About Carolina Diving Academy:
Company Size: 13+ employees
Where: Huntersville, NC
Client Industry: Fitness and recreation
Joined OnPay: October 2021
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Transforming a local diving program into a regional powerhouse
In 2007, Aaron Hintz transformed the diving program at Huntersville Family Fitness and Aquatic Center into what is now the Carolina Diving Academy. Drawing on his extensive experience across all levels of competitive diving, Hintz built a program that guides athletes from their first splash to the highest levels of competition — including national championships and Olympic trials.
Today, Carolina Diving Academy welcomes divers as young as five years old, introducing them to the sport in a fun, relaxed atmosphere that builds confidence and skill. As athletes progress, they can advance through increasingly competitive levels of team training, preparing for regional competitions, national meets, international events, and ultimately, Olympic trials.
The program has become a fixture in the regional diving community, most notably through its signature Carolina Big Dive Invitational, which draws top talent from across the region. Under the current leadership of head coaches Aaron Hintz and Brian McRae — both active members of the diving community — Carolina Diving Academy continues to develop champions while maintaining its welcoming approach for divers at every stage.
THE CHALLENGE
Simplifying payroll for a small but growing aquatics business
Before founding Carolina Diving Academy, co-owners Aaron and Brian didn’t have to think about payroll. But once their business began to take shape with two full-time employees and a few part-timers, they realized they needed a system that could grow with them. Managing payments, tracking hours, and handling taxes manually was quickly becoming unsustainable. They were looking for a solution that checked all the right boxes:
- Affordability that fits a small business budget
- Automation to simplify payroll and tax filings
- Flexibility to pay and manage both full-time and part-time staff, all from one easy-to-use platform
THE SOLUTION
A referral that made payroll effortless
When it came time to choose a payroll provider, Brian McRae turned to someone he trusted: his mother, who owned a small business herself. Having seen firsthand how her business evolved from part of a larger company to running solo, Brian valued her experience and asked for advice. She immediately recommended OnPay, explaining how it made payroll and tax management simple.
After doing some quick research to compare providers, Brian agreed it was the right fit. With plans to grow, he knew they couldn’t rely on cash or handwritten checks. OnPay offered the reliable, automated solution they needed. Brian signed up, and the rest was history.
AQUATICS BUSINESS REVIEW
“OnPay makes it very easy to onboard and pay employees, while also keeping me compliant with state and federal laws. Their fraud protection and compliance teams have been a huge help to me, and their support is always prompt.”
— Brian M., National squad coach, Carolina Diving Academy
THE RESULTS
Less time on payroll, more time in the pool with OnPay
Since choosing OnPay, payroll at Carolina Diving Academy has become far less of a race to the finish line. The platform checks all of Brian’s must-haves — it’s affordable, easy to use, and flexible enough to pay both full-time and part-time instructors with ease.
The biggest win? They haven’t needed to hire an outside accountant to manage the books. OnPay’s simplicity lets Brian handle bookkeeping himself in no time, freeing him up to focus on growing the business. As he put it, “I don’t think I’d have time for everything else if I had to run payroll manually every week.”
