TL;DR
In short: Justin Fowler built early momentum by focusing on water testing, clear explanations, and reliable service intervals. Justin says his pool knowledge accelerated “a lot quicker than I expected”.
In this Jim’s Podcast episode, Justin Fowler, a Jim’s Pool Care franchisee in Tweed Heads, explains how he moved from running his own electrical business to pool care using water testing and sending pool results to customers within about 20 minutes, supported by Jim’s Group systems.
If you are weighing up a pool care franchise versus going independent, this Jim’s Podcast episode makes the difference simple. Justin Fowler from Jim’s Pool Care in Tweed Heads says the work on site looks similar, but the background work changes everything. He started at the start of November, got busy quickly, and says his pool knowledge accelerated faster than he expected. This article covers his servicing routine, his green pool process, and the practical support he relies on.
Watch the full episode below, or keep reading for the key takeaways.
Why Choose A Pool Care Franchise After Being An Electrician?
Justin spent over 20 years as a Sparky and ran his own electrical business. He found all the work, managed the guys under him, and felt the long weeks add up.
His wife and daughter wanted a sea change, so he moved north from Canberra. Pool care was not the original plan. He wanted something easier on the body than trade work, but still active, still client-facing, and something he could grow into.
He also wanted redundancy because he is “50 at the end of the day”. With one truck, one breakdown, or one injury can stop income. He wants to expand a little so the business does not rely on one person every single day.
If you are exploring the same shift, start here.
How Do Water Tests Keep A Pool Safe To Swim In?
Justin says the visible cleaning is simple: scoop, brush, vacuum, empty the boxes. The trust comes from the water.
His standard is “taking the correct water test and adding the correct amount of chemicals required”. He then proves it by sending the pool results to the customer within about 20 minutes of doing the test. He tells customers to call straight away if they want him to explain what is happening and why.
Why Does A Pool Turn Green?
- A blockage stops water flow
- Equipment fails: a pump, filter, or chlorinator
- Chemistry slips because the customer falls behind. He has seen pools where people “might not have put any salt in it for six months” and end up with no chlorine
How Quickly Can You Fix A Green Pool?
- Justin has already rescued “15 or 20” green pools
- Most green pools take somewhere between “three and five days” to bring back
- He books a follow-up “about a week and a half to two weeks later” to check the chlorinator is still producing chlorine and the water is holding it
Justin’s 3-Step Green Pool Checklist
- Fix the flow first.
- Test, dose, then show the result.
- Do the follow-up visit.
What Do You Get With A Jim’s Pool Care Franchise?
Justin says, “The main difference is what happens in the background”. He says Jim’s handles the things that normally eat time and money in an independent business.
He puts it bluntly: “all the advertising’s done” and “all your processes are taken care of”. He can “roll on in, get to know your product, and away you go”.
Support matters because Justin admits he “didn’t know anything about pools” when he started. He describes a couple of days in Melbourne, then on-the-job training for a month, plus learning in the field with his franchisor, and suppliers like Fluidra and Pool Pro.
Justin also likes the fee model because he does not feel punished for doing well. His example: he could do three jobs a year, or 3,000 jobs a year, and get charged the exact same rate. For the details, read this.
What Does Pool Care Look Like In Tweed Heads And The Gold Coast?
Justin works in a hot climate where people want to swim. He says customers do not want a “green sludge pit”, especially in summertime.
That local reality drives his routine:
- For 90% of customers, it is a four-week turnaround
- He also has two-week clients, usually bigger pools or pools that get a lot more use
He also focuses on the basics homeowners notice: uniform, badged vehicles, clear communication, and being open and honest. He says people hate tradies because they lie, do not turn up on time, do not answer calls, and try to rip people off. He aims to remove all four.
One customer story makes that point. Justin picked up a regular customer with a monster-sized pool whose main concern was dealing with the owner. With Jim’s, customers are dealing with the business owner 95% of the time. Justin now services that pool with the same person every visit on a two-week turnaround, so the customer does not have to explain the pool again.
| Feature | Standard Independent Contractor | Jim’s Professional Standard |
| Marketing and enquiries | You fund and chase all work | All the advertising’s done |
| Training and standards | Self-taught, varies widely | Training in Melbourne, on-the-job for a month, plus franchisor support |
| Water testing and proof | May test, but results not shared | Results sent and explained |
| Customer communication | Inconsistent updates | Uniform, badged vehicle, and direct communication |
| Accountability | Limited recourse if service drops | Professional standards backed by the Jim’s National Guarantee |
Quote Block
“Justin Fowler, Jim’s Pool Care franchisee in Tweed Heads: ‘I’m not in the pool business. I’m in the people business.’“
FAQ: Pool Care Franchise And Pool Cleaning Questions
Justin says 90% of customers run on a four-week routine. Bigger or higher-use pools can move to a two-week turnaround.
Justin says most green pools take somewhere between three and five days. He also returns in about a week and a half to two weeks to confirm the pool stays water-safe to swim in.
Justin looks for blocked flow, failed equipment (pump, filter, chlorinator), or chemistry slipping because the pool has not been maintained. He has seen cases where no salt was added for six months, and chlorine dropped out.
Yes. Justin sends results within about 20 minutes and tells customers to call if they want him to explain what is happening in the water.
Customers are dealing with the business owner 95% of the time, unless the franchisee has staff. Justin’s customers often see the same person every visit.
People assume Jim’s takes 20%. Justin says he pays a monthly fee model and likes that he can do three jobs or 3,000 jobs, and the rate stays the same.
Key Takeaways
- Justin moved from an electrical business into a Jim’s Pool Care franchise in Tweed Heads after over 20 years in trades.
- He runs 90% of customers on a four-week routine and uses a two-week turnaround for higher-use pools.
- He sends pool results within about 20 minutes and explains them to build trust.
- He fixes most green pools in three to five days and follows up a week and a half to two weeks later.
Take The Next Step
Need A Pool Service You Can Trust?
Choose a local owner-operator who explains the water test, shows the results, and keeps service intervals consistent. Expect Jim’s professional standards backed by the Jim’s National Guarantee.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Pool Care today.
Thinking About Owning A Jim’s Pool Care Franchise?
Justin’s story shows what happens when a business owner moves into a system with training, processes, support, and brand recognition.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Group at jims.net or call 131 546 today.