Pool News
Skimmer’s Service Rate Index Gives a Bird’s Eye View of What Pool Pros Are Charging

Skimmer, the industry’s leading pool service software with over 27,000 users nationwide, has introduced the Skimmer Service Rate Index—a groundbreaking utility designed to help pool service professionals see what their peers are charging in a given market. This tool, built on anonymous data from Skimmer’s extensive user base, offers invaluable insights for the pool service industry.
Providing Better Business Tools
“Our goal at Skimmer is to be far more than a software company,” says Jack Nelson, CEO of Skimmer. “In fact, our purpose from day one has always been to build a platform that empowers pool professionals to grow great businesses. We think providing them with data that helps them run all aspects of their business is just a natural extension of that.”
The Skimmer Service Rate Index leverages data from over 6,500 zip codes and more than 700,000 pools, offering a detailed and anonymized snapshot of pricing strategies across the country. “We’re in a pretty unique position in that our software has the capability to log what pros are charging and by what model they’re charging,” explains Niki Acosta, Skimmer’s Marketing Director. “Through that data, we know what people are charging per stop, per month, if they’re including chems, if they’re not including chems, and we can analyze that data by zip code, by county, and by state.”
Enabling Pool Professionals to Compare Prices
One of the standout features of the Service Rate Index is its ability to visualize and compare data across different regions. Acosta highlights the variability in pricing: “We see that consistently, states like Florida tend to lag behind in pricing in areas of the Southeast. We also see that areas in the Northeast region tend to charge a lot more. They have much shorter pool seasons, and so they have pool openings, four months of service or three and a half months of service, and then pool closings. Those models create what we can see as different pricing based on the levels of service that are provided across the US.”

The index doesn’t just provide a snapshot of current rates but also tracks pricing changes over time, offering pool professionals a way to see how the market is evolving. “As you think about different models, there’s also the plus chems or including chems per stop per month. There’s just a lot of wealth of information that allows folks to see what’s the norm in a certain market,” says Nelson. “Especially as we publish these every year, we have the data, and there’s a lot of useful information that the industry should be aware of.”
What Pool Pros Are Charging From Market to Market
The data reveals interesting trends, such as the regional differences in chemical inclusion. “In Florida, we see a lot of companies including chems, but you go to markets like Phoenix or Southern California, and it’s pretty split,” notes Acosta. “This is a very useful way of looking at those different models and being able to compare them apples to apples. One thing that we have found, too, is that people who are charging plus chems on average are actually charging more for base service than people that include chemicals.”
Northeast


| State | Low Range | Low Average | High Average | High Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $113 | $117 | $121 | $127 |
| D.C. | $100 | $104 | $107 | $109 |
| Maine | $76 | $82 | $85 | $92 |
| Massachusetts | $113 | $119 | $124 | $133 |
| New Hampshire | $123 | $128 | $133 | $137 |
| New Jersey | $92 | $99 | $103 | $110 |
| New York | $108 | $116 | $121 | $130 |
| Pennsylvania | $113 | $119 | $124 | $128 |
| Rhode Island | $127 | $132 | $137 | $146 |
| Vermont | $87 | $89 | $91 | $94 |
West


| State | Low Range | Low Average | High Average | High Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $134 | $138 | $142 | $146 |
| Arizona | $93 | $104 | $110 | $131 |
| California | $143 | $159 | $169 | $192 |
| Colorado | $87 | $93 | $98 | $108 |
| Hawaii | $166 | $177 | $186 | $197 |
| Idaho | $64 | $73 | $80 | $106 |
| Montana | $117 | $124 | $128 | $136 |
| Nevada | $120 | $130 | $137 | $150 |
| New Mexico | $117 | $124 | $131 | $144 |
| Oregon | $80 | $86 | $90 | $101 |
| Utah | $104 | $117 | $125 | $144 |
| Washington | $163 | $170 | $176 | $183 |
| Wyoming | $82 | $93 | $96 | $99 |
Mid-West


| State | Low Range | Low Average | High Average | High Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $124 | $134 | $140 | $148 |
| Indiana | $110 | $118 | $124 | $130 |
| Iowa | $195 | $201 | $208 | $213 |
| Kansas | $125 | $133 | $140 | $149 |
| Michigan | $115 | $119 | $123 | $128 |
| Minnesota | $85 | $94 | $100 | $107 |
| Missouri | $118 | $123 | $128 | $134 |
| Nebraska | $144 | $148 | $154 | $159 |
| North Dakota | $91 | $97 | $106 | $110 |
| Ohio | $93 | $97 | $100 | $104 |
| South Dakota | $81 | $84 | $87 | $88 |
| Wisconsin | $158 | $176 | $184 | $194 |
South


