Bug Bux Podcast

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Read Flake. Read is a highly accomplished entrepreneur, business owner, and e-commerce professional. He founded Green Country Pest Control in Houston and is the Co-owner and founder of Pest SOS. He is also the co-founder and co-owner of Bug Police Pest Control in the Phoenix area. Read shares this journey and experience with owning a pest control company...

In today's episode, Allan and Eric welcome Chase Goodeill back to the show for part two from last week's episode. Chase is the President of Goodeill Holdings Inc. and the owner of Pest Control Consultants. Allan, Eric, and Chase collectively discuss the top ten things that should be in place to increase the value that a company will get upon an exit or a sale.

In today's episode, Allan and Eric welcome Chase Goodeill back to the show. Chase is the President of Goodeill Holdings Inc. and the owner of Pest Control Consultants. Chase shares his experience with finding and closing pest control acquisitions. Having strategic systems in place and being as seamless as possible will retain more customers during an acquisition.

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss the importance of having growth goals in place for 2023. Creating a list of long-term projects that are important, and not urgent such as brand development, creating content on your website, reviewing policy and procedures, and creating video tutorials are just a few examples. As the year is wrapping up, it is important to stay focused on your short and l...

In today's episode, Allan and Eric welcome back Georgia Eaton. Georgia is the owner of Got Gophers. They are located in the bay area and have been in business for almost 4 years. Allan, Eric, and Georgia talk about the benefits of having women in the pest control industry. In addition to owning a pest control company, there are several different opportunities at every level for women in the p...

In today's episode, Eric highlights previous topics discussed in the last few episodes. First, a PCO should know how to read and understand the profit and loss statement to create a more efficient business operation. Second, SEO is the foundation of your marketing game. It’s what you build so you can attract leads, even when you aren’t investing in paid search. Third, building a company worth...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Jared Borg. Jared started in the pest control industry in 2001, then started his own business, Pointe Pest Control in 2006. He is currently part owner of PestCo and running their residential division. PestCo is a private equity acquisition company that partners with successful, well-established pest control companies. Allan, Eric, and Jared discuss the bu...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Mat Rogers with Lizard SEM. When it comes to marketing, there are specific terms every pest control owner should know. Allan, Eric and Mat discuss two commonly used marketing terms, Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Management and what they mean to pest control companies. In addition, it is important to make investments to your website to drive...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric talk about the importance of understanding your company’s financial statements and how inflation is impacting your pest control company. Rising costs of fuel and labor result in tighter profit margins, so having a strategic plan to protect your margins is crucial. Make sure you join our Bug Bux Facebook group by clicking the link below. This is a great way to ask...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Juan Godinez. Juan started in the pest control industry in 2006 as a door-to-door sales rep for Rove Pest Control. He soon became Rove's top sales rep and manager year after year. He is currently involved in several aspects of Rove’s growth strategy across its various markets. Allan, Eric, and Juan discuss the importance of understanding the costs of...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss the pros and cons of hiring family members for your pest control company. It is very common for business owners to hire family members. Demonstrating favoritism towards a family member is a common mistake made when hiring family. A benefit to hiring or partnering with family is building a legacy for generations to come.

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Craig Shetterly. Craig is the Founder and CEO of Contatto Marketing, a digital marketing start-up. The focus of contact marketing is to get a meeting with anyone by creating a specific campaign designed to connect with high-value prospects or CEOs. Finding prospects that really matter takes hard work and needs to be individualized. For more information, v...

In today’s episode Allan and Eric welcome David Gilmer and Brad Berdine. David is the COO of proof. Pest Control and he is the Co-Founder of Rana Hub. Brad is the owner of Simple Realty Bits and has been a software engineer for 14 years. Rana Rub is a CRM platform designed for pest service professionals and the systems they use. Having clarity and transparency between your marketing company and yo...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss their previous experience of attending PestWorld. Each year, the show gathers thousands of pest control professionals and vendors. Attending PestWorld is a great way to network with vendors and other PCO’s. In addition, the convention also offers a nice variety of educational opportunities, and they have a large exhibit hall displaying new products and te...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss why having the opportunity to learn from your competition can greatly improve and build your pest control company. Learning from the successes and failures of your competitors will save you time, resources, and money. In addition, having a mentor, and being a mentor will play a big role in your growth and success as a PCO. A good mentor will focus on the...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric talk about the importance of non-peak season projects. Catching up on projects and tasks that you typically would not have time to work on during the busier summer months is a perfect time to work on non-urgent tasks. Creating a list based on urgency will help make upcoming projects manageable while keeping your team organized and focused.

In today’s episode, Eric does a recap of episodes 44-46, that will highlight previous speakers and topics. The importance of vendor relationships, generating leads in your PCC, creating a culture where employees feel they are doing a meaningful, and having a strong work ethic and mindset are just a few topics highlighted in today’s episode.

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Jake Claus. Jake is the Founder, President, and Co-owner of Natura Pest Control based in Vancouver, Wa. Jake is an Associate Certified Entomologist, Structural Pest Inspector, and holds licenses in several pest-related categories. Allan, Eric, and Jake discuss how the pathway to success is found in having a strong work ethic and winning mindset. In additi...

In today's episode, Allan and Eric welcome Andrew Beck. Andrew is the CEO of Aruza Pest Control. Andrew holds multiple certifications in process improvement, business analysis, and project management. Allan, Eric, and Andrew discuss the importance of creating a culture where employees and managers feel they are doing meaningful work. In addition, having an ongoing review process or After Acti...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric welcome Tom Miche. Tom is the President of Miche Pest Control, which he started in 2019. Miche Pest Control is one of the top-rated, family-owned, and operated pest control companies serving the Washington DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas. Tom answers questions about effectively generating leads with Thumbtack and Angi and how to get the best results. He also...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss why building strong business relationships with vendors and suppliers are crucial to the success of your pest control company. Not only will good vendor relationships bring you better business now, but it also opens the door for more in the future. Bottom line, treat your vendors as you’d like your customers to treat you.

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss how a pest control owner can build value and increase sales by responding quickly. In the world of sales, a quick response time, selecting the right Key Performance Indicators, and properly staffing during the busy season will improve customer service, closing rate, and overall team performance.

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric answer a few questions posted in the Bug Bux Facebook Group. They talk about the process of hiring the first employee or technician and the costs associated with it. There are always going to be unexpected costs and many factors to consider.  In addition, they discuss when is the right time to hire a branch manager.  The timing of hiring a first employee or branc...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss the difference between hiring a 1099 contractor and a W-2 employee. First, a 1099 contractor is a considered self-employed independent contractor. While a W-2 employee receives a wage or salary, and benefits. When deciding whether to structure new hires as W-2 employee or 1099 contractor, a pest control owner should be aware of the legal implications of b...

In today’s episode, Allan and Eric discuss the two different ways a pest control owner can increase their prices. With the cost of labor and fuel prices on the rise, it’s important to be proactive and reactive with your price increases. If your vision is to provide the best quality products and services, you owe it to your customers to communicate and make an agreement with them about your price-i...