Don’t miss Allan’s take on the most compelling reason to hire a VA, spoiler alert: it’s not just about saving money.

 In this episode, Allan sits down with Seth Watson of Focus Virtual Assistants to dig into one of the most overlooked ways to strengthen your pest control company; hiring the right people. They discuss the realities of finding, hiring, and retaining top-tier talent, and why virtual assistants (VAs) from other countries might be the secret weapon your team is missing.

From administrative support to customer service roles, you’ll hear why a VA could outperform a local hire and how to integrate them into your company culture without losing your edge. They break down the true cost comparison, common challenges, training solutions, and how VAs can help level up your brand from the inside out.

Are you just another pest control company, or are you building a brand that stands out? In this episode, Allan Draper sits down with Andrew Peluso, founder of Pesty Marketing, to talk about what really separates high-growth PCOs from the rest. From targeting the right audience to dialing in your messaging and actually backing it up, this conversation is packed with practical advice for PCOs ready to grow past the $1M mark and dominate their market.

They cover:

• Why most PCOs blend in (and how to avoid it)
  
  
  
• Real-world ways to differentiate your brand (hint: it’s not your logo)
  
  
  
• Why niching down doesn’t mean losing customers
  
  
  
• How your marketing impacts every part of your business, from ops to hiring
  
  
  

Whether you're at $500K or $5M, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, marketing, and what it takes to lead a pest control company that truly stands out.

Tune in and take notes, this one’s a blueprint for next-level scaling.

In this special solo episode, Allan Draper brings a timely dose of motivation, strategy, and tough love for pest control business owners. Recorded on the 4th of July from rainy Idaho, Allan reflects on three key topics every PCO should hear:

1. A Lesson in Clarity: Allan clears up a recent podcast comment on organic products and shares a crucial lesson about sticking to your service model and avoiding costly client misunderstandings.
2. Mid-Year Mindset Check: Are you sacrificing what matters most while scaling your business? Allan gets personal about burnout, imposter syndrome, and why growing your company starts with growing you.
3. Know Your Numbers: From merchant fees to tech wages to net profit targets, Allan breaks down the exact P&L benchmarks your pest control business should be tracking right now, plus what the PCT Top 100 can teach you.

Whether you’re in growth mode or fighting burnout, this episode is packed with real-world insights to help you finish the season strong and build smarter for the long haul.

💪 Listen in, level up, and let’s keep building.

Don't miss the part where Allan admits: "I didn’t think I’d be crying during this episode."

It’s raw, it’s inspiring, and it’s... Nice.
In this heartfelt and high-energy episode, host Allan Draper sits down with Travis Bottoms — 13-year industry vet and co-founder of Nice Pest Company — to explore how authenticity, humor, and heart are transforming what it means to run a pest control business.
Travis shares how Nice uses organic social media (with zero ad spend) to drive real customer engagement, foster loyalty, and boost company culture — all while staying true to who they are. With over 140,000 views in just 30 days, Travis explains why their secret isn’t just funny content — it’s content that feels real.
But this episode goes deeper. The guys talk about mental health in the trades, overcoming industry judgment, staying focused on your own "race car," and what growth actually means beyond the numbers.
Whether you're a new owner, a scaling operator, or a seasoned vet — this is one of those conversations that might just change how you see the industry… and yourself.

 Real talk on branding, culture, and connection
 Behind-the-scenes of viral reels and organic growth
 Leadership, legacy, and building a company that matters

In this powerhouse episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Allan sits down with Lee Barrett, President of NISUS Corporation and former CFL running back, to talk about what really makes a company thrive; ts people. From building strong internal culture to empowering team members with creativity and autonomy, Lee shares the leadership philosophies that have made NISUS one of the most respected names in the industry.
But that’s not all; Lee drops an exclusive never-before-heard announcement about NISUS entering the insulation game, and how it could change the game for pest control companies nationwide. If you're a PCO looking to build a stronger team, a better culture, and new streams of revenue, you won’t want to miss this one.

In this info-packed episode of the Bug Bux Podcast, Allan sits down with Toni Simei of Arkion to dig into the world of natural pest control. From what really makes a product “organic” to how Arkion is changing the game with their unique formulations, Toni shares what pest control pros need to know about mosquito and tick control in 2025. They also dive into the language that could get you fined by the Department of Agriculture and how to market smarter without crossing the line. If you're offering natural services or thinking about it, this one’s a must-listen.

In this episode, Allan Draper, entrepreneur and founder of Bug Bux, shares the origin story of Bug Bux and what’s on the horizon. He dives into the dynamics of partnerships in the home services space, discussing the challenges, opportunities, and keys to building strong, mutually beneficial business relationships.

What do you get when you combine a firefighter, a small-town mayor, and a first-time pest control business owner? You get Matt Alexander—a man who's literally putting out fires on and off the job.
In this high-energy episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Eric and Jake sit down with Matt to talk about his whirlwind first year as the founder of Aero Pest Management. From walking away from an embezzlement-ridden partnership to launching his own company with just $26K and a ton of grit, Matt has built a thriving pest control business while juggling politics, public safety, and parenthood.
You’ll hear:

• How Matt grew to 322 customers in 12 months
• Why he puts customer callbacks above new sales
• His “cult following” on Facebook and the power of local reputation
• The moment he put out a fire using his pest control backpack
• How he trains his team for customer retention from day one
• And why caring about people—really caring—pays off in business and in life

Whether you’re in year one or scaling past seven figures, this episode will remind you what passion, community, and a ridiculous work ethic can really do.

In this wildly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Eric and Jake sit down with the “mad scientist of Syngenta” herself, Lisa Eppler. From studying parasitic wasps in Germany to field-testing herbicides for the Swiss EPA (no, she’s not actually a spy… or is she?), Lisa takes us through her unique journey into the world of pest control.
She dishes on:

• What it's like to freeze cockroaches (for science)
• Why under applying product can create insecticide-resistant superbugs
• How a new active ingredient—Plenazoline Technology—could shake up the industry
• And how she raised Atlas moths from eggs during COVID (in case you thought you were productive during lockdown)

Lisa also gets real about being a lifelong “bug girl,” her mission to demystify pest control, and why the U.S. industry’s respect and openness toward the field makes it unlike anywhere else in the world.
This one’s part entomology masterclass, part global adventure, and 100% unforgettable. Whether you're a technician, business owner, or just a fan of creepy crawlies, you’ll walk away smarter—and maybe even a little bug-obsessed.

In this high-energy episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Eric and Jake sit down with Matt Rogers, COO of Lizard, to break down how artificial intelligence is flipping the script on digital marketing. From old-school Yellow Pages nostalgia to the latest in AI-driven SEO, Matt walks us through the new marketing KPIs pest control owners should be tracking—and why "impressions" and "click-through rates" are quickly losing their value.