| State | Low Range | Low Average | High Average | High Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $118 | $126 | $131 | $143 |
| Arkansas | $100 | $106 | $109 | $117 |
| Delaware | $75 | $81 | $86 | $92 |
| Florida | $115 | $128 | $136 | $157 |
| Georgia | $117 | $128 | $136 | $150 |
| Kentucky | $160 | $166 | $172 | $179 |
| Louisiana | $115 | $123 | $129 | $139 |
| Maryland | $93 | $97 | $100 | $106 |
| Mississippi | $112 | $119 | $125 | $137 |
| North Carolina | $133 | $143 | $150 | $159 |
| Oklahoma | $137 | $147 | $154 | $163 |
| South Carolina | $148 | $164 | $174 | $188 |
| Tennessee | $115 | $123 | $129 | $138 |
| Texas | $136 | $149 | $158 | $175 |
| Virginia | $102 | $107 | $111 | $118 |
| West Virginia | $130 | $133 | $136 | $141 |
Climate also plays a significant role in pricing variability. “I think weather has a huge impact on chem cost,” says Acosta. “In areas of the South where we’ve seen record temperatures, chemical usage is much higher in those areas than they would be in other places. If your model is not accommodating those extra chem costs, then it is very possible that you could be operating at a lower margin than you would than those companies operating in a different market.”
Density of pools and route efficiency are other crucial factors. “Austin, Texas, is one of the more expensive markets in the country for pool service,” explains Nelson. “We see rates to almost 3X here that we do in Florida with some of our customers.” Part of the reason for that is simply how spread out some pool firms’ service territory is in comparison to those in other markets, explained Nelson. “If you’re having to travel 10 miles between stops, that’s going to drive up your fuel cost and your labor cost.”
The Skimmer Service Rate Index also helps pool professionals decide on their pricing strategies. “There’s a lot of data in there,” Nelson points out. “You need to decide what you want to be. Do you want to be the low-cost provider in your market, or do you want to be the quality service provider? We would, of course, encourage people to not try to be the low-cost provider and charge for the value that they’re delivering.”
Collecting and analyzing data from such a vast user base presents challenges, as Acosta explains: “One challenge is the data is only as good as what the pool pros are entering. We can look at the data and know that there are some obvious errors. If somebody has a per-month rate of $25, we know that’s probably inaccurate. We’ve removed some of the outliers. The other challenge is we don’t always know if a pool or a location that’s being serviced is commercial or residential.”
Economic conditions also influence service rates. “The short answer is rates have gone up, costs have gone up, obviously significantly across the board, and most of our customers have increased their prices accordingly,” says Nelson. “Interestingly, to the point where we’ve actually seen in the last couple of years, a lot of our customers became a lot more profitable.”
Doubling Down on a Great Idea
The future of the Skimmer Service Rate Index looks promising, with potential expansions in the type of data provided. Acosta envisions a platform where pool professionals can see how they compare to others in their area: “Let’s say you go to the platform, you enter a location with a zip code, maybe there’s a slide that tells you what percentile you fall into as far as where you are with pricing. That’s not something we’re currently working on, so I don’t want to make a promise that’s coming anytime soon. But it is possible longer term with the type of data that we collect.”
Ultimately, the Skimmer Service Rate Index is an invaluable tool for pool service professionals looking to optimize their pricing strategies. By providing detailed, anonymized data on service rates across different regions, Skimmer is empowering its users to make informed decisions that can lead to increased profitability and improved business operations. For any pool service professional looking to stay competitive with their pricing, the Skimmer Service Rate Index is a must-have resource.
Ready to Take a Deeper Dive?

Listen to our entire conversation with Jack Nelson (CEO of Skimmer) and Niki Acosta (Director of Marketing) on the Pool Magazine podcast.
Pool News
Landmark Aquatic Brings Poolside Adventures Attractions Nationwide

