specializing in the pool industry, to explore strategies for overcoming mental blocks to support business owners in scaling their operations and setting goals that align with their vision.Watch to learn how to identify and tackle limiting beliefs to create a powerful vision for your business and develop actionable steps to achieve sustainable growth:A proven framework to shift from fear to confidence in decision-making Practical tools to set clear priorities and stay focused on your goals Insights into building systems and delegating effectively to free up your time Inspiration and actionable tips to take bold steps toward growing your business Also, check out the poll below and weigh in on what your biggest challenge as a business owner is right now. Here are the results from our live webinar:35% Recr

As everyone starts ramping up again for 2025, we’re offering interactive workshops in The Pool Deck on various business topics over the next few months. Led by our contributing experts, these sessions aim to help you with your planning and goal-setting by sharing their proven playbooks.Here are January’s workshops, click the links to get more information on what you’ll learn and to register:Mindset Mastery: Overcome Fear and Unlock Business Growth in 2025 on January 23, led by ​@Michelle Kavanaugh  Future-Proof Your Plan: Exit Strategies and Financial Security for Pool Pros on January 28, led by ​@DavidSPL  Attending these workshops is FREE, as our community is all about providing programming, expert insights, and resources. Additionally, we aim to connect you with your peers to support each member with access to industry knowledge, best practices, and product training. Plus, sometimes, you need a space to exchange ideas and find inspiration on your entrepreneurial journey, so you don

In this episode, we chat with Sonja Sawyer of Revdup Apparel, a company that makes high-quality, lightweight, stretchy, and chemical-resistant branded apparel for pool professionals.Sonja discusses the importance of branding and the design process and offers a special discount for Between Two Stops listeners.Check out RevUp Apparel's eye-catching designs at www.revdupapparel.com and find them at an upcoming trade show!Plus, you can order this custom shirt they designed especially for Skimmer: ORDER NOW 😎Fully Sublimated Long Sleeve Jersey. UPF50+ with MaxDri Moisture ManagementListen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or by clicking here 🎧 https://betweentwostops.com, or you can also view the video 🍿 

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.