This Business Is Not Low-Cost to Run
Pool leak detection can look deceptively simple from a cost standpoint. You are not running a factory, not paying a crew, not buying materials. But the costs are real, and the operators who ignore them end up working hard for thin margins.
The goal here is not to discourage anyone. It is to make sure you price from a complete picture of what it actually costs to run this business professionally.
Field Equipment
- Dive gear - mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, dive skin
- Pressure testing manifold, plugs, gauges, hoses, fittings
- Dye, syringes, flashlight, telescoping mirror
- Camera or phone case for underwater documentation
- Electronic listening equipment when added
- Trace gas system when added
- Hand tools, safety gear, consumables used on every job
Vehicle
- Payment or purchase cost allocated monthly
- Fuel - leak detection is a mobile service with daily driving
- Insurance - commercial auto is separate from personal coverage
- Maintenance, tires, and repairs
- Registration and annual fees
- Vehicle branding and signage
Insurance
- General liability - required before you work on anyone's property
- Commercial auto - personal policies typically exclude business use
- Additional coverage depending on services offered - diving, repairs, commercial work
- Workers compensation if you have any employees or helpers
Licensing and Compliance
- State or local license fees where applicable
- Business entity registration and annual fees
- Renewal fees and continuing education costs
Marketing and Lead Generation
- Website hosting and maintenance
- Google Business Profile management and photo updates
- Paid advertising if used
- Business cards, door hangers, and leave-behinds
- Time spent building referral relationships with pool companies, builders, and real estate agents
Operations and Software
- Phone plan - your primary business communication tool
- Scheduling and CRM software
- Payment processing fees
- Report template software or PDF tools
- Email and document storage
- Accounting software or bookkeeping service
Time Costs Most Operators Overlook
- Intake calls and estimates that do not book
- Drive time to and from every job
- Report writing after every completed job
- Follow-up calls and customer questions
- Callbacks - return visits that cost you time at no additional charge
- Slow periods where overhead continues and revenue does not
The hidden expense that kills margins the fastest is time. Every phone call you take while driving, every report you delay, every callback you make costs you money that never shows up on an invoice. Price for the whole job - before and after the site visit - not just for the hour you spend in the water.
Why This List Matters for Pricing
You cannot price correctly until you know what the work costs you. Add up your monthly fixed costs - insurance, vehicle, phone, software, marketing, licensing. Divide by your realistic monthly job count. That tells you what each job must cover just to keep the lights on.
Everything above that floor is margin. Every job priced below that floor is a job you paid to do.
Know Your Numbers Before You Quote Your First Job
LBA teaches pricing and business fundamentals alongside field skills - so you run a business, not just a service call.
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