From 'Man in a Van' to a Global Franchise: Nic Brill's Poolwerx Story

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Summary

How do you transform one of the world's most fragmented service industries into a scalable global franchise?

This week on Franchise Today, Stan Friedman welcomes Nic Brill, Global CEO of Poolwerx, whose journey from paper sales in South Africa to leading the world's largest pool service franchise is anything but conventional.

Nic shares how a passion for branding, franchising, and ultimately swimming led him to Poolwerx, where the company has grown to more than 400 locations supported by approximately 700 service vehicles across multiple countries.

Together, Stan and Nic discuss:

• Why fragmented industries often create the greatest franchise opportunities
• How Poolwerx transformed the traditional "man in a van" business into a recognized global brand
• Why recurring service revenue creates an attractive franchise model
• How COVID accelerated consumer demand for backyard wellness and outdoor living
• Why colder U.S. markets may represent some of the company's greatest future opportunities
• How franchisees can grow from a single service vehicle into multi-vehicle operations and retail locations
• Why AI will improve operations—but never replace trusted customer relationships

Nic also shares why Poolwerx refers to itself as "The Healthy Pool People," and how a "people-first" culture continues to drive the company's expansion across Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

Whether you're interested in franchising, home services, or building scalable businesses in overlooked industries, you'll find valuable lessons in this engaging conversation.

Because sometimes the greatest franchise opportunities are hiding in plain sight.