Poolside Adventures and Landmark Aquatic have joined forces to bring big-impact attractions with a small footprint to aquatic facilities across the country. The partnership pairs Poolside Adventures’ AquaClimb®, AquaZip’N® and AquaNinja® FLX attractions with Landmark’s expansive nationwide reach and proven expertise in aquatic facility design, construction, renovation, and maintenance.
Poolside Adventures attractions add excitement to aquatic facilities without a major renovation because they anchor directly to an existing pool deck with no water hookups, special tools or added concrete and reinforcement. In fact, the modular AquaClimb® walls can start with one section and grow with budgets. The AquaZip’N® is rapidly becoming a new, safer alternative to diving boards as it only requires four feet of water depth, can be installed in just a few hours, and has a throughput of six riders a minute.
“Some municipalities can’t afford a new water park or perhaps cannot renovate their pool this year,” said Cherie Moy, VP of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for Poolside Adventures. “Our products are an easy answer: a big impact with a small footprint, adding an ‘active attraction’ that makes the pool more exciting.”
“Landmark has a large footprint across the country, and we’re especially excited about their reach into HOA communities, a growing market where our partnership has already led to multiple installations,” said Moy. “Together, we will help clients find the right fit for their space, their budget and to add action and adventure to their pool experience.”
Matt Cappello, Vice President of Design at Landmark Aquatic agrees saying, “We’re excited to collaborate with Poolside Adventures to promote the versatility, ease of installation and entertainment value their products will bring to more pools across the country.”
About Landmark
Since 1967, Landmark Aquatic has helped communities and organizations bring complex aquatic facilities to life and keep them performing. Today, we are the nation’s largest integrated commercial aquatics platform, providing design, construction, renovation, restoration, and maintenance services nationwide. Our construction-led expertise and long-term service capabilities give customers one trusted partner across every stage of a facility’s lifecycle. For the life of your pool. Learn more at www.landmarkaquatic.com.
About Poolside Adventures
For more than 20 years, Poolside Adventures’ flagship AquaClimb® has led the market for poolside climbing walls. Its full line, including the AquaClimb® Luxe, AquaZip’N® and AquaNinja® FLX, delivers challenging, safe fun for swimmers of all ages. For more about Poolside Adventures visit www.aquaclimb.com.
Pool News
Shasta Pools Hires 30-Year Builder to Head Residential Construction

Vic Harshman brings extensive pool building experience to key leadership role
- Decades of proven pool construction experience across Nevada, Arizona and Texas
- Previously served as Shasta Pools’ exclusive excavation contractor
- Predecessor handpicked Harshman to grow position under new leadership team
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (October 5, 2026) – Shasta Pools, Phoenix Metro’s most recognized pool builder, named Vic Harshman as Head of Residential Construction. Harshman joins the new leadership team with more than three decades of hands-on industry experience and a long-standing relationship with the company to one of its most critical leadership roles.
Harshman has held senior construction leadership positions in Arizona and Texas, and worked closely with Shasta Pools, developing firsthand knowledge about the company’s standards, culture and customers. The appointment reflects the momentum Shasta Pools has built since its August 6 acquisition by Dansons Capital Group, Accrual Equity Partners, and Hydro Construction, and positions the full-service 60-year old pool company for continued growth.
Leadership Perspective
“Vic brings exactly the kind of no-nonsense, customer-first leadership our residential construction division needs,” said Jeff Thiessen, President, Dansons Capital Group. “His philosophy is deeply aligned with ours. Keeping customers’ needs as the foremost priority at every stage of the build process is at the center of everything we do, and Vic lives that every day.”
Harshman’s career in pool construction began at age 19, when he purchased a backhoe and launched a business digging plumbing trenches and footings. When the housing market declined in the late 1980s, he relocated to Las Vegas and began excavating swimming pools, a move that led to the creation of Harshman Excavating.
Harshman built and operated excavation businesses in Nevada, Arizona and Texas, primarily serving the pool industry, and served for a period as Shasta’s exclusive excavation contractor.
In 2012, Harshman joined A&A Manufacturing, serving pool builders across an eight-state region and growing annual sales by 10x. In 2020, he joined Keith Zars Pools in Texas as Director of Construction, where he brought together decades of ownership, leadership and industry knowledge.
A Return Rooted in Relationships
“I have always believed that strong relationships, hard work, accountability and taking care of people are the foundation of a successful business,” said Vic Harshman, Head of Residential Construction, Shasta Pools. “Shasta has been a meaningful part of my career for many years. I am genuinely excited to come back and help lead this team into a very exciting future.”
Harshman steps into the role with the full support of Dan Thiessen, Chairman of the new ownership team, and John Mortensen, the outgoing head of residential construction. Mortensen recommended Harshman for the position and will now serve as the company’s lead trainer. That transition reflects Shasta Pools’ commitment to investing in its people and preserving institutional knowledge as the organization continues to grow.
ABOUT SHASTA POOLS:
Shasta Pools is Arizona’s trusted name in custom pool building, proudly serving the Valley since 1966. For 60 years, Shasta has transformed backyards into beautiful, functional spaces where families relax, entertain and enjoy life. The company specializes in new pool construction, remodeling, pool service and landscape design with plans for expansion into the home services market to provide customers with complete home care solutions. Learn more at ShastaPools.com.
ABOUT DANSONS CAPITAL GROUP:
Dansons Capital Group, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a family-owned and family-managed investment firm built on shared values, integrity and long-term vision. The firm was established by the founders of Dansons, Inc., the company that launched and sold Pit Boss Grills. The company takes a hands-on approach, actively seeking opportunities across global markets and multiple asset classes. Its growing portfolio includes strategic real estate development holdings across multiple countries, oil drilling technologies, and limited partnership investments. Guided by a deep commitment to quality and the communities they serve, the Thiessen family leads with gratefulness for the blessings God has given them and in turn supports those less fortunate. Dansons Capital Group continues to identify and cultivate opportunities that reflect their family’s values and generational vision.
ABOUT ACCRUAL EQUITY PARTNERS:
Accrual Equity Partners (AEP) is a founder-led, privately funded private equity group built on the belief that every person, every percentage, and every product matters. This commitment, known as the “Power of One,” drives AEP’s mission to empower businesses and secure legacies across fragmented, service-based industries. AEP partners with founder-led and family-owned businesses to overcome barriers and unlock their full potential through strategic investment, operational performance enhancement, and advisory services. For more information, visit AccrualEquityPartners.com.
ABOUT HYDRO CONSTRUCTION:
Hydro Construction, LLC (HydroCon) was founded in 1986 to serve Arizona’s commercial pool construction and renovation market. Under the leadership of Curt Lonsdale, the company’s commercial pool construction division now manages some of the largest and most complex projects in the country.
Pool News
NTCA Welcomes Jennifer Ibe and Rachel Smith to the Team

