How to start a pool cleaning business in Australia

Choose a business structure

Most pool service businesses start as a sole trader, partnership or company. A sole trader is legally responsible for every part of the business and is the simplest and cheapest to set up. A company is a separate legal entity from you, which changes your liability and tax position but adds set-up cost and reporting. A partnership suits two or more people sharing the business and its income or losses.

There is no single right answer, and business.gov.au explains the differences between business structures. Talk to an accountant before you decide. If you change structure later, for example from sole trader to company, you may need to cancel your ABN and apply for a new one.

Get an ABN and register your business name

An Australian Business Number (ABN) is an 11-digit number that identifies your business to the government, other businesses and your customers. It is free to register for an ABN through the Australian Business Register. Have your business structure, proof of identity and details of your business activities ready.

If you trade under any name other than your own, register it as a business name with ASIC. Check first that nobody else has registered the name or holds a trade mark for it. Your business name must appear wherever you do business and on written communication such as invoices and quotes. Registering a business name does not give you exclusive rights to it. For that you need a trade mark.

Work out your GST obligations

You must register for GST when your GST turnover reaches $75,000, or from the start if you expect to reach $75,000 in your first year. Once you are required to register, you have 21 days to do it, and you need an ABN first. Below the threshold, registering is optional. If you choose to register, you generally need to stay registered for at least 12 months.

• Check your turnover each month while you are under the threshold, so you register on time.
• Once registered, add GST to your prices, issue tax invoices and lodge a business activity statement (BAS).
• Keep most business records for five years.

Our guide to GST and tax invoices for pool service businesses covers what each invoice must show.

Insurance you may need

Some insurance may be required by law, and some customers will ask for it before you start work. According to business.gov.au, the most common insurances required by law are:

• Public liability insurance, which some states and territories require for certain occupations. Homeowners, body corporates and property managers will often ask to see it.
• Workers compensation insurance, which you must hold if you have employees. The rules vary between states and territories.
• Compulsory third party personal injury insurance for your vehicle, which is often part of your registration.

Workers compensation does not cover a sole trader, so consider income protection or accident and sickness cover for yourself. Cover for tools, equipment and your vehicle is worth pricing too. Get professional advice on which insurance your business needs.

Licences: routine cleaning is not the same as certifying or building

The licences and permits you need depend on your business activities, your state or territory and your local council. Search the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) for the exact services you plan to offer.

• In Queensland, only pool safety inspectors licensed by the QBCC can issue pool safety certificates, and the QBCC says pool safety inspectors cannot perform works valued at more than $3,300 without an appropriate licence and contract.
• In New South Wales, pool barrier compliance is inspected by the local council or a registered certifier.
• Check before you offer repairs, equipment installation, fencing, or any electrical or plumbing work.

When the rules are unclear, ask your state regulator before taking the work, not after.

Store and handle pool chemicals safely

Many pool chemicals are hazardous chemicals under work health and safety laws. Safe Work Australia says that if you supply, use or store hazardous chemicals, you must keep copies of their safety data sheets (SDS) at your workplace. Chemicals must be stored correctly, with signs and labels that make it clear where they are kept.

• Keep incompatible chemicals well apart. Some react dangerously when mixed.
• Keep chemicals in their original, labelled containers.
• Keep a current SDS for every product you carry.
• Ask your state or territory work health and safety regulator about the rules for carrying chemicals in your vehicle.

Read Safe Work Australia’s guidance on storing hazardous chemicals before your first stop.

Price your stops and find your first customers

Work out what a stop really costs you before you quote anyone: time on site, travel between stops, chemicals and a share of your overheads, plus your margin and GST if you are registered. Our guide on how to price pool service walks through a worked example.

Travel is the cost that grows quietly, so keep your first customers close together. Neighbours, local community groups, referrals from happy customers, and property managers who look after rental homes with pools are good places to start. Weekly or fortnightly recurring stops give you predictable income and a route you can plan.

Set up records and software from day one

Keep one record per customer and pool: address, access notes, pool type, equipment, every water test, photos of the work and every invoice. Good records protect you in a dispute, help a new technician take over a route, and make tax time easier.

Chlor is pool service software made in Australia for exactly this. It schedules recurring stops, records readings, checklists and photos at the pool, and invoices with GST from the work already done. The pricing page lists the current plans.