Pinch A Penny locations are more than swimming pool retail stores. They are franchises that serve as invaluable resources for pool owners, providing pool cleaning, installation, repairs, and other services that homeowners need to enjoy their backyards year-round.
If you are considering buying a pool franchise, you may be researching several different ones. So, how is Pinch A Penny different from its competitors in the pool industry?

Top Franchise System

Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa is the nation’s largest swimming pool retail, service, and repair franchise system. Most other pool-industry franchises have limited service offerings, focusing on pool cleaning or repairs; other competitors are corporately owned retail locations that sell supplies.
Pinch A Penny franchisees are owner-operators who benefit from the brand’s proven turnkey business model and strong corporate support programs, as well as exclusive access to Pinch A Penny’s proprietary chemical products and expert training at the company’s Pool School in Clearwater, Florida.
Before joining Pinch A Penny, many franchisees were successful in different careers having nothing to do with pools, but at some point, they decided to invest in themselves and own their own businesses. Because many of Pinch A Penny’s franchisees were previous customers who already knew and trusted the brand, they chose to join the company.

Multiple Streams of Revenue

Unlike their competitors, Pinch A Penny franchises have the advantage of multiple streams of revenue: retail, pool cleaning, and an array of backyard services.
As a leading swimming pool franchise for more than 45 years, Pinch A Penny provides franchisees with in-depth training so that they become niche specialists and offer their customers invaluable expertise and guidance every time they call or walk into a store. Customers rely on their neighborhood Pinch A Penny to point them toward what they need to create the safest, most sanitary water environment for family fun. Pinch A Penny stores sell supplies and offer free water testing using the brand’s seven-point computerized water test to help customers ensure that they have the proper water chemistry in their pools.
Pinch A Penny also handles routine cleaning and maintenance for pool owners who prefer to be more hands-off in caring for their pools. Franchisees and certified technicians on staff at Pinch A Penny locations are well-trained so that the pools they maintain stay safe and clean for year-round enjoyment.
Finally, Pinch A Penny provides a variety of backyard services such as pressure washing, pool renovations, leak detection, and more to keep the area surrounding the pool or spa in great shape.

Family Business

A lot of companies say their teams are “like family,” but Pinch A Penny has always been a family business. Founder Fred Thomas grew the company by inviting other families to invest and open their own locations. Today, Thomas’s son, John, serves as chief executive officer of Pinch A Penny. John Thomas makes a point of visiting every franchisee at least once per year to see how things are going, and they all have his personal cell phone number so they can call if they ever need something.
Many Pinch A Penny locations are owned and operated by families who desired to build a legacy for their children. The business model lends itself to family life, with regular hours and no travel, and stores create jobs for all ages, including the teenaged children of many franchise owners and customers. Many of Pinch A Penny’s higher-performing locations are owned and operated by families.
Franchisees cite the brand’s family atmosphere as one of the things they love about Pinch A Penny. That may help explain the company’s perennially high ratings for franchisee satisfaction in Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises ranking. Pinch A Penny has been in the Top 10% of the rankings since the survey began, and in 2020, Pinch A Penny was the category leader among retail franchises.
Pinch A Penny stands out among a crowd of competitors, and the brand is poised to differentiate itself further as it continues to expand throughout the Southeast and in fast-growing states like Texas, where both residential development and pool construction are on the rise.

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Pinch A Penny’s designation as an essential business and its financial performance during the pandemic, coupled with more than 40 years of recorded positive growth, earned the brand a spot on a list of the Top 50 Recession-Proof Franchises published recently by Franchise Business Review (FBR).

FBR, a leading market research firm specializing in franchisee satisfaction and performance, used history as a guide to identifying a variety of business sectors that it expects to outperform others over the next few years, including home repair and maintenance services and specialty retail. FBR also considered key factors such as whether the franchise provides a necessary product or service; performance during previous economic downturns; strong historical unit-level economics; and market growth potential to determine the Top 50 list.

Providing an Essential Service

With stay-at-home orders in effect in the states in which Pinch A Penny operates, families staying at home used their pools more than ever. They depended on their local Pinch A Penny stores to help them stay safe, especially after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the coronavirus could not be spread through fully operational pools and hot tubs that were properly maintained with the right balance of chemicals.

Pinch A Penny franchise owners went above and beyond to serve their customers during the COVID-19 crisis. They followed all recommended guidelines and, in many cases, went further than required to ensure customers felt comfortable when visiting their neighborhood Pinch A Penny. For example, franchise owners installed Plexiglas® shields around the checkout counters; placed markers on the floor to note 6-foot distance; limited the number of people permitted in a store at one time; made hand sanitizer readily available; set up tables outside the storefront to limit foot traffic inside the store, and some owners even offered free contactless delivery in their communities.

