The Perks of Owning a Pest Control Business

Outsourcing is a fact of life. Steel is made overseas, and many customer service jobs are shipped to call centers in other countries. Finding a career that is not at risk of being shipped overseas can seem like a challenge. However, there are still plenty of rewarding careers that can never be handed over to someone thousands of miles away. One such field is pest control. It’s exciting, challenging, secure, and the potential earnings are quite lucrative.

Is there a need for Pest Control businesses?

The city of Buffalo recently encountered a serious rat problem. People were being encouraged to take down their bird feeders and keep all garbage in special trash cans that the rats could not get into. For people living in the area, the potential for having rats on their property had nothing to do with how clean they kept things, it was simply a fact of life. As another example, New York City is one of the many major cities currently facing a serious bedbug epidemic. Regardless of how expensive the hotel is, or how careful the housekeeping staff is, these little pests survive and thrive. The only answer is to call in the professionals, and when you own a pest control business, you can be the professional they call. The fact is that there will always be a need for pest control services, and this is one service that must be provided domestically.

What is required to get started

Licensing: Starting a pest control business does require some capital to get it up and running, just as with any other business. The first step is to get a license and certification in your local area, which will require licensing fees.

Vehicle: Your customers won’t come to you. You will have to go to them. While the vehicle does not have to be brand new, it should be in reasonably good condition and kept clean. Treat your vehicle as a free advertising space by clearly displaying your company name, services provided, and contact information on the sides.

Chemicals and sprayers: Insects can be taken out with chemicals, but you will need some way to safely spread them.

Traps: Pests include more than just ants and roaches. You can quickly expand your customer base by also handling calls for removing squirrels, raccoons, and other mammals. Most people do not necessarily want to see these critters poisoned, if possible. Invest in some humane traps. You should also invest the time in finding a wildlife refuge or even a private farm where these critters can be safely released.

Other things to consider

Hours of Operation: It’s easy to say that you’ll be open on Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. However, you need to ask yourself if you are willing to respond to calls on the weekends and in the evenings. Keep in mind that pests will not take off for a weekend, and customers may be willing to pay a premium to get them taken care of quickly, which will increase profits. Paperwork, Inventory, Answering Calls: Will you handle all the paperwork yourself? What about counting the inventory? The books are an important aspect that you should also consider. Trying to do all of this by yourself can result in some incredibly long days. However, you may not have money in the beginning to pay someone else.  There are agencies that can provide bookkeeping services on a part-time basis. Calls can be routed to your home or cell phone so you never miss a customer. Be prepared with your calendar so you can schedule service calls.

You can easily make in excess of fifty thousand a year running your own pest control business. This is a service that will always be needed, and can never be shipped out of the country. The start-up costs are incredibly low when compared to other ventures, and the earnings potential is great. Adding employees will allow you to increase profits, even as you begin to reduce your own working hours. Do not settle for a job where all you can look forward to is a weekly paycheck. Choose a career and a business where you can truly secure your future for yourself, and your family.