Pool route for sale and swimming pool routes near me
A pool route for sale is a book of recurring weekly service accounts, usually residential pools, that a technician cleans and balances for a flat monthly rate. You are buying predictable billing, not a building or equipment yard, so the price is set as a multiple of monthly service revenue, commonly somewhere between 6 and 12 times, with dense, well documented routes at the top of that range. On CompanyBrokers every pool route listing shows the account count, monthly billing, asking price and the multiple it implies, and the account list, payment history and service map sit in a data room you open after an NDA and a proof of funds step.
- NDA signed
- Proof of funds
- Data room
Pool routes for sale near me
Set a deal alert for pool service routes by state, price range and minimum monthly billing, and new routes arrive in your inbox as soon as an owner or a pool route broker publishes them. Florida, Arizona, Texas, California and Nevada carry most of the volume, and routes there tend to move within weeks, so an alert matters more than a weekly search. Every inquiry passes an NDA e-sign and proof of funds before the seller shares addresses, which is what lets owners list without tipping off customers or competitors. You can also browse every business for sale near me or compare routes with a vending machine business for sale, the other classic route business.
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How much is a pool route worth
A pool route is priced on monthly recurring service revenue, not on SDE like most small businesses. Industry brokers and software vendors commonly quote 6 to 12 times monthly billing, and National Pool Route Sales has said its routes typically land at 8 to 12 times the monthly service rate. Chemicals are often billed separately or built into the rate, so always confirm which number the multiple is applied to. The table shows how the multiple changes the price of the same route.
| Route profile | Accounts | Monthly billing | Multiple | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter route, scattered | 30 | $4,500 | 7x | $31,500 |
| Owner operator route, dense | 60 | $9,600 | 10x | $96,000 |
| Full route, tight zip codes | 90 | $15,300 | 11x | $168,300 |
| Multi tech route with helpers | 200 | $36,000 | 12x | $432,000 |
These are worked examples to show the math, not listings. Run your own numbers with the business valuation calculator if the route also carries repair and equipment revenue, because that part behaves like a regular service business.
What buyers check before they buy a pool route
- Account density: how many pools sit within a few miles of each other, since drive time is the biggest hidden cost on a route
- Rate level against the local market, because routes priced well below market look cheap until you raise prices and lose accounts
- Average account age and payment history, with autopay share and days late over the last twelve months
- Who supplies chemicals and how they are billed, flat inside the rate or charged per visit
- Gated communities, HOA accounts and commercial pools, which can be lucrative but sometimes need separate contracts or insurance
- Seasonality in your state, as northern routes often bill fewer months a year than Florida or Arizona routes
- Whether the seller will train you on the route and introduce you to each customer in person
How the account guarantee works when you buy a pool route
Most route sales include a guarantee period, often about 90 days, during which the seller replaces or refunds accounts that cancel or stop paying. A common way to secure it is a holdback, where part of the price, frequently around 10 percent, stays in escrow until the period ends, then releases to the seller less any lost accounts. Accounts lost through the buyer's own service problems are usually excluded. Put the guarantee, the training days and a covenant not to compete in the purchase agreement, and have it reviewed by an attorney in your state. Our buy a business guide walks through the letter of intent and closing steps that apply to a route as well.
Financing a pool route purchase
Small routes are usually bought with cash, sometimes with the seller carrying part of the price. Larger routes and full pool service companies with vans, staff and repair revenue can qualify for an SBA loan to buy a business, since lenders look at verified cash flow and the buyer's experience. Seller financing is common on routes because it keeps the seller interested in a clean handover. Proof of funds or a lender letter shown at the inquiry stage puts you ahead of buyers who are still browsing, and on popular routes that often decides who gets the first look.
Selling your pool route
If you own a route and want to sell my business with less churn, raise rates to market before you list, clean up the account list with addresses, service day and rate, and decide whether you will split the route. A buyer who can afford 40 pools may want part of a 90 pool route, and selling in pieces can reach more buyers. You can list the route yourself on the Owner Listing plan or get matched with business brokers who handle route sales in your state. See pricing for listing plans.
Is buying a pool route a good investment
For a buyer who wants to start with paying customers on day one, it usually beats building accounts door to door. Returns depend on density, rates and retention through the handover, so a route that is cheap per account but spread across a whole county can earn less than a smaller, tighter one.
How many pools can one person service
A full time solo technician commonly services somewhere between 50 and 80 pools a week, depending on drive time, pool size and how much repair work is mixed in. Dense routes in one neighborhood push that number up, while scattered rural routes push it down.
Do I need a license to buy a pool route
It depends on the state. Some states require a contractor or pool service license for repairs and equipment work, and many require a pesticide or chemical applicator certification for commercial pools. Check your state board before you close and budget for general liability insurance either way.
Where do pool routes for sale get listed
Routes are sold through specialist pool route brokers, general business marketplaces, pool service communities and word of mouth with distributors. On CompanyBrokers you can set an alert by state so new routes reach you the day they are published, with the numbers already structured.
What is the difference between a pool route and a pool service business
A route is a list of service accounts, often sold without vehicles, staff or a brand. A pool service business adds trucks, employees, repair and remodel work and a name customers know, and it is valued on SDE or EBITDA like other small business for sale listings.