In today's episode, Eric and Jake had the pleasure of welcoming back Colton Gonzalez and Eric Salgado with Firehouse Pest Control. These returning guests shared valuable insights into their journey from firefighting to pest control, emphasizing the importance of integrity and customer service in their business model. In addition, by establishing a system where technicians were incentivized for their sales performance and customer service, they motivated their team members to excel in their roles and contribute to the company's success. 

Topics Include:
Introduction and Sponsor Mention (0:00)
Guest Introduction: Colton Gonzalez and Eric Salgado (3:04)
Transition from Firefighting to Pest Control (10:20)
Business Growth and Focus Areas (14:15)
Enhancing Company Culture and Employee Incentives (19:36)
Simplifying Processes for Technicians to Boost Sales (25:25)
Reflecting on Company Improvements and Future Plans (31:01)

Storytelling is a powerful tool that can be used to build connections and trust with customers, clients, and employees. In today's episode, Eric and Jake welcome Shane Mantz, the regional operations manager at Magna Pest Solutions. Shane discusses the importance of creating a strong brand identity based on core values. In addition, by understanding what is important to you as an individual or organization, you can develop a brand identity that reflects those values and resonates with your target audience.

Introduction (0:00) 

Connecting storytelling with business growth (5:38)

Importance of brand identity and storytelling (10:20)

Conveying brand identity through consistency (14:20)

AI and creativity (18:55)

Connecting with customers on an authentic level (21:34)

Brand identity in hiring process (28:18)

In today’s episode, Eric and Jake welcome Dennis Kuchta, founder and CEO of Wise House Environmental Services in South Florida. Dennis sheds light on the struggles many business owners encounter in attracting individuals with a strong work ethic and commitment to their roles. He also expresses his concerns about not wanting to sacrifice customer care for rapid growth, as he values his clients and wants to provide them with the best service possible. 

Topics include:

Introduction (0:00) 
A PCO turned recording artist (1:22) 
Scaling a pest control business (5:00) 
Quality versus size of companies (8:47) 
Leadership and technical skills (15:36)
Finding the right roles (16:46)
Hiring dedicated employees (25:27)
Podcasts and books motivation (33:27) 
New Bug Bux Song (36:00)

In today's episode, Eric and Jake had the pleasure of speaking with the dynamic husband and wife duo, Rian and Noelle Goins, owners of Get Goins Pest Control in Los Angeles. They share their incredible journey from inheriting a small client list to building a thriving business through the power of social media and referrals. The Goins couple is not only making waves in the pest control industry but also leaving a significant impact on their community through their non-profit organization, Keep It Goins Foundation. They've been involved in legislative efforts and are active members of the pest control community, advocating for the industry and giving back in meaningful ways. 

Topics Include:
Introduction (0:00)
Guest Introduction: Rian and Noelle Goins (1:50)
How Get Goins Pest Control Started (7:02)
Growth Through Social Media and Referrals (12:43)
Authenticity in Business and Social Media (15:20)
Keep It Goins Foundation Origin (21:00)
The Impact of Keep It Goins Foundation (27:10)
Partners and Supporters of Keep It Goins Foundation (31:36)
Changing the World Through Pest Control (41:06)
https://getgoinspestcontrol.com/

Building a pest control company should align with personal goals, not just financial gain. In today's episode, Eric and Jake welcome Casey Jones, owner of Hydra Pest Control. Casey emphasizes the importance of starting a business with the end goal in mind and focusing on creating a company that aligns with personal values and long-term goals. He shares the journey that led him from various industries to the pest control industry, driven by a desire to provide for his family and contribute positively to his community.

Topics include:
Introduction (0:00)
Guest Introduction: Casey Jones from Hydra Pest (2:53)
Branding and Company Growth (6:08)
Expanding Service Offerings in a Small Market (8:49)
The Importance of Accountability in Business (13:38)
Growth Strategies for Small Market PCOs (17:26)
Building a Company to Sell vs. Not to Sell (21:10)
The Value of Time and Family in Business (24:41)
Starting with the End Goal in Mind (27:45)
The Concept of Time Freedom (31:26)

From door-to-door sales to owning a pest control company, this story is one of hard work and determination! In today's episode, Eric and Jake had the pleasure of chatting with Degen Perry, owner of Black Pearl Pest Control. Degen shares his journey from considering a career in dentistry to becoming a pest control owner during the uncertain times of 2020. Degen discusses the advantages of offering a variety of pest control services to become a "one-stop-shop" for customers. 

