Mid-Atlantic Pools

When I think of small business a vision of a woman proudly overlooking her small factory while sipping on a cup of coffee comes to mind from all of those banking commercials I see on TV. Or there’s the one of that man who left his office in his six figure luxury car to head to the mountains just to stand in a river and fish for trout. It’s the American dream to own a business and run a successful company and I believe there is nothing wrong with dreaming! What I don’t like about all these commercials that fill our heads with visions is that they never have enough time to explain what it took to get to that level of bliss. There is a level of sacrifice that every entrepreneur and small business owner is willing to make in pursuit of their dreams. For some it may be financial with an initial or ongoing injection of capital and for others it may be precious time with family and friends. One thing is certain; everyone who takes the big step of owning and running a business never starts out thinking that they won’t succeed.


Many who get involved in the swimming pool industry usually start out as teenagers and young adults who work for other professional pool companies. They learn the trade through on the job training and spend years perfecting their skill. It’s somewhat typical for the best tradesmen to want to earn a better living through running their own company and there’s nothing wrong with that process. But what they often don’t realize is everything that is involved in the back end of a company to make it successful. Knowing your trade is easy compared to everything else that brings a company together. There are the legalities of incorporating, getting proper licensing, obtaining tax identification numbers and insurance just for starters. So let’s say you get past all of that and you’re ready to meet with your first customer; are your contracts properly written to meet state and local guidelines? Is your advertising in place and did you absolutely get the best price before paying a professional company to handle it for you? What about your phone and fax system or your bookkeeping software? There is allot to consider for anyone who wants to get into business but sadly these technical issues that hold a business together are often the ones that prevent many from succeeding beyond two to three years after opening. It doesn’t matter if you graduated high school, college or even retired from a previous career; small business is the hardest profession on earth but it can also be the most rewarding.


The swimming pool industry holds tens of thousands of small business models throughout the United States. Some are focused on residential and commercial new construction while others may prefer the remodeling, repair and maintenance of those swimming pools that already exist. Our industry in our opinion has to be one of the most rewarding small businesses to consider especially if you love the outdoors. Sure it’s hard work but where else can take a flat canvas and convert it into a beautifully landscaped recreational facility in less than three month that offers a combination of water, natural stone and luscious landscaping? What’s even more intriguing about our industry is that there is plenty of room for business minded people to own their own company who know little to nothing about swimming pool construction and maintenance; it’s truly a matter of who you know, the "what" comes over time.


Mid-Atlantic Pools creates the power and presence demanded in the swimming pool industry that few will ever achieve because of its organization and masterful negotiating skills. We offer our franchisees an opportunity but we cautiously avoid claiming any guarantee because your level of success is truly dependent upon your commitment to our industry. There’s something to be said for every small business that approaches their first client. At the end of that first appointment what really matters is who will walk away with the deal and be open tomorrow to talk about it. Consider increasing those odds by becoming a Mid-Atlantic Pools Franchised Company.