Pool Cleaning Business Start-up Costs [Detailed Breakdown]

Pool Cleaning Business Start-Up Cost Breakdown

Although each pool cleaning business is different, and individual costs will vary to some degree, there are several essentials every owner will need to buy or pay for before they can launch their business.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each cost and its price range.

Now, let’s look at each of them in more detail.

1. Registration

Before you can set up your pool cleaning business, you need to ensure everything is legal by registering it.

First, you must choose a suitable business structure, as different types offer different liability and tax treatment benefits. You can choose from:

• Sole proprietorship: Owned and operated by one person who is fully and personally responsible for business debts and obligations. That means there’s no protection for your personal assets if your business goes bust.

• Partnership: Two or more individuals share ownership, management responsibilities, profits, and liabilities.

• Limited liability company (LLC): A business entity that offers limited liability protection, flexibility, and the same tax benefits as a partnership.

• Corporation: A legal entity separate from its owners (shareholders). Can raise capital through stocks.

Registering a business will cost around $500 to $1,500, depending on the structure you choose and your location.

We recommend speaking with a professional business advisor if you’re unsure which business structure will work best for your pool cleaning company.

It’s important to note that if your company name differs from the legally registered name, you’ll also need to register a “Doing Business As” (DBA) name.

Complying with the registration steps sets the legal foundation for your business, allows you to operate within the law, and avoids potential fines.

2. Licensing and permits

Once registered, you must get a business license from your local city or county government. The cost can vary greatly depending on your business’s location and the type of services you provide, but a general business license typically costs $25 to $550 per year.

In some states, a Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO) certification may be mandatory and costs between $415 and $515.

Additionally, you may need specialty environmental protection and safety permits for chemical handling or performing significant pool repairs. These permits ensure you adhere to health and safety standards that protect your workforce and clients.

The costs for obtaining these permits vary considerably, so it’s best to check your local regulations and research exactly which ones you need in your area and how much they will cost.

Lastly, you will need a contractor license if your services include pool construction or structural repairs. This demonstrates your competence and credibility and enhances your business reputation.

The cost of a contractor license varies depending on your state, and the license also requires a course of study and a written exam. How you choose to study will also affect the cost—for example, completing an in-class study for the exam in California will cost around $500.

Gaining the permits and licenses necessary for your business before you begin operations will help you avoid legal issues and potential fines. Plus, it will establish your company as a trustworthy and reputable business.

3. Pool cleaning equipment, tools, and supplies

You’ll need to purchase basic pool cleaning equipment, such as skimmers, brushes, extendable poles, and a pool vacuum.

A single brush head will cost about $30 to $50, and poles can cost anywhere from $130 to almost $1,000. Of course, better-quality equipment will last longer and likely do a better job, but it comes at a premium. 

Then, you must stock up on chemicals like pH balances, algaecide, and chlorine.

We recommend setting a budget of between $500 and $3,000 to purchase your start-up pool cleaning equipment.

Investing in durable, high-quality equipment upfront can reduce long-term costs associated with replacements and repairs, providing more value over time. Efficiently managing these expenses is vital for maintaining a healthy profit margin in the pool cleaning industry.

ServiceTitan's Contractor Inventory Software is an invaluable tool for managing equipment expenses in pool cleaning businesses. It streamlines operations and enhances efficiency through comprehensive inventory management. 

Using the Equipment Tracking and Equipment History features, you can reduce downtime by proactively maintaining or replacing your equipment inventory and tracking exactly where each item is and where it’s been.

The Materials Tracking and Purchase Order Management functionalities simplify ordering and stock maintenance processes, ensuring all necessary supplies are available when needed—without overstocking. 

Using this integrated approach helps to optimize inventory levels and supports financial planning by preventing unnecessary expenditures.

4. Vehicles

A reliable service vehicle like a work van is essential for pool cleaning businesses, as it is fundamental in transporting staff and equipment from job to job.

Once again, there are different options you can consider when choosing the work van that is right for you. While a secondhand vehicle will likely be the cheapest option in the short term, it will probably have higher mileage and be more prone to expensive breakdowns.

A secondhand van could cost around $2,500 to $20,000, depending on the make, model, and other factors. A new van, on the other hand, can cost around $30,000.

Opting for a vehicle with ample space for hoses, chemicals, and cleaning equipment is essential for efficiency and organization—you don’t want to make two trips for every job. 

Incorporate vehicle expenses like maintenance, fuel, and insurance into your budget to avoid nasty surprises if something goes wrong. Planning for these costs is essential for smooth operations and disruption avoidance.

ServiceTitan’s Fleet Pro feature offers comprehensive asset tracking capabilities and allows you to monitor the location and status of your vehicles in real time. This visibility helps ensure they are used effectively and maximizes productivity by shortening response time.

