Poolwerx has been offering swimming pool franchise opportunities in the swimming pool retail and service industry for more than 20 years. Swimming pool supplies and maintenance has proven to be a very lucrative business for Poolwerx franchisees who have chosen to invest in the industry.

There are roughly 300,000 public swimming pools and another 10 million residential swimming pools in the US alone. According to IBISWorld, 66,000 companies offer cleaning, servicing, repairing, and maintaining swimming pools in the country. Although there are many pool repair and maintenance companies, none has anything close to 5% market share, creating a highly fragmented market void of sophisticated competition. A fragmented market refers to a scenario where no single company or group of companies has a strong presence, which makes it easier for Poolwerx franchisees to enter new markets and build robust businesses.

The Opportunity

When a franchise candidate invests in any business, they need to consider the strength and sophistication of the competition they are going up against. For instance, someone looking to invest in a coffee shop has to consider how they will compete with two eight-hundred-pound gorillas like Dunkin’ and Starbucks who don’t easily give up customers and market share.

Michael Porter, author of the best-selling business book Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, wrote, “…fragmentation can be a very significant strategic opportunity. The payoff to (the brand) consolidating a fragmented industry can be high because…there tend to be small and relatively weak competitors who offer little threat…”

Smart franchise investors know that fragmented markets such as swimming pool retail, repair, and maintenance compete against unsophisticated small business owners who don’t often understand digital marketing, branding, advanced technology, or other tools which drive business today. This makes it easier for Poolwerx franchisees to enter their backyards and establish profitable businesses.

The Poolwerx Advantage

At Poolwerx, we offer franchisees competitive advantages such as digital marketing, national account purchasing, technical training at our state-of-the-art facility, and ongoing support in multiple business disciplines. Additionally, we offer third-party financing sources to assist franchisees with start up and expansion capital, covering startup costs, franchise fees, inventory, and other equipment.

Poolwerx franchisees can start their business as a mobile business, keeping the front end investment low. Franchisees can also expand into retail, creating multiple revenue streams which boost sales and reduce risk.

Final Take

Eventually, in most fragmented markets, sophisticated brands emerge, scale rapidly, and dominate the industry. Smart franchise investors understand the value of spotting a future dominant brand like Poolwerx and join while prime development territories are still available.