I just got a quote for my new pool this week from one of the bigger companies around and they wanted $140 for the cleaning and $40 for the chemicals, but they said that was actually below their minimum (I have a small pool). So, sadly, $200/month is probably about right for what I'm seeing in the market now and for what I used to pay, which was $200/month. Couple of related CSB's...
My last guy was $150/month, but he was a unique situation. Young kid who was working for the large company I originally hired for $200/month. He decided to quit and go out on his own and I guess he was poaching clients when he left because he offered to do mine for $150 if I'd hire him. Not sure how many other people he took when he left, but that really wasn't my problem. So, I took him up on it and it worked out fine. Ended up being a pretty cool kid and I helped him out with some business stuff along the way.
I just signed up with a guy for my new pool who says he'll do it for $20/week. Pretty sure he's only able to do that because he's doing it on the side of the company he's currently working for and using their chemicals. He does other pools in the neighborhood and it seems like he's just gonna swing by mine when he's here and make a quick $20 on the side for about 15 mins of work. I didn't ask and he didn't say, but that's just my reading between the lines. Had some apprehensions, you know, due to the whole "too good to be true, if he'll steal from his employer, etc" but for $20 a month, I decided fuck it, I'll give it a try.
I'm guessing there's lots of shady shit like this in the pool service industry. Probably some "get what you pay for" type deals that don't end well...i.e. these side deal type guys don't have any kind of business insurance so if they fuck something up, it's on you. I might try to do it myself if I had to pay $200/month but for $20/week, I'm willing to let someone else fuck with it. I could also mow my own lawn, but for $35/week, I'd rather have someone else fuck with that too. We'll see how it goes.