With the Proactive Maintenance feature, you can efficiently manage vehicle upkeep thanks to maintenance alerts based on real-time data and usage patterns, helping to prevent breakdowns and expensive repairs by ensuring your vehicles are always in top condition.

Integrating these features helps reduce downtime and extends your fleet’s lifespan, ultimately contributing to better client service.

5. Pool testing kits

Pool testing kits allow technicians to quickly and accurately assess water chemistry, including pH, chlorine levels, alkalinity, and other critical parameters contributing to a safe, clean swimming environment.

Maintaining excellent water quality protects swimmers’ health and preserves the pool’s physical integrity by preventing corrosion and scaling.

Pool testing kits vary in price depending on the type of kit you get. A basic kit containing test solutions to add to a sample of pool water will cost around $13, and the price jumps to around $500 for a digital test kit.

Selecting the correct type of testing kit for your business is critical. It should deliver quick and accurate readings to enable effective treatment and maintenance decisions. While basic kits can come in handy on a small scale, a digital test kit is ideal as your business grows.

6. Vacuum systems

A vacuum system is the primary tool for removing dirt, debris, and algae from a swimming pool. Several options are available, from simple manual vacuums to sophisticated robotic cleaners, and therefore prices vary significantly.

It’s crucial to choose a vacuum system that aligns with the size and frequency of your pool cleaning tasks. Your choice directly impacts operational efficiency and the quality of service provided, which is a significant factor in your business’s success.

While a manual vacuum system is the most cost-effective option, at around $200, it requires physical maneuvering and is, therefore, not ideal for large pools or busy operators.

On the other hand, an automatic or robotic system offers far greater convenience and efficiency. They cost around $700 to $1,300. 

These advanced systems navigate and clean the pool floor autonomously and provide comprehensive cleaning without constant human supervision. High-end models are also capable of cleaning steps and water lines, so you can start them up and focus on other tasks while they clean.

7. Pool repair and maintenance parts

Keeping a stock of essential pool repair and maintenance parts can help you speed up jobs as you won’t need to wait for vital parts to be delivered. It’s a good idea to keep a selection of pumps, filters, hoses, and fittings on hand, as they are crucial for a pool’s efficient operation. 

The cost of these parts varies widely depending on brand and quality. For example, pool filters cost between $35 and $500.

We recommend budgeting between $500 and $2,000 for maintenance parts.

Partnering with reliable suppliers is an excellent way to reduce costs going forward.

8. Insurance

It’s vital to take out an insurance policy to protect your pool cleaning company from liability and unforeseen events like accidents.

There are a few different kinds of insurance you should look into. They are:

• General liability insurance: Protects against claims for property damage or injury caused by your services, which is vital when working on client property.

• Commercial auto insurance: Covers your work vans and any other vehicles used for business operations.

• Workers’ compensation: Provides coverage for your employees in the case of a work-related injury.

Each policy has its own cost, which will vary depending on the extent of your coverage and the specific risks associated with your business activities.

According to Forbes, the average cost of general liability insurance is $504 per year but will vary according to individual coverage needs. Commercial auto and workers’ compensation insurance costs will depend on your fleet size and number of employees.

It is a legal requirement that your business have some form of insurance. Plus, it instills confidence in your clients, as they know they’re dealing with a professional, secure business.

Speak with an insurance broker to tailor a package that fits your pool cleaning business's needs and risks. This will ensure you're not overpaying but are still adequately protected.

9. Website development & digital costs

In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial if you wish to attract new customers to your pool cleaning business and establish your brand.

Developing a professional website is a lengthy process encompassing design, functionality, and ongoing maintenance. The cost of developing and maintaining your website varies significantly according to the complexity and required features.

For example, a basic website with essential information about services, contact details, and customer testimonials can cost around $1,200 per year and between $2,000 and $9,000 (one-off) to design.

A more sophisticated website with features like an online booking system or customer portal is far more expensive to design and maintain—it’s worth chatting to a web designer for an accurate costing for your needs.

In addition to your website, you should devise a digital marketing strategy—covering aspects like search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and Google Ads—to enhance your online visibility. The cost of these marketing strategies will depend on the scope and scale.

A tool like ServiceTitan has advanced marketing features that allow you to create and manage campaigns—digital, like local SEO, and traditional, like direct mail—all from one place.

Quickly see which campaigns are working and which aren’t so you can channel your money to the ones with a high ROI. You can even add trackable phone numbers to your ads so you’ll know which ad is responsible for bringing in the most calls and bookings.

Additional Costs to Consider When Starting a Pool Cleaning Business

There are often additional costs associated with starting a pool cleaning business, such as:

• Pool service software

• Hiring and training

• Marketing

• Franchise fees

Let’s look at them in more detail to ensure you can manage these expenses effectively.

