How to Start a Profitable Pest Control Business

You can earn good income providing pest control services. According to the bureau of statistics the average wage for technicians was $32, 160 per year in 2015.

A pest control provider should be tough, rugged and resourceful. You need protective gear, commercial license, use approved chemicals or hardware.

You are to determine your sector of operation. You could become a pest control dealer or pesticide broker. Others are pest controller or maintenance garden pest controller.

You could work as an individual or incorporate a business. The job is applicable part-time or full time depending on your business template. To succeed in the business you need an effective marketing strategy, knowledge of the industry and appropriate equipment.

Challenges

Challenges include serious health risks and competition with established brands. Others include mandatory state regulations, certification and funding.

More are purchase of appropriate equipment, continuing training fees. You need a fitted van, adequate storage and disposal unit.

You face litigation, property damage issues and exposure to harmful chemicals. The job is labor intensive and requires adequate planning/ patience.

How to Start a Pesticide Business

Determine Your Sector of Operation

Before you start the business you need to determine your sector of operation. You could decide to provide advisory services or become a dealer designated agent.

Other job specifications are aircraft pest control operator, qualified applicator and maintenance garden pest controller. You could decide to deal wholesale retail with equipment or chemicals. Pest controllers should focus on prevention control and proper pesticide handling.

Learn the Trade

There are lots of chemical, applications and protective gear. You should learn about common pests, understand their biology, habits and diet.

You would need to attend pre-exam workshops, practical’s and pass state examinations to get pest control certification. To quality as a pest controller you need 3 months formal training.

A pest control technician’s job description is diagnoses and control of pests and inspection. They perform inspections, form strategies to eliminate harmful pests such as rodents and insects.

They handle toxic liquids, chemical solutions and gases. Career requirements are high school diploma and state additional training.

Personal skills include physical strength, good bookkeeping, knowledge of chemical solutions and stamina.

Some states require continuing education courses for pest control technicians. This is to keep them updated to changing trends and techniques.

Types of Pests

Pest could cause millions of damage in property or destroy entire farms. They cause harmful disease, spread epidemic and or health related problems.

Common pests are termites, ants, cockroaches and bed bugs. Others include rodents, flies, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks and beetles.

More are wildlife, spiders, stinging pests, earwigs and gnats. You have weevils fruit flies, stink bug, millipedes and mites.

 Types of Pests

•    Termites
•    Ants
•    Cockroaches
•    Bed bugs
•    Rodents
•    Flies
•    Mosquitoes
•    Fleas
•    Ticks
•    Beetles
•    Wildlife
•    Spiders
•    Stinging pests
•    Earwigs
•    Gnats
•    Weevils
•    Fruit flies
•    Stink bug
•    Millipedes
•    Mites

Types of Pest Control Methods

There are different types of pest control methods available to technicians. They use animals, repellents, biological agents and mechanical pest control.

They use physical methods such as barriers, poisoned baits and elimination of breeding grounds. Other methods include hunt, trap cropping, field burning, traps and pesticides.

More are space fumigation, space treatment, natural control methods, destruction of infected plants and sterilization.

 Pest Control Methods

•    Use control animals
•    Repellents
•    Biological agents
•    Mechanical pest control
•    Barriers
•    Poisoned baits
•    Elimination of breeding grounds
•    Hunting
•    Trap cropping
•    Field burning
•    Traps and pesticides
•    Space fumigation
•    Space treatment
•    Destruction of infected plants and sterilization.

Pesticide Regulations

There are different regulations guiding the enterprise in each country. To acquire a license you should be 18 year old and need to pass a written examination before certification.

There are also certain forms and fees to pay including associations to join. According to the California department of pesticide regulations there are 4 categories of licensing.

The categories are individual licenses, business license, structural pest control license including vector control licenses and certification. The licenses are granted to businesses and individual operators.

 Pest Control Licenses

•    Structural pest control license
•    Vector control license
•    Gardener pest control
•    Pest control aircraft certification
•    Agricultural pest control adviser
•    Pest dealership license
•    Pesticide broker license

Structural Pest Control and Vector Control Licenses

Vector control is under the division of communicable disease control and the structural pest under the structural pest control board.

Business Licenses

The business licenses are pest control dealer and pesticide broker licenses. Other licenses are pest control business license and maintenance gardener pest control license.

Individual Licenses

Individuals are granted licenses such as qualified applicator certificate and qualified applicator licenses. More are maintenance Gardener pest control, pest control aircraft pilot certification. You have the agricultural pest control adviser certification and pest control dealer designated agent license.

Pest Control Equipment

Pest controllers use many application and protective equipment. The equipment depends on the type of pest control and management application.

Common equipment includes sprayers, dusters, granular spreaders and fogging equipment. Others are bait guns, safety gear, working gloves, chemical gloves respirators and UV flashlights.

More are spill kits, vacuums, sprayer cleaners, boot covers, fencing material, baiting tools and aerosol dispensers.

Marketing

The major challenge is finding clients and competition. You can attract patronage through newspaper, radio and television advertisement.

Use flyers, poster, billboards and higher aggressive sales agents. Build a website for your business and direct targeted traffic through online advertisement.