E-225 Pool Nation Podcast - Business Financial Key Performance Indicators

Why Most Pool Businesses Fail at Financial Management (And How to Fix It)

Picture this: You're running a successful pool service business with 200 clients, but despite working harder than ever, you can't seem to grow beyond that plateau. You're picking up 20 new customers but losing 15 others, trapped in an endless cycle of customer acquisition without real growth. Sound familiar? If so, you're not alone, and more importantly, there's a solution.

In the latest episode of Pool Nation Podcast, hosts Edgar De Jesus and Zach Nicholas tackle one of the most critical yet overlooked aspects of running a pool business: understanding your financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). But this isn't just another dry discussion about numbers—it's a roadmap to transforming your business from a job you work in to a machine that works for you.

The Game-Changing Pool Nation Business Matrix Program

Before diving into the financial metrics that can make or break your business, the hosts announced an exciting new initiative that's already generating buzz in the pool industry. The Pool Nation Business Matrix program represents a comprehensive approach to business development specifically tailored for pool professionals.

This program was designed to help pool professionals grow, scale, and manage their businesses effectively. And the focus behind it was one education, but also providing the tools and resources for accountability that are tailored specifically to running your business in the pool industry.

— Zach Nicholas, Pool Nation Podcast

What sets this program apart from generic business courses is its laser focus on the unique challenges facing pool service providers. The curriculum covers everything from financial management and sales strategies to employee retention and scaling operations, all within the context of the pool industry.

The program operates on a structured timeline starting January 18th with goal-setting fundamentals, progressing through financial KPIs in March, hands-on software implementation in June, and culminating with advanced training at the PSP Expo in Las Vegas. This isn't a passive learning experience—participants will have homework, accountability partners, and real-world applications for every concept.

The Customer Retention Crisis Nobody Talks About

One of the most eye-opening revelations from the podcast centered on a problem that plagues nearly every growing pool business: the customer retention blind spot. While most business owners obsess over acquiring new customers, they often ignore the revolving door of clients leaving their business.

The challenge is we go out, we pick up 20 pools, but then we turn around and we lose 15. And we're so focused on the picking up more pools and managing all these other things that we don't worry about customer retention.

— Edgar De Jesus, Pool Nation Podcast

This insight strikes at the heart of why many pool businesses plateau. Without focusing on retention, companies find themselves on what Edgar calls "this vicious cycle" where they're constantly working to replace lost customers rather than growing their actual customer base.

The solution lies in tracking specific KPIs related to customer retention, implementing systematic follow-up processes, and treating customer satisfaction as seriously as customer acquisition. This shift in mindset can be the difference between a business that merely survives and one that truly thrives.

The Science of Goal Setting: Beyond Wishful Thinking

The hosts emphasized that successful business growth isn't about setting vague aspirations—it's about implementing a systematic approach to goal creation and achievement. The Pool Nation Business Matrix program starts with teaching the SMART goal methodology, which transforms wishful thinking into actionable business strategies.

You create the goal. You have the step, but that step has to be measurable. And not only does it have to be measurable, but the output of that step has to be a learning step into what it is that you're doing. Because other than that, you're just checking off boxes.

— Edgar De Jesus, Pool Nation Podcast

This approach requires participants to set both personal and company goals, creating accountability at multiple levels. The program provides software tools, quarterly check-ins, and structured accountability to ensure goals translate into real-world results rather than forgotten resolutions.

The emphasis on measurable outcomes and learning-based steps ensures that every action taken provides valuable data for future decision-making, creating a continuous improvement cycle that drives sustainable growth.

Financial KPIs: The Numbers That Actually Matter

While the podcast focused heavily on introducing the Business Matrix program, the hosts laid important groundwork for understanding financial KPIs—metrics that will be covered in-depth during the March session of their program.

Financial KPIs go beyond basic revenue tracking to include metrics like:

• Customer acquisition cost versus customer lifetime value
• Monthly recurring revenue stability
• Profit margins by service type
• Cash flow predictability
• Customer retention rates
• Average revenue per customer

These metrics provide a comprehensive view of business health that goes far beyond simply tracking whether you're making money this month. They help identify trends, predict future performance, and make data-driven decisions about where to focus resources.

The hosts promised that participants in their program would not only learn these KPIs but actually implement them using specialized software, creating a real-time dashboard for business performance monitoring.

Building Systems That Scale

The conversation repeatedly returned to a central theme: the difference between working in your business versus working on your business. The Pool Nation Business Matrix program is designed to help pool professionals make this critical transition.

And there are so many tools and opportunities involved in this that this is for the people that are wanting to turn their business into that literal machine like Eugene talked about in the past.

— Zach Nicholas, Pool Nation Podcast

This machine-like efficiency comes from implementing systems that can operate independently of the owner's constant involvement. It means having financial tracking that provides early warning signals, customer retention processes that run automatically, and growth strategies that compound over time.

The program's structure—moving from goal-setting through financial management to employee lifecycle management—reflects the logical progression needed to build these systems. Each component builds on the previous one, creating an integrated approach to business development.

The Accountability Factor: Why Community Matters

Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the Pool Nation Business Matrix program is its emphasis on community and accountability. Rather than offering isolated training modules, the program creates a cohort of like-minded business owners working through the same challenges simultaneously.

This community approach serves multiple purposes:

• Peer accountability for completing assignments and implementing strategies
• Shared learning from diverse business experiences
• Networking opportunities within the pool industry
• Motivation through group progress and success stories

The quarterly Zoom meetings, shared software platform, and culminating live training session create multiple touchpoints for maintaining engagement and ensuring practical application of learned concepts.

Your Next Steps Toward Business Transformation

The Pool Nation Podcast episode serves as both an education and a call to action for pool professionals ready to elevate their business operations. The key insights around customer retention, financial KPIs, and systematic goal-setting provide a foundation for immediate improvement, even for those not ready to commit to the full Business Matrix program.

For businesses struggling with growth plateaus, customer turnover, or financial unpredictability, the concepts discussed in this episode offer a clear path forward. The emphasis on measurable goals, systematic tracking, and continuous improvement provides a framework that can transform any pool business.

Whether you're a solo operator looking to scale or an established company seeking optimization, the principles outlined in this episode—backed by the comprehensive support system of the Business Matrix program—represent a significant opportunity for business transformation.

The pool industry is evolving, and businesses that embrace systematic approaches to growth, customer retention, and financial management will be the ones that thrive in the years ahead. As the hosts emphasized, this isn't about working harder—it's about working smarter, with the right systems, metrics, and community support to achieve sustainable success.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Holiday Greetings
• 05:30 Announcing the Pool Nation Business Matrix Program
• 12:15 The Customer Retention Challenge
• 18:45 SMART Goal Setting Methodology
• 25:20 Financial KPIs Preview
• 32:10 Program Structure and Timeline
• 38:40 Accountability and Community Benefits