Do you own a pest control business and you need ideas to grow it rapidly? If YES, here are 10 smart tips on how to run a successful pest control business.
Pest control businesses are often seasonal in nature. For instance, there may be a strong demand for controlling yellow jackets, flies, and carpenter ants in the warmer months in the Northeast, while rodents like mice and rats are often a problem in the cooler months when they seek warm shelter and nesting places indoors.
Understanding the Risks and Challenges of Running a Pest Control Business
Pest control is much more complicated than other industries. You must fully understand the front end (business operations, marketing, and customer service) and the back end (regulations, chemicals, biology, wildlife and pests, strategies, and processes).
New entrants into the industry will face an incredibly steep learning curve. Even a year of training at a pest control business can be incredibly useful. Your ideal customers are property owners who own several buildings. Examples of such business owners include rental property owners, businessmen who own several commercial properties and government agencies with numerous offices.
Those who own large properties are favoured over those who own diminutive buildings as a higher rate can be charged for additional square footage.
After you must have learned the technical ropes, you’ll need to get your business off the ground. That means taking care of insurance, business name, location, incorporation, accounting and banking. Note that pest control business owners have a lot of liability on their hands.
These experts deal with chemicals, heavy-duty equipment, and homes and businesses, all the while remaining compliant with environmental and industry standards. There’s a lot of risk involved, that is why it’s necessary they invest in a solid business insurance plan to protect and separate them from the business.
Note that you will have to do a lot of paperwork and submit your business to the IRS. You will also need a business name. Always ensure you choose a professional and long lasting name. You’ll use your business name to incorporate and register your business. Choose a good name that you’re happy to use on your logos, vehicle decals, uniform badges, invoices and quotes, email and website domain.
To run a successful pest control business, you will need more than just funds to start and buy equipment. You will have to differentiate yourself in the market and render excellent customer service. Below are few tips to help you build a successful pest control business in the united states.
How to Run a Successful Pest Control Business and Grow Fast
- Know What You Need
Have it in mind that running a successful pest control business doesn’t require a lot. However, there are some items that are crucial to the success of your business. First and foremost, you’re going to need pest control products. You’ll need pesticides and other products that are capable of killing bedbugs, roaches, rats and other common household pests.
In some cases, you may need a license to acquire some of these products. You’ll also need a van or truck. After all, you’re going to need to transport a lot of supplies from location to location. Also get protective gears to keep you and your workers safe. Some of those pesticides can be a little dangerous. Make sure that you have gloves and a mask to keep yourself safe from start to finish.
- Obtain all Needed Licenses
To avoid interruption of business and services, you’ll need to acquire a license in your respective state. Almost every state in the United States requires pest control experts to have a license, before they can begin serving the public. There are many requirements of getting a pest control license. After you must have acquired your license, you’ll want to do everything possible to keep it valid. Always ensure you impress your clients so you can get good reviews.
- Identify Your Target Market
It’s advisable you let the market determine your specialization, not the other way around. First, determine what type of pest problems people in your area have. You want the capability to handle all the major pests in your area. Remember, pests are often seasonal, so try to anticipate any change in focus throughout the year.
Aside from general purpose extermination services, try to specialize in a pest or two. Ideally, word will spread around town about “the silverfish guy” or “the skunk wrangler.” Specialization is often a great way to corner a small section of the larger market.
- Trademark
In this business, you will want to do everything possible to ensure that another company cannot use your company’s name, logo and slogan. This is why you’ll want to trademark each and every one of these things.
Be sure to get in touch with a lawyer who will be able to teach you more about trademark laws. They’ll teach you how to trademark your name and logo, so they cannot be used by anyone else. If you find that another company is using your trademarked items, you can sue them.
- Serve Your Customers
You will to go out there and satisfy your clients. You’ll need to advertise in your local community and attract customers to your business. You can also market your business online through Google, Thumbtack.com, and other review sites. After that, you’ll want to do everything possible to put a smile on their faces. Make sure that you satisfy each and every one of your customers. If you’re able to do that, your business will spread through word of mouth.
- Determine Your Motivation
Running a successful pest control business is a lot of work. Before you start, develop clear reasons why you want to take on this responsibility. You’ll need these reasons for motivation during frustrating times. First, as the owner, you’re in control of your financial destiny.
If your business performs well, the sky’s the limit regarding what you can earn. You have the potential to earn far more money as an owner than an employee. Also, as the owner, you’re in charge of every aspect of the business.
You decide when you work, what clients you want to take on, and all other aspects. Owning the business offers you far more freedom than working for someone else. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, owning a pest control business allows you to assist people during trying times.
- Create Easy-to-understand Infographics
Your pest control marketing materials should include infographics. They’re all the rage—for a good reason. They’re perfect for condensing a lot of information while still getting your message across. Humans are visual creatures by nature: 90 percent of the information transmitted to the brain is visual and is processed 60,000x faster in the brain than text. That’s why people prefer to watch videos and look at infographics to get information.
- Use Pest Control Business Software
Also known as Business Management Software or Client Relationship Management Software, you’ll need a comprehensive tool to help you track client and business information. You have enough to do eliminating pests, so let a pest control software help you handle other aspects of your business.
Additionally, pest control software also provides several tools specific to your business. For instance, federal and state regulations require precise tracking of pesticide use, which pest control software can handle automatically. If you’re feeling a bit anxious about how to start a pest control business, utilizing pest control software is often an effective way to help feel at ease.
- Leverage Paid ADS (PPC)
Note that most small businesses invest in one kind of pest control ads: print. It’s usually the same deal: pest control advertising flyers or postcards can either be attached to someone’s door or slipped in their mailbox. Why not try digital with pay per click ads? Pay per click (PPC) is a form of advertising in which you pay for each click on your ad.
One reason you should use them is that PPC ads have a prominent place in search results, and you can use them for remarketing (where you show ads to people who have already visited your website).When someone goes to Google and searches for something, the top 3 – 4 listings are usually advertisements from Google’s Ad Words. It’s a pest control marketing strategy that is also highly scalable and affordable.
- Consider Email Marketing and Marketing Automation
Opt-in email marketing is a highly effective way to grow your pest control business. The first thing 66 percent of business leaders do in the morning is check their email. 61 percent of consumers enjoy receiving promotional emails weekly, and 28 percent would like emails to come even more frequently.
According to reports, email marketing has a 4,400 percent ROI, with a return of $44 for every $1 spent. Email marketing allows you to nurture unclosed leads and keep in touch with past customers, and it can be automated! However, email marketing is not the same thing as marketing automation.
Marketing automation is an umbrella term that can include any form of messaging that is triggered automatically. This can include everything from email marketing to automated texts and messenger marketing on Facebook and LinkedIn.
A well-arranged pest control business has the potential to become a regional business and eventually a national business. But initial growth happens in one’s local area. If you can build a solid reputation, additional opportunities for pest removal will pop up as time progresses. If costs are kept low, the business can expand throughout the area, open up new offices, hire additional employees and expand far and wide.