Key takeaways
Consumer financing helps pool service professionals close more jobs, increase average ticket size, and improve customer satisfaction by offering homeowners flexible payment options. With the right financing partner, pool pros get paid in full immediately when the job is complete, while customers pay over time. Financing reduces hesitation around large repairs and eliminates price-driven delays. Data shows financing can triple repair size, boost service acceptance by 25%, and raise revenue by 14% or more. Integrating financing into quotes, invoices, and team workflows turns affordability into a growth advantage.
##Key takeaways##
Every pool pro knows this moment: a heater dies mid-season or a resurfacing surprise hits, and the homeowner hesitates. The need is urgent, but the cost feels overwhelming for the owner.
Consumer financing reframes that decision. Instead of paying thousands upfront, your customers see a monthly payment they can more easily manage—making it easier for them to say yes and for you to close the job quickly.
67% of Americans can’t cover a $400 emergency expense, and 46% of earners making over $100K use Consumer Financing.
— Sunbit & Entrepreneur, 2025
With financing embedded in your workflow, you can win more business, protect your margins, and get paid in full immediately without waiting, and with no risk of recourse.
What is consumer financing?
Consumer financing lets homeowners split large pool service or renovation costs into smaller, predictable payments. When approved, a third-party lender pays your business in full, and the customer pays the lender over time.
How it works:
- The homeowner applies and receives an approval decision—often in under a minute.
- You complete the work.
- You’re paid in full once the job is done.
- The homeowner repays the lender in instalments.
Most pool pros use third-party partners, which integrate with quoting and invoicing platforms like Skimmer.
Why financing matters right now
Pool repairs and upgrades can be expensive—$2,000–$3,000 for a pump replacement, and anywhere from $10,000–$50,000 for resurfacing or leaks. That’s a major unplanned expense for most homeowners.
Even high earners are feeling the strain:
- 48% of $100K+ earners live paycheck to paycheck.
- 28% of affluent homeowners admit to choosing lower-quality service due to rising costs.
- Delinquencies for $150K+ earners have doubled since 2023.
And according to Skimmer’s Pool Owner Report 2025:
- 38% of pool owners say cost is their top frustration.
- 23% say unclear billing is next on the list.
Offering financing helps with both. It gives customers options and creates transparency around cost.
Why pool pros should offer financing
Get paid faster
When you use third-party financing, you’re paid in full once the job is complete. No waiting, no partial payments, no follow-up collection calls.
Differentiate from your competition
Offering financing is a super easy way to stand out from your competition. Giving your customers flexible payment options gives you a leg up on other pool service businesses in your area.
Close more deals
Homeowners are 2.5x more likely to approve the work when financing is presented early—before or during the estimate stage. It turns hesitation into confidence.
Increase your average ticket size
When monthly payments replace large lump sums, upgrades feel easier to say “yes” to.
- Repair size can increase by 3x or more (Sunbit).
- Service acceptance rates rise by 25%+ (Sunbit).
- Merchants that offer “buy now, pay later” see 14% higher revenue on average (Stripe 2025 BNPL Guide).
Protect your margins
Financing reduces the need to discount. Rather than lowering prices, you’re providing flexibility—keeping your value and pricing intact.
Customer experience benefits
Financing doesn’t just help you—it helps your customers feel in control.
- More payment flexibility: Customers can fix issues right away, not “someday.”
- Less stress: Predictable monthly payments remove financial friction.
- Higher satisfaction: Customers who can afford to “do it right” tend to stay loyal and refer friends.
“Financing turns difficult decisions into easy yeses.”
— Skimmer Pool Owner Report 2025
How to implement consumer financing in your business
1. Choose the right financing partner: Look for a service built for home improvement with transparent fees and quick approvals.
2. Align your pricebook: Most financing providers charge a small fee per transaction. Adjust your pricing slightly—usually 5-20%—to keep your margins steady.
3. Offer financing early: Timing matters. Customers are 2.5x more likely to approve work when they know financing exists up front.
Best practices:
- Mention financing as soon as you discuss costs.
- Text or email a prequalification link before sending the estimate.
- Include “Pay in Full” and “Pay Over Time” options side by side.
- Keep “Financing Available” visible across your website, invoices, and quotes.
4. Embed financing in every estimate: Make it part of your quoting workflow—not an afterthought. Default presentation matters; when customers see payment options on every quote, approval rates rise.
5. Choose a provider that is embedded into your pool service software. This lets you:
- Get pre-approvals embedded into your quotes
- Add it as a payment option on your quotes
- Track payments and incorporate it into your billing and reporting
6. Train your team: Every staff member should be comfortable explaining financing.
Simple ways to say it:
- “We can take care of this today—you can pay over time if that’s easier.”
- “Many of our customers use flexible payments for repairs like this.”
- “If you’d like to upgrade, you can finance it and start saving right away.”
7. Follow up on declined jobs: If a customer walks away, follow up with a quick note and a financing link.
“Many customers use flexible payments to move forward comfortably—here’s an easy way to get prequalified.”
You’ll recover a surprising number of “lost” deals.
Myth: Financing cannibalizes cash sales
It doesn’t. 66% of BNPL transactions are net-new sales—work that wouldn’t have happened otherwise (Stripe 2025 BNPL Guide).
And financing isn’t just for those “who can’t afford it.” Nearly half of all households earning over $100K use financing to manage expenses more comfortably. It’s a convenience, not a compromise.
Key takeaways
- Financing is an expectation, not an exception in 2025.
- It helps pool pros close faster, upsell smarter, and protect margins.
- Homeowners crave transparent, flexible payment options.
- The right partner ensures you get paid fast and your customers stay satisfied.
Consumer financing isn’t a backup plan—it’s a business growth strategy.
*3- month 0% APR plans for all approved customers. 6- through 18-month plans with interest are also available. Subject to approval based on creditworthiness. 0-35.99% APR. Payment due at checkout. Not available in VT or US territories. Example: A $885.00 purchase with 28.99% APR, $133.38 down payment and a 6-month term would have monthly payments of $136.09 and a total cost of $949.93. Terms may vary. Account openings and payment activity are reported to a major credit bureau. Sunbit Now, LLC, NMLS ID 1760582. Loans are made by Transportation Alliance Bank Inc. dba TAB Bank, which determines qualifications for and terms of credit.
