How do I check a pool service company’s weekly route list before buying?

A route list is the heart of this business, so treat it like a ledger. For each stop, you want a customer, a service level, a visit day and a billing history. If a stop appears on the list but not in the invoices, or the reverse, ask why. Lists that have been tidied for a sale sometimes include customers who have already left.

Look at the geography. Tight routes with short drives are cheaper to run than scattered ones, so see how stops are clustered and whether some routes are stretched thin. Ride along with the technician on a few days to see what actually happens at each pool, how long it takes and how customers react.

Then examine movement. Ask how many stops were added and lost over recent seasons, and why customers left. Check whether any large accounts, such as a condominium or a hotel, make up a big share. Ask your accountant to confirm that revenue by route reconciles with the statements. Ask for the list as it stood at several points in the season, so you can see change rather than one tidy snapshot.

Key takeaways

• Match every stop on the list to an invoice and a payment, and ask about any that do not match.
• Ride along on a few routes to check drive times, service time and customer relationships.
• Ask how many stops were gained and lost lately, and why customers left.