Jul 10, 2025

From Burnout to Breakthrough: How Turner Pools Found Growth, Balance, and a Trusted CPA Partner to Help Them Navigate the Sink or Swim World of Entrepreneurship

Overview

Before launching Turner Pools, both Julie and Karl Turner spent years working in the swimming pool industry–building relationships and gaining experience. Julie started her career in customer service, and Karl as a pool service manager. Though they didn’t enjoy working for their former company, they stayed to pay the bills and prepare for the arrival of their first child. Although Julie left the pool industry to work for the IRS, Karl and Julie built strong relationships with customers who would often ask, “Why don’t you two start your own pool business?”
 
After years of hearing this, Karl called Julie and told her he had quit his job, and they were finally going to start their own pool construction and servicing business. Karl and Julie’s story echoes the experiences of many small business owners. They knew they could provide better customer service and wanted to have something of their own. Through challenges, failure, and grit, they have been a staple of the pool construction and servicing industry of Northern Virginia for over three decades. This success stems not only from hard work, but also from the partners they chose to have on their team.

Challenges & Turning Points

Since its founding, Turner Pools has faced several challenges. The first challenge they faced was launching the business in the dead of winter, surviving solely by conducting hot tub repairs. While this strategy kept them afloat (so to speak), sales weren’t where Julie and Karl wanted them to be. It took 20-hour workdays to get the business off the ground, but their dedication paid off year after year.  Four years into the business, Karl and Julie realized they had outgrown their existing support and that their accountant wasn’t invested in helping them scale. While searching for a firm that could grow alongside them, Sareen & Associates coincidentally reached out, and they never looked back.

“After we decided we were interested in partnering with Sareen & Associates, Mr. Sareen came to our office and made us feel very comfortable. They were able to take the pressure off the financial accounting side of the business and made clear the importance of working on the business and not in it.”

Switching CPA firms can be a laborious task that most business owners don’t see value in. Yet, if the quality of service falls short of expectations, options are limited. Karl and Julie understood that they needed to seize the opportunity and partner with a CPA firm that was going to provide expert business advice, tax planning and preparation, and mentorship.

The Right CPA Matters

Turner Pools grew not only because of Karl and Julie’s relentless work ethic, but also because they partnered with a CPA firm that brought them peace of mind by taking critical financial and administrative burdens off their shoulders. 

“When we first started working with Sareen & Associates, we wanted to start the relationship slowly. We started with having them take care of our taxes. As we grew and added more services, we needed more focus to run the business and eventually became full-service clients.” Sareen & Associates offers scalable, customizable services to meet each client’s unique needs.

For Karl and Julie, this meant having the option to maintain control over specific areas like writing their payroll checks, while delegating the more complex or time-consuming tasks to their team at Sareen & Associates. Another major benefit for Turner Pools has been the firm’s meticulous organization and documentation. 

“When I go to the bank, all my paperwork is in order thanks to Sareen & Associates. When we have an insurance audit, no one questions the validity of the paperwork.” 

Over time, Turner Pools experienced enough success to begin considering expansion. Before opening a second location, they turned to Mr. Sareen for his perspective.  

“Mr. Sareen made it clear that we were going to have to work more hours to get the second store on par with the first one. He gave us advice on what would happen to our lives when we expanded, and he was right.” 

Today, Turner Pools continues to scale with confidence, knowing they have a CPA firm that truly understands the challenges and opportunities that come with entrepreneurship. 

If you are interested in installing a pool, hot tub, or need servicing, please visit Turner Pools at their website: https://www.turnerspoolandspa.com/ or take a drive to one of two store locations: 10702 Stoner Dr. Fredericksburg, VA 22408 / 940 Bragg Road Fredericksburg, VA 22407.

Make the Switch

Sareen & Associates is a CPA firm dedicated to supporting small- to mid-size businesses. We don’t just crunch numbers; we educate and guide each of our clients to ensure they meet their business and financial goals. If you’re a business owner looking for a CPA firm that wants to see your business grow, connect with us today to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Sareen & Associates team member. Email us at info@sareentax.com or call (703) 366-3444.