The 48/52 Billing Model: How Pool Pros Handle 5-Week Months
If you've been running a pool route for any amount of time, you've hit a 5-week month and wondered: do I charge extra, or just eat it?
Most experienced pool pros have already solved this problem with what the industry calls the 48/52 billing model. The concept is simple: bill your customers for 48 weeks of service per year (4 visits × 12 months), then take the remaining 4 weeks off for holidays, vacation, and sick days. Your rate stays the same every month, and you never work for free.
Key Takeaways
- Bill for 48 weeks per year — 4 visits per month × 12 months gives you 4 weeks of built-in time off
- Your monthly rate stays the same — customers pay the same amount every month, regardless of whether there are 4 or 5 weeks
- Take Thanksgiving and Christmas off — plus 2 more weeks for vacation, sick days, or mental health resets
- The 4.33 method is an alternative — multiply your weekly rate by 4.33 for a true monthly average that accounts for all 52 weeks
- Customers rarely push back — most understand you need time off too
The 5-Week Month Problem
A calendar year has 52 weeks, but we bill in 12 monthly cycles. That math doesn't divide evenly. Some months have 4 Mondays (or whatever your service day), and some have 5. If you're charging a flat monthly rate and promising weekly service, those 5-week months mean you're making an extra visit for free.
Over the course of a year, there are typically 4-5 months with a 5th service day. If your per-stop cost is $35 in labor and chemicals, those "free" visits can add up to $700 or more per year in uncompensated work — per customer.
The real cost: If you service 80 pools and eat 4 extra visits per year on each, that's 320 free visits. At $35 per stop in direct costs, you're leaving $11,200 on the table annually.
How the 48/52 Model Works
The 48/52 model is the most widely adopted solution among pool service professionals. Here's how it breaks down:
- 52 weeks in a year minus 4 weeks off = 48 service weeks
- 48 weeks ÷ 12 months = 4 visits per month
- Customer pays a flat monthly rate that covers exactly 4 visits
- You take 4 weeks off throughout the year — typically around holidays
When a 5-week month comes around, you still only charge for 4 visits. But when you take your scheduled weeks off, you still get paid. It balances out perfectly.
When to Take Your 4 Weeks Off
Most pool pros schedule their time off around these periods:
- Thanksgiving week — nearly universal in the industry
- Christmas/New Year's week — many pros take 2 weeks here depending on how the holidays fall
- Spring break — a popular choice for a February or March reset
- Mental health week — take it whenever you need it
Don't skip your time off. Multiple experienced pros emphasize that you should force yourself to take all 4 weeks. Even if it's just a rest week, it trains your customers to expect planned absences and prevents burnout. As one pool pro put it: "If you don't take it, you're essentially working for free."
The 4.33 Method: An Alternative Approach
Some pool pros prefer a slightly different calculation that accounts for all 52 weeks instead of just 48. Here's the math:
- 52 weeks ÷ 12 months = 4.33 weeks per month
- Multiply your weekly rate by 4.33 to get the monthly charge
- The customer pays the same amount every month
- You choose your own 4 weeks off throughout the year
The advantage of the 4.33 method is that your revenue stays identical year-round, the bill never changes for the customer, and you can randomly choose your 4 weeks off without any billing adjustments. Customers understand it intuitively — and since the bill is steady, they don't even notice the off weeks.
Comparing the Two Approaches
Both the 48/52 model and the 4.33 method achieve the same goal, but they frame it differently for your customers:
48/52 Model
- Bill for exactly 4 visits per month
- Monthly rate = weekly rate × 4
- Simple to explain: "4 visits, 4 payments"
- 5-week months: you do extra work but keep vacation balance
- Most common approach in the industry
4.33 Method
- Bill for 4.33 visits per month (rounded)
- Monthly rate = weekly rate × 4.33
- Slightly higher monthly charge
- Revenue exactly matches over a full year
- Preferred by some for its mathematical precision
Pro Tip: Regardless of which method you use, mark it as "monthly service" on the bill — not "4 weekly visits." This keeps the billing simple and prevents customers from counting visits to see if they got their money's worth.
What About Per-Stop Billing?
If you charge per stop instead of monthly, the 5-week month problem solves itself: 5 visits means 5 payments. But per-stop billing introduces its own challenges with vacation weeks, since you don't get paid when you don't show up.
Some per-stop operators handle this by building a small buffer into their per-visit rate. Others simply accept that their income will vary week to week and plan accordingly. For a deeper comparison of the two approaches, see our per-stop vs. monthly pricing guide.
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How to Communicate the Change to Customers
If you've been eating 5-week months and want to switch to the 48/52 model, here's how to handle the conversation:
For New Customers
Explain it upfront when they sign up. Most customers accept it without question because it makes sense:
- "Your monthly rate covers 4 weekly visits. We service 48 weeks per year, with scheduled breaks around holidays."
- "The monthly rate stays the same year-round — no surprise charges, no adjustments."
For Existing Customers
Send a clear email or message explaining the new billing structure. Focus on the value to them:
- Consistency: "Your monthly bill will stay the same amount every month."
- No surprise charges: "You'll never see an extra charge for a 5-week month."
- Better service: "Scheduled time off means your technician comes back refreshed and focused."
The majority of customers understand that pool professionals need time off just like anyone else. As one veteran pro noted: "Most if not all of our customers have families or did. They're totally cool with us having a week for Thanksgiving and Christmas."
Handling Pushback
For the rare customer who objects, offer them a choice: stay on the flat monthly rate (which is effectively a better deal for them) or switch to per-visit billing where they pay for every visit including 5-week months. Most customers prefer the predictability of the flat rate once they see the math.
Chemicals: Included or Extra?
A related question that comes up with monthly billing is whether to include chemicals in your service rate. The most common approach among established pros:
- Included: Liquid chlorine and muriatic acid (your weekly consumables)
- Included: Tabs as needed for supplemental chlorination
- Extra charge: Salt, stabilizer (CYA), algaecide, phosphate remover, and other specialty chemicals
- Extra charge: Filter cleans, salt cell cleans, and equipment repairs
For a detailed breakdown of chemical pricing strategies, see our chemical pricing guide. You can also use our cost per pool calculator to figure out your true cost per stop including chemicals.
Why You Shouldn't Work 52 Weeks
Beyond the billing math, taking time off is essential for running a sustainable pool service business:
- Burnout prevention: Pool service is physically demanding outdoor work. Four weeks of planned breaks keeps you healthy and motivated.
- Setting expectations: Taking consistent time off trains customers to respect your schedule and prevents the expectation that you're available 365 days a year.
- Industry standard: The 48/52 model is widely understood among pool professionals. Working all 52 weeks sets a bad precedent for yourself, your employees, and the industry as a whole.
- Family time: If you got into the pool business for the lifestyle, make sure you're actually living it.
From the field: "Take those 2 extra weeks. You're essentially working for free if you don't. Even if it's just a rest week, it'll train your clients to expect you to be gone more than twice a year."
The Bottom Line
The 48/52 billing model is the industry standard for good reason. It's fair to both you and your customers: they get predictable monthly bills, and you get built-in time off without losing income. Whether you use the straightforward 48/52 approach or the 4.33 multiplier method, the key principles are the same:
- Charge a flat monthly rate that covers 4 weekly visits
- Take 4 weeks off per year for holidays and personal time
- Never charge extra for 5-week months — it balances out
- Communicate clearly with customers and they'll understand
Stop working for free. Set up the 48/52 model, take your time off, and build a pool service business that's sustainable for the long haul.
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