How Many Pool Service Companies Are in the US? 2026 Business Count

The U.S. pool service industry comprises approximately 125,000 businesses, the vast majority being small, family-owned contractors with fewer than 10 employees.[1]Pool Corporation 10-KFiscal year ended December 31, 2024SEC Filing This makes pool service one of the most fragmented industries in home services.

This data comes from SEC filings of Pool Corporation (the world's largest pool products distributor), Leslie's Inc., and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA).

Industry Business Breakdown

The pool service industry includes several distinct business types, from mobile maintenance routes to retail stores to hybrid operations.

Why the Industry Is So Fragmented

The pool service industry remains intensely fragmented because the business model favors small operators. Here's why no single company dominates:

• Low barriers to entry: Starting a pool route requires minimal capital--a truck, basic equipment, and chemicals
• Local relationships matter: Customers prefer working with local operators they know and trust
• Geographic limitations: Pool density varies dramatically by region, limiting scale advantages
• Labor-intensive service: Each pool requires hands-on attention, making automation difficult

Sources: Pool Corporation 10-K, Leslie's 10-K, Pool Corp Q4 2025 Earnings Call

Market Share of Major Players

Even the largest companies in the industry control only a small fraction of the total market:

Company	Type	2024 Revenue	Market Share
Pool Corporation	Wholesale Distribution	$5.3B	~8.5% of $62B industry
Leslie's	Specialty Retail	$1.45B	~9.7% of care market
All Others	Independent	$55B+	~80%+ combined

Source: Pool Corp 10-K, Leslie's 10-K, PHTA

The dominance of independent contractors is striking--they outnumber all other business types combined by nearly 5 to 1. This reflects the low capital requirements and relationship-driven nature of weekly pool maintenance.

Service Sector Hiring Trends

Despite economic uncertainty, the pool service sector continues to expand its workforce:

Source: PHTA Q3 2023 Quarterly Pulse Report

These hiring numbers reflect the ongoing labor shortage in pool service--companies are competing aggressively for qualified technicians. With an aging workforce and limited vocational training pipelines, the 54% of companies that grew headcount likely invested significantly in recruitment and retention programs.

The service and maintenance sector is the strongest segment of the industry for hiring. While builders face declining backlogs, service companies are aggressively expanding to meet the maintenance demands of 8.8 million residential pools.[4]PHTA Q3 2023 Quarterly PulsePublished October 2023AQUA Magazine

Distribution Infrastructure

The 125,000 pool service businesses are supported by a national wholesale distribution network:

• Pool Corporation: 456 sales centers serving ~125,000 professional customers[5]Pool Corp Q4 2025 Earnings CallFebruary 2026Transcript
• SCP/Superior: Regional distributors with strong local presence
• Leslie's Pro: 1,021 retail locations with pro services division

This works out to approximately 274 service businesses supported per wholesale sales center--demonstrating the density of small operators in each local market.[1]Pool Corporation 10-KFiscal year ended December 31, 2024SEC Filing

Typical Pool Service Business Profile

Based on SEC filings and industry surveys, here's what the average pool service business looks like:

Characteristic	Typical Profile
Business Structure	Family-owned, LLC or sole proprietorship
Employee Count	Fewer than 10; many are 1-2 person operations
Service Area	Local market (20-30 mile radius)
Annual Supply Spend	$10,000+ at wholesale distributors
Primary Revenue	Weekly/monthly maintenance routes

Source: Pool Corp 10-K, Leslie's Q4 2024 Earnings Call

What This Means for Pool Service Businesses

The extreme fragmentation of the pool service industry creates both opportunities and challenges:

1. Low barriers to entry remain. Starting a pool route is still accessible for entrepreneurs with limited capital. Our startup guide covers the basics.
2. Consolidation is unlikely. The labor-intensive, relationship-driven nature of pool service makes it difficult for national chains to dominate.
3. Local reputation is everything. With 125,000 competitors, differentiation comes from service quality and customer relationships.
4. Growth comes from hiring. 54% of service companies grew their workforce in 2023--expansion requires building a team.

For more industry data, see our complete 2026 pool industry statistics or state-by-state pool counts.