How to Start a Pest-Control Business

If there is one guest people are loathe to have come visit, it's the insect. Start a pest-control business and you will never be out of work. Termites, ants, mice and even snakes love to work their way into our homes. Starting a pest-control business will require a lot of dedication and hard work, but soon you'll be able to get rid of all sorts of creepy crawlies.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Money
• Vehicle
• Chemicals

1. Consider buying an already existing pest-control franchise. This may be easier than starting your own business from scratch, because it will be a name people already both associate with pest control and trust. You'll need to talk to the corporate office of the franchise, find a bank to give you a loan and purchase a building to house the franchise.

2. Pick out a name for your business if you're starting from scratch. Design a logo.

3. Set up different methods of payment. You'll want to be able to accept all kinds of payment, whether it is cash, check, debit or credit card.

4. Figure out exactly what type of business you'll be, such as what kinds of pest you will get rid of, will you pest-proof homes against future infestations, and who your customers will be. You'll need to know if you'll be focusing primarily on homes, businesses or both.

5. Set your pricing. Figure out how much you're going to charge for all of your services.

6. Hire some employees, depending on how large you're expecting your business to be and how much money you anticipate bringing in.

7. Advertise. Since you're new, consider offering free estimates or other discounts to get more customers.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you do anything, make sure you are properly certified in pest control. Your technicians will need to attend training to learn how to perform their job.

• Consider setting up an emergency pest service number for people to call at any time.

• Get a vehicle with the name and logo of your pest-control business on the side.

• Make sure you have proper liability coverage for all the chemicals you'll be carrying. Talk to your existing insurance carrier about obtaining this insurance. They may give you a discount since you're already their customer.