The awesome thing about starting a Pest Control Company is that your Service will always be in demand. Who hasn’t at some stage of their lives, either for their work or home, needed to call in pest control?
The basic rule of business, right? See a need, fulfil a need. Where there are pests, there’s a need for pest control.
This is one of the things I loved about being in the freight forwarding business. It was never a hard sell and finding clients was a cinch. There’s an endless list of companies importing and exporting goods. All you had to do was differentiate yourself in your market, find that one thing you do better than the other companies and you were golden.
That said, there are a few things you should keep in mind when starting a pest control company. Here they are:
1. Know-How
It’s unlikely that you’ll be choosing to set up your own Pest Control business if you’re not already knowledgeable and experienced in the field.
Still, it may be a good idea to brush up on your knowledge by attending a course or two or even working through some up-to-date online courses. A Management Course or Entrepreneurship Course won’t be wasted either.
2. Choose a Business Name
Choose a nice catchy name that will be easy for people to remember. For example, we have a friend who started a pest control company here in South Africa and he called his business EaziPest.
Check that your name has not been used by another Pest Control company.
Also, check whether your website name is still available and while you’re at it, it’s a good idea to check whether you’d be able to set up a unique Account or Business Page with your business name on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You want to OWN your name so it’s easier to market.
3. Stay on the Right Side of the Law
Once you’ve chosen a business name, you need to register your company.
- Form a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Apply for a Business License
- Apply for an Employer Identification Number from the IRS
- *Get Certified to do Pest Control
- Get Pest Control Liability Insurance
Phew! Now the paperwork is done, it’s time to spend some money.
4. Get Equipped
Of course, you’ll also need a reliable vehicle and all the necessary equipment to do the job. This can set you back a tidy sum so start saving up or researching business loans and grants.
5. Branding and Marketing
Branding is also vital. There’s no point in equipping yourself to serve your customers if you have no customers.
Though you’ll probably get most of your clients through word-of-mouth, it’s going to make it a whole lot easier for your friends and customers to promote you if you have strong branding.
The best marketing tools to have in your arsenal:
- A Memorable Name and Logo
- A Website
- Corresponding Social Media Pages
- Business Cards
- Vehicle Signage
- Leaflets
Make sure you display reviews from happy customers wherever possible. Social Proof will build your business.
6. Accounting
After all the time and money required to set up your company, you’ll want to be sure you keep track of your Accounting and Customer Relationship Management. Ideally, you want to have a system in place, right off the bat.
Investing in superior Pest Control Software is a must. A company like Pocomos offers pricing options to suit Entrepreneurs who just starting out in the business. They even offer the first month free.
Wishing you all the very best as you strike out on your own. It sounds like a lot to tackle at first but if you take it one step at a time, you’ll be just fine.
Reference:
Henman, Pamela. “How to Get Certified to Do Pest Control.” Work – Chron.com, http://work.chron.com/certified-pest-control-12566.html. Accessed 28 June 2019.
What made you get into Pest Control? I’d love to hear your story in the comments below.
