One Pole Wonder

A day in the life of a solo operator

The life of a pool industry one-poler is never dull. 

To keep a thriving business afloat, it takes tenacity to market, make customer connections, show up and actually clean and maintain the pool. 

So how does a one-person operation do it all? Apps, organization, motivation and a love for the industry where they can be their own boss. 

We spoke to one-poler pros to see how they keep their days going smoothly. Here’s a look at their approaches.

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As a family man, Jesus “Jay” Gutierrez loves being in charge of his schedule so he can spend time with his loved ones.

“I appreciate the flexibility that comes with owning a small business,” he says. “I intend to expand and grow my business, eventually developing it into a family business and training my sons in my profession.”

His workday typically starts at 9 a.m. where he follows the same cleaning routine: testing the water, scrubbing the tiles, skimming the pool, brushing the walls and emptying the leaf baskets. 

“Working independently has allowed me to grow professionally, meticulously troubleshoot issues and dedicate sufficient time to high-quality repairs,” he says. “I find the on-the-job learning challenges particularly rewarding.”

Every day, he also dedicates a few hours to creating social media content before finishing around 1 p.m. and heading to the gym. 

To stay on track as a one-man operation, he organizes his routes to minimize travel time between pools. Repair work and other tasks, such as filter cleaning and minor repairs, are scheduled for his shorter route days.  

For those inevitable big jobs that come up, Gutierrez has a team of reliable friends he calls his “senior buddies” to “team up on the big stuff.” He built the relationships through his local pool supply store. They were willing to help and taught him along the way, providing professional support. 

Above all, he says, a willingness to “go for it” helps operations grow. The advice rings true for anyone looking to break into the one-pole business, too.  

“Build business relationships and never be afraid to admit you don’t know something,” he says. “Ask experienced technicians to help you learn. Take advantage of training courses. It’s the only way to grow in this industry.”

Fun fact
“I play the guitar and like to sing. I play all genres and enjoy all music. I don’t have a favorite artist, but I enjoy covering Los Enanitos Verdes, an Argentine rock band, and my song of choice is “Lamento Boliviano.” This song captures the room wherever I play it.”

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For Lori Bryant, Sundays are spent laying out her week of pool routes. 

“I prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance,” she says. “Each Sunday, the route is made for the week, which helps eliminate the need for constant decision-making. With this strategy, I’ve set aside blocks of time for consultations, administrative work and marketing.” 

As she works toward growing her business, Bryant says she knows that a healthy work-life balance will keep her from burning out before she gets there. For her, setting clear work hours and paying attention to peak season time requires more self-care focus. 

“I treat self-care as a nonnegotiable to avoid burnout,” she says, noting that she hits the gym every morning, gets a massage once a month and spends time traveling. 

Besides burnout, time management can also prove challenging.

“Over the years, I have learned how to create structured blocks of time for different responsibilities,” Bryant says. “I’ve scaled through automation and outsourcing so the business flows smoothly. Staying organized and implementing a system is what keeps the business afloat and thriving.”

On days when emergency repairs or larger jobs pop up, built-in buffer time ensures less panic. Bryant also has a few business partners she collaborates with for specialized repairs. 

“I plan on expanding by growing my team and taking on more complex projects,” she says of the business she’s had since 2020. “As a solo operator, my goal is to expand the company and maintain the quality level of service as demand increases. Scaling a business properly is a tedious task to do.”

Scaling also takes funding, so keeping overhead low is a must — even for the most eager entrepreneurs. Bryant says one way to do it is by reevaluating past projects to identify the most profitable ones and marketing accordingly toward the high-value segments. 

“This will help maximize profit and maintain client retention for repeat business,” she says. “Managing fixed costs prevents unexpected financial strain when resources are limited.”

For those considering striking out on their own, she recommends they start with a clear business plan. She also believes in remaining a student who is always open to learning more about the business and networking opportunities. Above all, “have integrity at all times,” she says.

Fun fact
“I also have a Halloween business called Bootsie Boo Productions. I build scary houses, decorate events and even assist with costume ideas. I’ve been doing it since middle school.”

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Since age 10, Anthony Narlock has worked in and around the pool industry. Originally hailing from California, his parents managed a pool maintenance and repair company where they serviced upward of 300 accounts. The childhood experience led him to a life in the pool world.

When he and his wife, Kayce, moved to Texas on a whim, he spent some time working for a pool company. But after living paycheck to paycheck, he wanted a change. 

“I saw the need for a proper pool company,” he says, which cemented his decision to go solo. “In my mind, I thought I could dominate out here.” 

And dominate, he has. 

“I blew up pretty fast,” he says about starting his pool service and repair business in March 2023. “I have about 70 clients. It’s just me and my wife. We have a retail store [that she runs].” 

Starting at sunrise, he readies his truck for a day of about 10 to 12 service calls, mostly residential.  

To keep organized, he swears by the Skimmer app and loves the pool route optimization feature. 

“That app has been a godsend,” he says. “It organizes everything for us. We can do stuff on the fly off our phones.” 

With a 7-month-old and a 4-year-old — who is into cheerleading — he says time management is a must-have skill for one-polers. “Routine is key,” he says. 

If work gets too busy or the kids get sick? Narlock says it’s essential to have backup help. Through his local IPSSA chapter, Narlock has befriended fellow pool pros in his area who can help in a pinch. When he can’t make it to a client’s house or they need a specialty service, he’ll call his IPSSA friends first. 

“Our local IPSSA chapter is probably one of the biggest networking resources I utilize,” he says. 

Those connections ensure he can keep customers happy and not send them away. 

“I’ve got a guy for everyone,” he jokes. 

For new one-polers, he says treating the customer like you’d want to be treated keeps them coming back. 

“Communication is key with the clients; you can’t overcommunicate,” he says. “Customers hate trying to track down a contractor. Be punctual. Do what you say you’re going to do. Be honest.”

Fun fact
“On the way back to California after visiting Texas, my wife and I stopped at an on-the-border casino. I played a few bucks on a slot machine, and on the third try, I hit the jackpot. They came over and told us we had won $4,000. I looked at my wife and said, “Let’s move,” and she said, “Let’s do it!” A few months later, we left California to move to Texas.”