E-320 Pool Nation Podcast - Your Pool Route Is Full. So Why Aren’t You Making More Money?

In Episode 320 of the Pool Nation Podcast - Your pool route is full. The phone is ringing. You’re working six or seven days a week. So why does it still feel like you’re not making the money you should be making? In this episode of the Pool Nation Podcast, Edgar De Jesus and John “JJ Flawless” break down one of the biggest challenges facing pool service business owners: being incredibly busy without actually building a more profitable, sustainable business. More pools don’t automatically mean more profit. We talk about hidden costs, route efficiency, customer profitability, pricing, burnout, hiring employees, leadership, and why understanding your numbers has to happen BEFORE you try to scale your pool business. We also go inside the vision behind the new Pool Nation Business Group and why Pool Nation is creating monthly meetings where pool business owners and leaders can actually work ON their businesses, not just listen to another presentation. The goal is simple: help pool pros build stronger, more profitable businesses while becoming better owners and leaders. In this episode, we discuss: • Why a full pool route doesn’t necessarily mean a profitable business • Why adding more customers can actually make your problems worse • The hidden cost of windshield time and inefficient routes • Why you need to understand customer profitability • How to know when your business is financially ready to hire • Why hiring your first employee can create MORE chaos • The connection between profitability and burnout • Why pool pros struggle to implement what they learn at training events • How accountability and repetition help business owners actually make changes • The tools Pool Nation is developing to help pool pros understand their businesses • Why leadership becomes critical as your pool company grows • How the Pool Nation Business Group will work • How pool pros, manufacturers, distributors, and industry leaders can participate The first Pool Nation Business Group meeting takes place October 29 at 6:00 PM at Pool Nation Headquarters in Dallas, Texas, with a hybrid option available for those who cannot attend in person. The focus goes beyond financials. We’re talking profitability, leadership, operations, employees, pricing, systems, accountability, and the decisions that determine whether your pool business actually succeeds. Master the Business. Master the Craft. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Why Pool Nation is launching Business Groups 06:00 – PSP Expo, hands-on training and business education 13:00 – Why financial success is Pool Nation’s first foundational principle 17:00 – Working ON your pool business, not just IN it 20:00 – Why the Business Group is more than a networking event 22:00 – Your route is full, so why aren’t you making money? 25:00 – Why doing more pools isn’t always the answer 26:00 – The mistake pool companies make when trying to grow 28:00 – Fixing profitability problems before you scale 30:00 – What does financial success actually mean? 32:00 – When can you afford to hire your first employee? 35:00 – Learning from other pool business owners 37:00 – Sponsor break 44:00 – Why great ideas from training rarely get implemented 46:00 – The problem with traditional business education 49:00 – Accountability, repetition and actually doing the work 52:00 – Pool Nation’s new business tools and software 54:00 – How route inefficiency destroys profit 55:00 – Calculating the real cost of windshield time 56:00 – The 13-step business journey 58:00 – When a $200 pool is really a $20 pool 1:00:00 – Turning information into action 1:01:00 – Why profitability alone isn’t enough 1:03:00 – Why hiring an employee can create MORE chaos 1:06:00 – Training, managing and developing employees 1:09:00 – Building leadership skills as your company grows 1:10:00 – How to participate in the Pool Nation Business Group 1:12:00 – Why manufacturers and distributors belong in the room 1:19:00 – Final thoughts on the future of Pool Nation Business Groups 1:22:00 – Making the commitment to work on your business 1:24:00 – How to register and participate remotely THANK YOU TO OUR POOL NATION VISIONARY PARTNERS SPPA BluRay XL AquaStar Pool Products Natural Chemistry Raypak Heritage Pool Supply Hayward Pool Products Poolside Tech Pool Brain Nidec / U.S. Motors OnCore Filtration Encore Brands These partners help Pool Nation continue creating education, training, events, business resources, and content designed to elevate the swimming pool industry and help pool professionals succeed.