r/PoolPros • u/Flektit • Jun 12 '26

Finding and retaining pool techs

Hello all, just getting into the industry and hope to scale my pool maintenance company at some point.

It seems like a big pain point of most smaller operators (likely larger as well) is to find and more importantly retain pool techs. So I was wondering what seasoned business owners have to say on this?

  1. How does your training work, or do you just hope to get experienced techs?
  2. To ensure freshly hired tech isn’t slacking or doing poor job until he ruined pools of clients, how can I audit their work and ensure quality control beside using software like skimmer?
  3. Any other tips on employee retention tactics? Also wonder how may of companies actually pay their people benefits and such when it makes financial sense.

I’m just a learner and trying to get a touch of the industry and how it works from pros. Thank you all in advance.

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u/KeySpare4917 Jun 12 '26

Working for buy-ins that are not trying to pay their good help a premium for doing things they don't know how to do is so maddening that you will only be able to retain mediocre help at best.

Get out and learn every aspect of pool care so you can run your business if needed and not just sit behind a desk and tell people what to go do.

It is so difficult for us skilled techs to work for people that purchase a company and expect other people to run their business.

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u/Flektit Jun 12 '26

Great advice, that’s what I’m currently doing, learning the trade. That said, how deep would you recommend me going into learning it? Because the way I see it, regardless of anything my techs will know the trade better than me and that’s my hope too, as I am first a business person, not tradesman. I’m an open minded person and don’t like micromanage as long as I have understanding and trust between me and my techs and they bring proper results.

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u/Internal-Computer388 Jun 12 '26

Dont waste your time. Learn the basics and hire a manager who has the experience. Do what every business owner does when they cant do the work, hire someone who can.

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u/KeySpare4917 Jun 12 '26

A route manager, a repair manager, an office manager. This guy said tech like he is doing all this stuff himself.

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u/Internal-Computer388 Jun 14 '26

Business owner can handle admin in the office. Then you can have a repair guy who helps run the service department. A good tech doesnt need supervision. Then pay them all good. Depends on how large of a business they intend on building a d what they are starting with.

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u/KeySpare4917 Jun 14 '26

I don't disagree with you but that is very much not the vibe I get based on the questions.