Where to find quality routes

Most great routes never hit Craigslist. The best deals are found by buyers who are quietly, consistently in the market, even when they're not actively shopping. Here's where serious buyers look:

- Direct marketplaces like this one, owners list directly, no broker fees baked in, and you can compare deals on apples-to-apples financials.
- Industry associations & trade groups, IPSSA chapters, PHTA, regional service groups. Show up to a meeting; deals get whispered before they get listed.
- Word of mouth in supply houses: your local pool supply counter (Pinch A Penny, Leslie's pro counters, SCP/Heritage) knows everyone. Ask the manager who's slowing down or talking about retiring.
- Brokers, useful for larger commercial routes; expect 8–12% on the deal added to the price. Brokers can be helpful for complex transactions but you should still do your own diligence.
- Cold outreach, letters or postcards to routes you'd want to own. Slow, but yields the best deals because you're talking to owners who weren't planning to sell. A simple "I'm a local operator, if you ever consider selling please call me first" letter, sent twice a year, builds a pipeline.
- Tech and route-software users, operators on platforms like Skimmer often post in user groups when they're winding down. Their books are usually clean.
- Estate and life-event sales, sad reality, but routes sometimes need to move quickly due to health, divorce, or relocation. Be respectful and fair; reputation in a small industry travels.

Build a pipeline, not a deal. The buyer who looks at one route and signs is the buyer who overpays. Aim to have 5–10 active conversations at all times so you can compare and walk away from any single one without panic.

Set criteria before you shop. Decide your geography, minimum monthly recurring revenue, maximum check size, and acceptable account density *before* you talk to a seller. Otherwise every route looks attractive and you end up buying based on the seller's pitch instead of your filter.

Cast wide. The best buyers are always quietly looking, even when they're not actively shopping.