Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Rodriguez.
Hi Jonathan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I worked In the pool business 8 years before starting my own. I got my chance for a change when I had enough time to ponder the big decision of going off on my own during COVID-19 in 2020. I had received many compliments on my work and even was requested by customers to be the only guy to service their pool with my prior company. Many clients gave me hope and persuaded me to start my own company, and they would follow me. Initially, I just smiled but never thought about it until I noticed the unfairness and work conditions. I asked around for advice with a few small businesses around town from the owners I got to meet. I decided to put in my 2 weeks and set up my LLC. I already had all the certifications needed for pool services, so it was a smooth transition process. I came up with my name and built my website on my own. I stayed up late, creating flyers, business cards, advertising boards, and setting up Angie’s list, etc. I had 15 customers follow me out the door. It was a pay cut, not to mention the expenses of starting the business, buying tools, themes, and a pool vacuum. So, I did ride share as soon as I finished my pools. If it wasn’t for rideshare, I don’t know how I would have come up with the extra cash for my start-up process. Slowly but surely, I began locking in some leads off of Angie’s list. Some were cold calls and loss of money, but it was mainly a gain because I knew if the customer gave me a chance, they would not be disappointed and keep me year-round. So 15 went to 20 and the. 30 by the end of my first year. In my second year, I kept pushing it and pushing through doing repairs and maintaining an awesome satisfaction rate. By halfway through my second year, I had 45 accounts and began the word-of-mouth leads, which are the best because your customer hands you the lead. All you have to do is execute. As I enter my third year, I’ ‘ve continued to increase my pool route and added another truck and employee to the business. If it wasn’t for my never-quitting attitude, I don’t know if I would have made it this far because it was a tough beginning.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it never is, but the long roads mold you into the person you become. The struggle is always the beginning. From purchasing a truck with half my savings and having it break down 3 months later to never being able to qualify for a business loan, I had to earn everything through hard work and extra work, such as doing ride share as a second source of income and selling a few of the collection items I had, to have enough money for advertising and purchase of a new work truck.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a local business with big goals. Small business, big heart. I love all my clients and treat them like family. I service pools in and around the surrounding Austin area and repair equipment. What sets me apart from other companies is that I’m not in the business to try and get rich quickly. I know that everything is a process, and I remain patient and give my best service to all my customers. I am most proud of the reliability of my services. I always show up and always complete repairs within 2 days if needed. I want people to know that I’m always here to help with your pool services needs and go above and beyond for everyone. I treat everyone the same and how I would like to be treated. You are not just another number when you join the Blue Trident pool service company; You are family!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am young, and I’m always learning. I go to pool conventions to learn about new products before they hit the market to prepare me for anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: Bluetridentpools.com
- Instagram: Bluetridentpools
