What happens when three tech industry veterans decide to get into the pool service business? They learn the hard way, from answering customer calls and cleaning pools to watching YouTube repair tutorials in customers' backyards.

In this episode of Between Two Stops, host Niki Acosta sits down with Eric Johnston, Evan Ferl, and Mark Doody of California Pool Partners to discuss their unconventional journey into the pool industry and their approach to building successful pool service businesses through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.

From the challenges of scaling from 200 to 1,000+ pools to the growing role of AI and technology, the conversation explores what it really takes to build a profitable, sustainable business without sacrificing service quality, company culture, or customer relationships.

In this episode, we cover:

• How three tech veterans found their way into pool service
• What breaks when a pool business grows from 200 to 1,000 pools
• Why bigger doesn't always mean better
• What makes a pool service business attractive to potential buyers
• How California Pool Partners approaches acquisitions differently
• Why technology and AI are only as effective as the processes behind them
• How to scale while protecting employees, customers, and local brands

Whether you're running 50 pools, managing 1,000+, or considering your next phase of growth, this episode offers practical insights on building a business that's designed to last.

Visit California Pool Partners website: https://www.californiapoolpartners.com/

Subscribe to the CPP Newsletter, The Waterline: https://the-waterline.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Subscribe to Between Two Stops by Skimmer for more conversations with the people shaping the future of the pool service industry.

What happens when an eight-figure entrepreneur sells his company and jumps into an industry where he admits he has a lot to learn?

On this episode of Between Two Stops, Niki Acosta sits down with Grant Baldwin, founder of Best Day Pools and host of the Pool Pro Podcast, to talk about starting over, buying pool routes, and building a modern pool service business from the ground up.

Before entering the pool industry, Grant founded and led The Speaker Lab, growing it into an eight-figure business that helped thousands of entrepreneurs build successful speaking careers. After selling the company, he went looking for his next challenge—and found it in pool service.

Grant shares what it’s like to enter a completely new industry, from acquiring his first pool routes and riding along with technicians to learning directly from successful pool service operators. He also explains how he’s applying lessons from entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, sales, and operations to build Best Day Pools, a customer-first pool service company growing through acquisitions and organic growth in Middle Tennessee.

Niki and Grant dig into the strategy behind acquiring pool businesses, including Grant’s decidedly human approach to finding potential sellers. Rather than treating an acquisition like a quick transaction, he focuses on relationships, trust, consistent follow-up, and playing the long game.

They also explore why owner’s intent matters, what makes a business more valuable and sellable, how to surround yourself with people who complement your strengths, and why you don’t need to have every answer before taking the first step.

As Grant puts it, it’s harder to steer a car in park. Sometimes you have to get moving, learn quickly, and course-correct along the way.

Whether you’re a one-pooler, actively acquiring routes, or thinking about how to build a healthier and more valuable pool service business, this episode offers a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship, calculated risk, growth, and building something worth owning.

🎧 Follow Grant: Listen to The Pool Pros Podcast, where Grant talks with pool industry operators about the business side of pool service, including operations, hiring, growth, marketing, sales, and finance.

Best Day Pools: https://bestdaypools.com
The Pool Pros Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/51L5wInWBz3AZqEZcgPjqU

AI is changing the way clients search for pool services — and most pool companies aren’t ready for it yet.

In this episode, Niki Acosta talks with Jonathan Johnson and Ed Shahbazyan of Pool Profits about the future of pool service marketing, including SEO, AI search, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), Google rankings, customer acquisition costs, and what pool pros need to do now to stay competitive.

Jonathan and Ed explain how AI-powered search is changing customer behavior, why websites need to evolve beyond traditional SEO, and how pool companies can position themselves to win more leads online. They also discuss realistic marketing budgets, paid ads, conversion strategy, and the importance of operational follow-through once the phone rings.

This episode is packed with practical advice for pool service owners looking to grow in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Whether you’re a solo operator or scaling a large route business, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow smarter in today’s digital landscape.

Learn more about Pool Profits: https://poolprofits.com