Commercial Pool Maintenance and Repair Company

This article presents a strategic acquisition blueprint for a commercial pool maintenance and repair business serving homeowner associations (HOAs), apartment complexes, hotels, schools, and municipal aquatic centers. With over 15 years of operating history, the company offers weekly and bi-weekly pool cleaning, chemical balancing, equipment repair and replacement, safety inspections, and emergency on-call services.

The business generates $4.2 million in annual revenue and $775,000 in adjusted EBITDA. Approximately 78% of revenue is recurring, generated through multi-year service contracts with HOAs and property management companies. The remaining 22% comes from equipment repairs, pump replacements, resurfacing coordination, and seasonal start-up or shut-down services.

This company is a strong SBA 7(a) acquisition target due to its predictable route-based revenue, low customer churn, and scalable technician model. Strategic upside lies in expanding geographic coverage, upselling chemical automation systems, pursuing municipal pool RFPs, and rolling up smaller pool service companies in nearby markets.

Proposed SBA 7(a) Deal Structure

Due to its strong EBITDA, route stability, and contracted income, the transaction can be supported with traditional SBA financing and seller participation:

• Purchase Price: $3.1 million (4.0x EBITDA)

• SBA Loan: $2.325 million (75%)

• Buyer Equity Injection: $310,000 (10%)

• Seller Financing (Subordinated): $465,000 (15%) amortized over 6 years, 12-month interest-only

Risk mitigation and incentives:

1. 20% clawback on seller note if more than 10% of recurring clients terminate in first 6 months post-close

2. Seller bonus if buyer secures 3 new HOA contracts exceeding $250K total value in first 12 months

3. Seller to remain available for 9 months to support technician transitions, client retention, and bidding strategies

Client Segmentation and Revenue Profile

Primary customers:

• HOAs and community pools (gated communities, subdivisions): 48%

• Multifamily apartment complexes: 22%

• Hotels and hospitality: 12%

• Schools and public aquatic centers: 10%

• High-end residential accounts: 8%

Revenue by service line:

• Weekly cleaning and chemical service: $2.2M

• Equipment maintenance and repairs (pumps, filters, automation): $960K

• Start-up/shut-down seasonal servicing: $390K

• Emergency services and one-time cleanouts: $270K

• Water chemistry consulting, inspection, and audit reports: $380K

Service agreements:

• 1–3 year terms, typically auto-renewed with CPI-adjusted pricing

• HOAs and commercial accounts billed monthly or quarterly

• SLAs include guaranteed response times and weekly condition reports

Top 25 clients account for 63% of revenue. No single client represents more than 5.2%. Nearly all clients have been under contract for at least 3 years, and most renew without rebid due to local relationships and SLA fulfillment.

Field Operations and Staffing

The company operates 12 daily pool service routes divided into 3 regional zones. Operations are supported by:

• 12 certified pool technicians (CPO-certified)

• 2 field supervisors (zone leads)

• 2 full-time equipment repair specialists

• 1 logistics and dispatch coordinator

• 2 inside account managers

• 1 operations director (non-owner)

Each service route covers 10–18 pools per week depending on location density. Trucks are GPS-tracked and supply logs are updated daily to monitor chemical usage, time on site, and equipment reporting.

Technician model includes:

• Hourly base + route completion bonus + chemical usage efficiency bonus

• Training for CPO certification and cross-skilling in equipment diagnosis

• Company-provided tools, uniforms, and PPE

Post-close tech retention strategy:

1. $1,500 bonuses at 6 and 12 months for senior techs

2. Creation of a lead technician role with field QA responsibilities

3. Referral bonus for recruiting CPO-certified peers

Fleet, Equipment, and Infrastructure

Fleet:

• 14 service trucks with chemical storage

• 2 equipment vans for pump/filter work

• FMV: ~$410,000 (owned)

Facilities:

• 5,200 sq ft warehouse with:

  • Chemical inventory and mixing station

  • Equipment repair shop

  • Technician locker room and briefing area

  • Offices and dispatch center

Lease: $5,900/month, 3 years remaining with 5-year renewal option

CapEx outlook:

• Replace 3 service trucks over 18 months: $75K–$90K

• Upgrade routing and client portal software: $12K

• Add inventory tracking and water testing integration system: $8K

Sales and Marketing

Client acquisition channels:

• Direct outreach to HOA boards and property managers

• Referral network of real estate developers and maintenance vendors

• Google Ads and map-pack SEO (4.8-star rating)

• Presence at local HOA and building services expos

Marketing budget: ~$3,200/month

Post-acquisition growth opportunities:

1. Launch “Smart Pool Program” upsell for automated chlorinators and remote monitoring systems

2. Acquire small 1–2 tech operators and consolidate routes

3. Bid on city and school district pool maintenance contracts

4. Create bilingual marketing campaign for underserved communities with HOA pools

5. Add solar-powered heater cleaning and maintenance as a premium service

Financial Summary

• Revenue: $4.2M

• COGS (chemicals, labor, fuel, parts): $2.26M

• Gross Profit: $1.94M

• SG&A: $1.165M

• Adjusted EBITDA: $775K (18.4%)

Margins:

• Cleaning and chemical plans: 48–55%

• Equipment repair and replacement: 45%

• Start-up/shut-down: 60%

• Emergency services: 62%

Billing is mostly subscription-based with pre-set routes. Credit card and ACH preferred. AR aging is minimal, with most accounts under 25 days. No material bad debt.

Legal, Licensing, and Risk Management

• Fully licensed with state and county pool servicing requirements

• Technicians CPO-certified and trained annually

• Fully insured: $2M GL, $1M auto, $1M umbrella, $1M workers comp

• No outstanding litigation or regulatory actions

Buyers must transfer pool operator licenses or appoint a qualified manager under state law. Contracts are assignable with 30-day client notice.

Working Capital and Transition Needs

• Payroll float: $90K–$100K

• Truck replacements (optional lease): $60K

• CRM and routing upgrade: $12K

• Seller consulting and retention plan: $35K

• Emergency repair tool kits and inventory build-up: $15K

Ideal Buyer Profiles

• Blue-collar route service business owners (lawn, HVAC, pest)

• Franchise operators seeking a recurring revenue platform

• Trades entrepreneurs with dispatch and technician management experience

• PE-backed field service platforms expanding into pool services or HOA contracts

Post-Close Execution Plan

1. Visit top 20 HOA and PM clients to ensure continuity and upgrade offerings

2. Launch Tier 2 service plan with smart chlorinators and remote monitoring

3. Begin acquisition search of smaller pool service operators in adjacent zip codes

4. Retain technicians and restructure bonus program for efficiency and upsells

5. Launch customer portal with real-time service reports, chemical logs, and photo verification

Conclusion

This commercial pool maintenance business offers durable, route-based income and strong retention within the HOA and hospitality sector. SBA 7(a) financing makes the deal accessible while preserving capital for technician retention, software upgrades, and service expansion. Buyers can scale through route density, equipment upsells, and adjacent market roll-ups making this a predictable, cash-flowing platform in a tightly regulated and high-compliance industry.