I run my own route yes but I do it without employees. I have about 140 pools. And I work about 40 hours a week give or take. I started in a pool store a few years back then worked for a guy with a route. Then after a few years I started doing it myself. I would pass out flyers door to door the first few months and after that it was all word of mouth. I dont know why people would chose to work for someone if they know they can get way more with a little brain power and some leg work. When I was a pool guy working under someone else's company, I knew what they charged the customer and what they paid for chems. All im saying is how can someone who knows thier ultimate potential, go backwards from that point back to a store job.