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Link to The Pool Shop Coach’s ‘KNOW YOUR NUMBERS’ CALCULATOR : www.thepoolshopcoach.com.au/knowyournumbers
Your shop is packed, the service trucks are rolling, and bags of salt are flying out the door. So why does the profit disappear?
On this episode of Mondays Down Under on the Talking Pools Podcast, Lee Salisbury, The Pool Shop Coach, and Nick in Brisbane tackle the expenses quietly eating away at pool business profits. From merchant fees and surprise freight charges to fuel, wages, and electricity, those “little” costs can turn a busy season into a whole lot of work for very little return.
The conversation kicks off with a spirited discussion about Australian card payment surcharges before getting into the bigger question: When did you last review your prices against what it actually costs to run your business?
Lee explains why adding a few cents to your prices might fall short, how discounts take a bigger bite out of gross profit than owners realize, and why value-added offers deserve a closer look.
In this episode:
- Merchant fees and the hidden cost of getting paid.
- Why a 10% discount can cut gross profit by 20% in the example discussed.
- Markup versus margin—and why a 50% markup produces roughly a 33% gross margin.
- Accounting for overhead, including a wage for the owner.
- Using store incentives to encourage return visits.
- Identifying products that may be losing money.
- Why a healthy bank balance doesn’t necessarily mean a profitable business.
- Preparing for summer with prices grounded in your actual costs.
Featured resource: Lee introduces her free Know Your Numbers calculator, designed to help owners understand overhead and what each sale needs to contribute before the business earns a profit.
The episode also opens with a heartfelt message of support for Shane and his family following the loss of his mum. Our love is with them.
The takeaway: Before you sell another pallet of salt, make sure you know whether those bags are helping pay the bills—or adding to them.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you in part by Pool Brain, helping pool professionals run smarter, more efficient, and more profitable service businesses.
Questions or topic suggestions? Email talkingpools@gmail.com.
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