Moving Forward

FBR cited the home repair services and specialty retail sectors as two of the most recession-proof franchises for prospective franchisees to consider as the economy recovers. As people continue to spend more time at home, they are more likely to take on DIY projects or hire local contractors to make their homes and backyards as comfortable as possible.

Additionally, many people found comfort in hobbies and other home-based activities. That focus on the home aligns perfectly with Pinch A Penny’s business model. Whether someone wants to maintain their pool themselves or relax while a certified technician does the heavy lifting, there is plenty of opportunity for Pinch A Penny franchises as the country rebounds.

As the brand continues to expand its footprint throughout the Southeast and in fast-growing states like Texas, where both residential development and pool construction are on the rise, the demand for Pinch A Penny services and products is expected to grow, also.

Interested in owning your own franchise?

Pinch A Penny’s designation as an essential business and its financial performance during the pandemic, coupled with more than 40 years of recorded positive growth, earned the brand a spot on a list of the Top 50 Recession-Proof Franchises published recently by Franchise Business Review (FBR).

FBR, a leading market research firm specializing in franchisee satisfaction and performance, used history as a guide to identifying a variety of business sectors that it expects to outperform others over the next few years, including home repair and maintenance services and specialty retail. FBR also considered key factors such as whether the franchise provides a necessary product or service; performance during previous economic downturns; strong historical unit-level economics; and market growth potential to determine the Top 50 list.

Providing an Essential Service

With stay-at-home orders in effect in the states in which Pinch A Penny operates, families staying at home used their pools more than ever. They depended on their local Pinch A Penny stores to help them stay safe, especially after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the coronavirus could not be spread through fully operational pools and hot tubs that were properly maintained with the right balance of chemicals.

Pinch A Penny franchise owners went above and beyond to serve their customers during the COVID-19 crisis. They followed all recommended guidelines and, in many cases, went further than required to ensure customers felt comfortable when visiting their neighborhood Pinch A Penny. For example, franchise owners installed Plexiglas® shields around the checkout counters; placed markers on the floor to note 6-foot distance; limited the number of people permitted in a store at one time; made hand sanitizer readily available; set up tables outside the storefront to limit foot traffic inside the store, and some owners even offered free contactless delivery in their communities.

Moving Forward

FBR cited the home repair services and specialty retail sectors as two of the most recession-proof franchises for prospective franchisees to consider as the economy recovers. As people continue to spend more time at home, they are more likely to take on DIY projects or hire local contractors to make their homes and backyards as comfortable as possible.

Additionally, many people found comfort in hobbies and other home-based activities. That focus on the home aligns perfectly with Pinch A Penny’s business model. Whether someone wants to maintain their pool themselves or relax while a certified technician does the heavy lifting, there is plenty of opportunity for Pinch A Penny franchises as the country rebounds.

As the brand continues to expand its footprint throughout the Southeast and in fast-growing states like Texas, where both residential development and pool construction are on the rise, the demand for Pinch A Penny services and products is expected to grow, also.

Interested in owning your own franchise?

Americans are likely to spend a lot more time at home this summer.

As the country reopens state-by-state, some consumers remain reluctant to go far outside their homes, given all the uncertainty that still lingers with COVID-19. With domestic and international air travel largely grounded and cruises suspended until late summer or autumn, it just makes sense for folks to consider limiting summer travel and plan a staycation. And what better place to spend one than by the backyard pool?

The U.S. Travel Association notes that in recent years, 55% of workers did not use all of their vacation time because of cost and guilt they feel for taking off work. That number is likely to go up this year with so many people working from home for weeks or months due to coronavirus closures. And yet, the stress of living through a national crisis leaves people more in need of a vacation than ever.

This summer, Pinch A Penny owners are going to be busy helping swimming pool owners keep their chemicals in balance and pools operating smoothly so they can enjoy some much-needed downtime close to home.

Multiple Streams of Revenue

One huge advantage to owning and operating a Pinch A Penny franchise is that locations have multiple streams of revenue: retail, pool cleaning and an array of backyard services.

Pinch A Penny stores serve as community centers where pool owners can go for supplies and expert advice from their local Pinch A Penny franchisee who often is their neighbor. Customers rely on Pinch A Penny to help them create the safest, most sanitary water environment for family fun. A big piece of this happens inside our stores, where Pinch A Penny franchisees and their employees educate and assist pool owners one-on-one on everything from the need to shock the pool weekly to regular water testing to keep chemicals in balance.