Topics include:
Introduction (0:00)
Guest Introduction: Degen Perry (2:40)
How Black Pearl Pest Control Got Its Name (4:00)
Degen's Journey in Pest Control (5:33) Growth Methods and Customer Acquisition (7:55) Collaborating with Other Pest Control Companies (9:50) Weed Control as a Business Segment (14:36) Main Focus for the Fourth Year of Business (17:41) Starting Black Pearl During COVID (22:15)
Uniformity Among Technicians (27:20) The Importance of Culture and Customer Experience (30:31) Degen's Pro Tips for the Audience (32:01)

Leadership, empathy, and inspiring team growth are essential elements in building a successful pest control company. In today's episode, Eric and Jake welcome Shad Teerlink, CEO of Evolve Pest Control. Shad shares his experience of establishing and expanding Evolve Pest Control, highlighting the necessity of ongoing evaluation and improvement in both leadership and operations. 

Topics include:
Introduction (0:00)
Origin story of Evolve Pest Control (5:15)
Leadership and company culture (9:45)
Building systems for scalability (14:33)
Building a strong team (17:47)
Plan or No Plan? (25:14)
Determination and Learning in Business (28:36)
Challenges of being a leader (33:50)
Leadership growth and self-awareness (36:30)
Conclusion (42:12)

In today’s episode, Eric and Jake play a fun, thought-provoking game of "Would You Rather.” They debated various scenarios, such as: Focusing on customer retention vs. acquisition, saying out of debt vs. leveraging growth debt, hiring experienced technicians vs. training newbies and so much more! Topics Include: 

Introduction (0:00) 

Would You Rather Game: Pest Control Edition (3:41)

Retention vs. Customer Acquisition (4:18) 

Hiring Experienced Technicians vs. Training Newbies (5:52)

Expanding Service Offerings vs. Sticking to Core Services (11:00) 

Short-Term Profitability vs. Long-Term Sustainability (14:02)

 Staying Out of Debt vs. Leveraging Debt for Growth (19:23)

 Focusing on Current Market vs. Expanding Geographically(23:35)

 Lightning Round: Personal and Pop Culture Opinions (28:33)

Eric and Jake kicked off today’s episode discussing the importance of having a customer agreement, which outlines the services provided, payment details, and other legal protections. They answer a question posted in the Bug Bux Facebook group by Jordan Wheeler. The question is “I've seen more D2D companies doing 18-24 month agreements. What is your general pest agreement length?”

Topics include:

Introduction (0:00) 

Topic Introduction: Pest Agreement Length (3:17)

Importance of Customer Agreements (5:00) 

Philosophy Behind Term Commitments (6:30) 

Pros of Not Having a Term Commitment (10:07) 

The Value of Contracts in Customer Retention (13:40) 

Pros and Cons of 18- to 24-Month Agreements (19:06) 

Final Thoughts on Contracts and Customer Relationships (26:00)

Pest control owners need to carefully allocate their marketing budgets to ensure they are maximizing their return on investment and driving revenue growth. In today's episode, Eric and Jake have pleasure of hosting Mat Rogers, the COO of Lizard SEM, for his seventh appearance on the show. Mat shares invaluable insights into the world of digital marketing for pest control companies, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond just one tool or platform. 

Topics include:

Introduction (0:00)

Catching Up with Mat Rogers (2:07)

Marketing Strategies and Budgeting (5:21)

Achieving Marketing Results (6:52) 

Marketing Projections and Business Planning (7:38) 

Local Service Ads (LSA) Trends and Tips (9:48) The Importance of Diverse Marketing Tools (11:44) 

The Triforce of Digital Marketing (13:16)

 The Impact of Fun and Engaging Content (17:07)

 Natura's Marketing Success with Lizard SEM (19:03) 

Killingsworth's Unique Marketing Approach (23:09) 

Reactive vs. Proactive Marketing Strategies (25:54)

The Long-Term Benefits of Building a Brand (29:29) 

The Future of Marketing and Business Growth (33:10)