Pool Pro Pricing Guide: Are You Charging Enough?

Pricing shapes every decision a pool service business makes, and the 2026 State of the Pool Service Report by Skimmer puts hard numbers behind those choices. The headline: average weekly service sits around 225 dollars monthly in Sunbelt markets, with filter cleaning at 111 dollars and salt cell cleaning at 67 dollars. That average is not a universal rule, though. California and parts of Florida often run lower, while Texas pushes higher. The smart move is to treat the report as a compass, not a contract—an anchor for negotiating your rates, checking your competitiveness, and finding margin in places customers rarely scrutinize, like one-off maintenance tasks and specialty services.

Billing models can make or break cash flow. The data shows 76 percent of pros use monthly billing, 19 percent bill per stop, and a small fraction do something else. Monthly billing wins because it smooths revenue, keeps quotes simple, and quietly captures those five-week months. Per stop billing is cleaner in theory—you’re paid for every visit and time off is obvious—but customers feel the month-to-month swings and question the higher invoice. If you already bill monthly, you gain consistency and an easier sales conversation. If you’re considering a switch, weigh admin overhead, customer confusion, and how you’ll communicate five-visit months before changing what clients already accept.

Chemicals are the silent profit leak. The report shows 73 percent charge for trichlor tablets, 70 percent for shock, and about 61 percent for pH up and acids, while 77 percent bill for specialty chemicals. That trend reflects a market moving away from all-inclusive “white glove” pricing toward a hybrid model. A practical playbook: start by moving tablet costs to the customer using a clear note about price spikes and sustainability, then phase in surcharges or partial credits for holdouts. Next, carve out shock and specialty chemicals as pass-throughs. Keep a small maintenance dose included for expected weekly balancing and bill anything beyond normal demand. This keeps standard bills stable while ensuring heavy-use pools pay their fair share.

Deposits change the risk equation on repairs and installs. Forty-one percent always collect a deposit, with low customer pushback reported. That upfront payment protects you from cancellations, funds equipment purchases, and shortens the gap between outlay and recovery. A simple policy works: take 50 percent on booking for higher-ticket equipment, or a fixed amount for green-to-clean work, schedule only after payment clears, and invoice the balance on completion. Long-time clients may be billed on cycle, but new or occasional customers should follow the deposit rule. This keeps your books healthy and prevents large receivables from choking cash flow in busy months.

Sourcing and brand preferences also shape margins. Most pros prioritize price and availability, leaning on large wholesalers with deep inventories. Pool Corp still leads share with Heritage rising, confirming what techs feel on the ground: inventory breadth and same-day pickup matter when a job is open and a client is waiting. On equipment, Pentair dominates in many Sunbelt markets, while Hayward’s strength grows on the East Coast, with Jandy competitive in specific niches. Knowing your region’s brand ecosystem helps with quoting, stocking common parts, and reducing callbacks by staying within the equipment families you service most efficiently.

Finally, use the report’s benchmarks to find gentle, low-friction price lifts. Customers rarely track filter cleaning or salt cell cleaning the way they watch monthly service. If you’re at 85 to 90 dollars for filters, consider 100 to 111 dollars. If salt cell cleanings sit below 60 dollars, inch toward the 67 dollar average or higher if demand supports it. Bundle those updates with a clean explanation—market rates, time savings, and better reliability—and update your service menu. Small, targeted adjustments often recapture the profits lost to chemical inflation and travel time without sparking resistance from loyal accounts.