Regular water testing is the cornerstone of Pinch A Penny’s in-store services. Free water test bottles are provided for in-store testing. Pinch A Penny’s seven-point computerized water test helps customers ensure they have the proper water chemistry in their pools. Ultimately, that saves customers money by helping to avoid unnecessary purchases of chemicals, damage to the pool’s finish and broken equipment.

Pool owners who prefer to be more hands-off and want nothing more than free time to enjoy their pools, happily hire their local Pinch A Penny to handle their routine cleaning and maintenance needs. Pinch A Penny owners and certified technicians are well-trained so that the pools they maintain stay safe and clean for year-round enjoyment.

Finally, Pinch A Penny provides a variety of backyard services such as pressure washing, pool renovations, leak detection and more to keep the area surrounding the pool or spa in great shape. Regular power washing by a Pinch A Penny pro helps to maintain the beauty of your house, windows and deck, and to extend the life of other hard exterior surfaces. And when pools start to show their age, Pinch A Penny can resurface it so that it will last for many years to come. Pinch A Penny’s backyard services ensure that a customer’s backyard is the oasis that they want and need now more than ever.

An Essential Business

Pinch A Penny plays a critical role in helping keep pools safe and sanitary, and franchise owners’ expertise in water safety is just one reason that Pinch A Penny locations are deemed essential businesses. As a matter of fact, when stay-at-home orders were placed because of the pandemic, our business and function proved more important than ever before, because families began using their home pools more often and depended on companies like ours to help keep them and their loved ones safe. As a result, our locations have been open – and busy – all year.

Pinch A Penny is a franchise for all seasons and all economic situations because pools and spas require year-round maintenance – whether it’s being done by Pinch A Penny or the homeowner, who also will benefit from Pinch A Penny’s expertise. This is a need-based business, not just a summertime business. What’s more, we have been in business for 45 years and have seen a fair share of ups and downs in the economy. Despite all these, we have recorded more than 40 years of positive growth and remain the leading swimming pool franchise, showcasing that Pinch A Penny franchises thrive in all economies. There always will be a need for clean water and safe backyard fun.

Now is the ideal time to invest in a Pinch A Penny business of your own, because people are using their pools more than ever before and there is a proven need for our services, even in the middle of a pandemic. In a time of general uncertainty, Pinch A Penny is a business you can count on.

In the coming year, people are going to be staying home a lot more and enjoying quality family time by the pool. Some people may even decide this is the perfect year to build a pool or spa, and they are going to need help caring for it. They are going to need a local Pinch A Penny.

Interested in owning your own franchise?

Over our decades in business, a committed family of franchise owners and a loyal customer base have made Pinch A Penny the nation’s largest swimming pool retail store, pool cleaning and backyard services franchise — and people are taking note! Pinch A Penny is ranked No. 150 on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious 2020 Franchise 500 ranking — a massive jump up 275 places from last year’s ranking at No. 425.

Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 is the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Considered an invaluable tool for investors who are seeking franchise opportunities, Franchise 500 rankings are based on a company’s exceptional performance in areas such as unit growth, financial strength and stability and brand power.

Entrepreneur received more than 1,100 applications for its 41^st ranking, making this year’s edition one of the most competitive in Franchise 500 history.

Being ranked so highly is a credit to Pinch A Penny’s outstanding franchise owners, who provide unrivaled expertise and stellar service to their customers every day and keep franchise growth and performance strong companywide.

Pinch A Penny is a well-established franchise system that is consistently ranked highly by multiple organizations. In addition to the Entrepreneur listing, Pinch A Penny is listed among Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises to Buy, Top Franchises for Women and Top Franchises for Veterans; Franchise Times’ Top 200+. Pinch A Penny also received the silver award for Franchise Update’s STAR Award for Franchisee Satisfaction.

Entrepreneur uses a rigorous “Five Pillar” formula based on:
• Costs and fees (franchise fee, total investment and royalty fees)
• Size and growth (open and operating units, growth rate and closures)
• Support (training times, marketing and operational support, franchisor infrastructure, financing availability and litigation)
• Brand strength (social media, system size, number of years in business and number of years in franchising)
• Financial strength & stability (franchisor’s audited financial statements)

Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500 in ranking order.

If you’re looking for a franchise opportunity or want to convert an existing location, now is a great time to dive in. With more than 250 locations, we’re looking for strong candidates to bring exceptional pool products, expertise and service to your area. 

Interested in owning your own franchise?