1. Pool service software

Pool service software is a tool designed to help pool cleaning businesses (and related businesses) efficiently manage their operations. Typically, it includes features like scheduling, invoicing, customer management, and inventory tracking.

ServiceTitan’s Pool Service software offers an all-in-one solution to streamline pool maintenance and repair operations.

The software includes scheduling, dispatching, and invoicing features that enable businesses to operate efficiently and quickly respond to customer needs.

Users can easily track job status, access centralized customer data for enhanced service delivery, and automate billing processes to reduce errors and save time.

Integrating ServiceTitan’s Pool Service software into your digital tools can help your pool cleaning business boost productivity and create a better customer experience, ultimately increasing profitability.

2. Hiring and training

Recruiting is a vital part of scaling your business, and an efficient recruitment pipeline will help you hire skilled technicians who deliver top-notch service.

Training your technicians is a great way to upskill your employees and ensure they have all the skills they need to deliver consistent, high-quality service to your customers.

Once you’ve added to your workforce, you can equip your technicians with the tools they need to enhance their productivity and efficiency, like ServiceTitan’s Field Service App.

The app lets technicians access job details, customer history, and invoicing on the go, enabling them to provide more informed and efficient service.

Scheduling is also streamlined through the app, leading to optimized routes and less travel time so technicians can take on more daily jobs.

ServiceTitan’s Call Booking software helps boost the performance of your customer service representatives (CSRs) by providing a seamless interface for appointment management and access to customer information and history.

Integrating this information enables CSRs to provide a quick and personalized service.

Additionally, the software has automated reminders and follow-ups that improve client communication and reduce no-shows and lost bookings.

Using the Field Service App and Call Booking software together helps pool cleaning businesses maximize their workforce’s potential, improve customer satisfaction, and increase business profitability by helping technicians and CSRs do more in less time.

3. Marketing

Marketing can be an expensive aspect of starting and running a pool cleaning business, but it is vital for attracting and retaining customers.

We briefly mentioned digital marketing earlier, but marketing involves more than SEO and social media. 

Traditional marketing methods like local advertising, flyers, and direct mail are still very effective for home services trades. Pairing digital and traditional strategies helps build brand awareness and drive customer acquisition, both essential for business growth and success.

ServiceTitan's Home Services Marketing software offers pool contractors advanced tools to boost their marketing efforts and optimize ad spending.

The tool integrates with Google’s Local Services Ads, which position your business at the forefront of potential customers' searches for pool services in your area.

Using this targeted approach helps attract locals who are actively seeking your services, which increases their likelihood of making a booking.

You can also add trackable marketing numbers to your campaigns to effectively track their success.

Quickly see real-time data on the number of leads each campaign generates, the cost per lead, and the conversion rate so you can adjust your strategies and maximize ROI.

4. Franchise fees

Fees are involved if you’re starting your pool cleaning business under a franchised brand. These fees give you access to established business models, branding, and support systems that can help you hit the ground running.

Initial franchise fees typically cost $84,000 to $207,000, depending on the brand's market presence and the support provided. Franchisees often pay ongoing royalties, typically a percentage of monthly revenue.

This cost covers continuous support—like training, marketing, and new technology—from the franchisor.

Going the franchise route is a lower risk than starting a new business independently, as you can access a proven success template and become part of an already established brand. This is appealing to entrepreneurs who prefer a structured business environment.

What are the Ongoing Expenses for a Pool Cleaning Business?

Maintaining your pool cleaning business’s smooth operation has ongoing expenses.

They include:

• Salaries: Payments for technicians, CSRs, and administrative staff.

• Rent: Storage and office space for equipment housing and managing operations.

• Software subscriptions: Fees for industry-specific software, like ServiceTitan.

• Licenses and insurance fees: Annual fees to remain compliant and protected.

• Accounting and bookkeeping: Ensuring your finances are managed, and you comply with tax regulations.

ServiceTitan’s Field Service Accounting software is valuable for managing your financial operations.

Using the Accounting features lets you seamlessly and accurately manage daily financial transactions directly from the front office. You can also establish accounting periods that help you close books promptly for better financial planning and analysis.

The Accounts Payable features simplify outgoing payment management and ensure all vendor bills are paid on time and correctly recorded. The Accounts Receivable functionality similarly tracks incoming payments.

This robust accounting tool simplifies financial management and provides real-time insights into your business’s financial health, enabling you to make informed decisions quickly.

The bottom line

Starting a profitable pool cleaning business begins with understanding the start-up and operational costs involved.

From initial registration and licensing fees to salaries and equipment maintenance, tracking costs helps ensure a healthy profit margin after the business launches.

Ready to streamline your pool cleaning business? Sign up to ServiceTitan today and see how we can help.

ServiceTitan is an all-in-one home service software solution providers use to streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and increase profitability. Join thousands of other home service businesses nationwide who already use it.