Former Restaurateur and Retired Police Officer Dive Into Pool Scouts

After decades in careers ranging from restaurant management to law enforcement, brothers Mark and John Brockriede are ready for a fresh challenge as they step into the pool maintenance industry with Pool Scouts*. The New Jersey natives are no strangers to business, having managed everything from family restaurants to real estate portfolios. Now, they’re bringing that experience to Pool Scouts, attracted by the support and structure that come with a franchise.

Both see enormous growth potential in the pool services industry, especially as more people invest in pools and look for reliable maintenance. Excited about what lies ahead, Mark and John are eager to bring professional pool care to their community and grow their new business across the region.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Mark Brockriede: I owned and operated a family-owned restaurant for 25 years. Before that, I worked as a building contractor. My brother and I also own and manage a real estate management and development company, which we still do.

Franchising seemed like another business opportunity for us. Coming from a business family — our father owned various businesses, including restaurant franchises and car dealerships — we’ve always been involved in different ventures. We sold the restaurant a few years ago, and now we manage 50 apartment units along with commercial properties.

I’m 54 and John’s 56, so we were ready for a new challenge.

John Brockriede: I was a police officer for 26 years, retiring in 2014. I was always involved in the family business, though not full-time until now. Since retiring, I’ve been working with my brother in our current businesses, and we saw franchising as the next step.

Mark: We saw franchising as an opportunity to be successful because a lot of the guesswork was already done for us. The national brand and existing support system were appealing, especially since starting a business from scratch is incredibly difficult. We've done that before, and the structure, support and removing much of the guesswork makes franchising attractive.

John: Exactly. We’ve run businesses that weren’t franchises, and the support structure franchising provides is invaluable. In a business like pool cleaning, where we don’t have as much experience, having that support is essential. You’re not just buying a truck and starting from scratch. The franchise gives you the training and tools to succeed, which was a big draw for us.

John: We were impressed with Pool Scouts because of their rapid growth and the professionalism of the people we met. The franchisees we spoke with had only positive things to say, which made us confident in the company.

Mark: The pool maintenance and cleaning industry has been growing significantly, especially since COVID. People aren’t removing pools — they're adding them. It's a growing industry, and we saw a great opportunity in our area. We know the potential customer base is large, and we feel good about our chances to scale the business in this region.

John: We want to scale the business quickly. We know the potential customer base is high, and we’re ready to jump in with both feet. With our business background, we hope to grow it efficiently. We both have kids, and maybe one day they’ll be involved in the business as well.

Mark: I’ve been in several tough businesses, and restaurants are one of the toughest. We were successful with our restaurant, but it was a challenge that required constant hands-on involvement. This time, we plan to be hands-on as well, but with a focus on building a team to work with us. We’re leveraging our real estate connections and our local knowledge to network and grow the business quickly. We’re excited about the professional approach Pool Scouts takes to this industry — it’s more than just being a "pool guy." We believe in their business model and see great potential here.

John: It’s never too late to start a business. We could be retiring or scaling back, but we’re looking for new challenges.

Mark: I agree. We’re both in our 50s and we could have dialed it back, but instead, we’re climbing another mountain. We’ve accomplished a lot so far, and now we’re excited to add another feather to our cap with this new venture.

John: Owning your own business gives you control over your success. It’s challenging, but it’s also rewarding.

Mark: Whether you start your own business or open a franchise, there’s risk involved. With a franchise, you’re paying for support, and that’s invaluable. The franchise helps you avoid expensive mistakes and gives you a structure for success. Pool Scouts, for example, has provided us with more support than we’ve ever had in any business we started on our own. They guide you through what you need to do and offer forward-thinking strategies to grow the business. That level of support is worth the investment.

The company has been named among the Inc 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies as well as Inc's Best Workplaces list for several years in a row.