Bug Bux Podcast

Where should a PCO start when it comes to lowering customer attrition? In today’s episode, Allan and Eric answer questions posted in the Bug Bux Facebook Group. Lowering customer attrition is essential for pest control companies to maintain a strong customer base and drive sustainable growth. In addition, a PCO should have a strong understanding of their gross profits and margins, to identify tren...

In today's episode, Eric welcomes Austin Burns. Austin is the director of operations at Burns Pest Elimination. What started as a father and son business in 1983 with 43 customers and one service truck has turned into a $25-million venture for the Burns family. Eric and Austin discuss the importance of finding a unique differentiator in the pest control industry and why building a strong team...

Creating consistent and genuine recognition can go a long way in motivating technicians. In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss ways to keep technicians motivated and committed to providing great service for your pest control company. When you and your technicians share a common objective, they are more likely to work together, collaborate, and support one another in achieving that goal. In ad...

In today’s episode, Eric discusses the process of building and maintaining a high-performance inside sales team. Eric provides answers to the 10 most common questions he receives about inside sales, covering topics such as when to create an inside sales department, finding the right candidates, the onboarding process, and compensation plans. If you are looking for a comprehensive how-to guide on c...

In today's episode, Allan and Eric discuss the importance of finding a niche for your pest control company. Is it important to research your market and find out where you can find the best ROI to serve your customers? By focusing on a specific niche, you can position your pest control company for long-term success in a competitive market. In addition, by specializing in a niche, you can posit...

How are you managing your profits? In today's episode, Allan and Eric discuss the key strategies and considerations a PCO should make when reinvesting profits in your pest control company. The importance of planning out how to spend your profits will be based on how aggressively you want to grow. Implementing a verified growth plan provides your pest control company with a strategic roadmap t...

Google reviews are important for your pest control company, they provide valuable feedback from customers about their experience with your company. In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss Google’s rules about prohibited and restricted content. PCOS needs to understand that reviews, photos, and videos must adhere to Google’s policies. These policies aim to ensure that the reviews are helpful, in...

Are you feeling stuck and in need of some guidance to kickstart or scale your pest control company? In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Hunter Annen. Hunter is the President and Co-Founder of Bug Bux+. Allan, Eric, and Hunter discuss all the aspects of the Bug Bux+ platform. This high-quality, professional platform was designed to help PCOs learn from multiple industry experts. Check out ww...

Finding your "Why” is an important step in starting a business and should be the driving force behind your decision to become a pest control owner. In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss how PCOs can identify their purpose, by creating a company culture based on the core values, and strengths of the organization. By creating a company culture that reflects your purpose, you can build a bu...

Pest control companies offer a valuable service to their clients by solving a wide range of pest problems. In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss the importance of creating a business to solve a problem for your customers.  Service businesses, such as a pest control company not only create valuable services for their customers, it also creates jobs and generates revenue for the owner. Stay tun...

From marketing campaigns to relationships with vendors, there is a wide range of business aspects a PCO must be patient with, and not expect instant results. In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss the top five most important things a pest control owner must be patient with. Patience involves waiting for the results of your hard work, not giving up easily, and understanding that success takes t...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric talk about a few mistakes they have made with their pest control company. They discuss the importance of reframing mistakes as a learning experience and they highlight stories of how they have turned their mistakes into valuable lessons. As a PCO, taking ownership when making mistakes is a sign of accountability and responsibility, which can help build trust and...

Tune in to this episode and catch Allan and Eric as they share their top five strategies for distinguishing your company from others. In today’s episode, Allan and Eric answer a question posted in the Bug Bux Facebook Group: How to differentiate your company from competitors in a meaningful way? They discuss the importance of creating a personal connection not only with your customers but also wit...

This episode offers expert insights and actionable tips to help you effectively market and grow your pest control company. In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome back Mat Rogers for the 5th time on the podcast. Mat is the COO of Lizard SEM. Mat talks about Local Service Ads, which are Google's paid advertising platform that helps local businesses to connect with potential customers in the...

In today’s episode, Eric welcomes Josh Zuniga back to the show. Josh is the owner of Zunex Pest Control. Josh not only experienced tremendous success in door-to-door sales, he also took that knowledge and started his own pest control company. Josh advises that young PCOs should focus on their strengths and outsource their weaknesses to be successful. This episode is filled with valuable insights t...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss valuable insights on how to determine which aspects of your pest control company should be centralized or decentralized. A centralized approach to running your company can help optimize efficiency and productivity, allowing individuals to work together more effectively towards a common goal. By listening to this episode, you can gain a better understandin...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss how PCO’s can safeguard their profitability by having a strategic price increase plan. Although implementing price increases can be intimidating, it is a necessary measure to optimize profits and secure the longevity of your pest control company.

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric talk about ways a PCO can scale their company while keeping a healthy work-life balance. It is important to be intentional with your time and prioritize what matters most to you. Maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life both at work and outside of work helps reduce stress, improve mental, and physical health, and increase overall well-being. 

In today's episode, Allan and Eric discuss the must-do’s for your pest control company. Taking into account the various factors involved, this episode emphasizes the critical measures that all PCOs must undertake. To run your business successfully you'll need the proper insurance, effective bookkeeping practices, correct operating licenses, safety procedures, proper business entities, an...

In this episode, Eric Bassett provides a comprehensive recap of a few recent podcast episodes. Episode 75 is all about protecting your existing customer base from door knockers from other companies. In episode 76, Eric highlights key topics of various questions posted in the Bug Bux Facebook group. This is a recap episode you won't want to miss.

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome back Craig Shetterly. Craig is the mastermind behind Contatto Marketing, a revolutionary contact marketing firm. With his expertise in directly reaching out to potential customers and business owners, Craig unleashes a goldmine of strategies that can help pest control companies boost their commercial sales and build unbreakable bonds with their customers....

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric answer questions posted in the Bug Bux Facebook Group. They share insights on how pest control companies can effectively communicate the value of their services to customers. In addition, they explain the importance of setting an accurate price point, as well as establishing Q1 growth goals for recurring revenue. 

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss how door-to-door marketing can affect your pest control company. Reminding your technicians to make a personal connection with your customers is crucial for building strong relationships and increasing customer loyalty. In addition, acknowledging and understanding your customers' wants, interests, and needs is essential for building a successful pest...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss the different financial milestones that pest control companies reach leading up to the 1 million dollar mark. As your PCC is growing, an important thing to think about is documenting your systems and processes early on, this will help you scale your company faster. In addition, it is essential to take the time to identify and recruit the best possible can...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric answer questions asked during the Bug Bux Facebook live event on February 28th, 2023. A few of the topics that were discussed are: 1. How does different weather affect the pest control industry? 2. The pros and cons of giving out free estimates for pest inspections. 3. Growing your pest control company into a new market and what kind of marketing budget you shoul...