Flowood, MS, October 1 – The National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is pleased to announce the addition of Jennifer Ibe as Membership and Sponsorship Sales Manager and Rachel Smith as Membership Marketing Manager. The two new positions strengthen NTCA’s focus on membership growth, retention, engagement, and delivering greater value to members.
“Growing and strengthening our membership is a key priority for the NTCA, and Jennifer and Rachel bring the experience and expertise to help us do that,” said Jeremy Sax, Deputy Director of NTCA. “Their complementary skills will allow us to take a more strategic approach to both membership development and the overall member experience.”
Jennifer Ibe, Membership and Sponsorship Sales Manager
Ibe brings more than 10 years of experience in association events, sales, sponsorships, relationship management, and strategic growth. Most recently, she served as Director of Sponsorship and Sales for the Global Workspace Association, where she led major conferences, sponsorship development, budgets, and initiatives that increased attendance by 33% and profitability by 30%.
At the NTCA, Ibe will lead membership recruitment, retention, re-engagement, and relationship development while supporting sponsorship and partner revenue opportunities. She will also represent the NTCA at major industry events and help strengthen relationships with members and prospective members.
Ibe holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Rachel Smith, Membership Marketing Manager
Smith brings extensive association experience in membership, communications, digital engagement, and member programming. Most recently, she served as Digital Communications Manager for the Association of Electric Companies of Texas. Previously, as Director of Membership for the Texas Economic Development Council, she managed more than 1,000 members and developed programs to increase member engagement and networking. She also served as Membership Coordinator for the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, where she managed more than 5,000 members and led new-member onboarding and retention initiatives.
At NTCA, Smith will focus on member onboarding, retention campaigns, communications, digital engagement, webinars, events, and community development. She will also support membership analytics and digital initiatives aimed at strengthening the member experience.
Smith holds a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Social Justice from West Virginia Wesleyan College.
“Jennifer’s focus on relationship-building and membership development, combined with Rachel’s experience in member communications and engagement, gives us a strong team focused on every stage of the member journey,” Sax added. “We’re excited about what this means for our members and for the future growth of NTCA.”
About NTCA
Established in 1947, the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to the professional installation of ceramic tile and natural stone. It is widely recognized as the largest and most respected tile contractors’ association in the world. For those seeking to improve their tile business, NTCA provides unparalleled educational experiences, supportive peer interaction, unique cost-savings programs, and a commitment to help develop the skills needed to improve your work, recruit, train, and manage your employees, and ultimately, make your business more profitable. Find out more at www.tile-assn.com.
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