Multiply You Podcast

Christian Allan is the Owner and Operator of Tailor Made Pest Control, which provides pest control services tailored to clients’ specific needs. Christian and his team employ an assessment-based pest management (APM) methodology, which ensures each approach is customized for the unique characteristics of clients’ homes and the nature of the pest issues they face. As a dedicated professional, he immersed himself in the pest control industry for eight years before founding Tailor Made Pest Control.

Most pest control businesses acquire customers through word-of-mouth. But in the digital age, many have started leveraging social media to advertise their services and promote their brands. What are some fundamental social media strategies you can implement, and what should you avoid when executing them?

As a regular Facebook user, pest control entrepreneur Christian Allan advertised his business in numerous groups to build initial awareness. After acquiring his first customers, Christian began posting DIY blog posts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn four times a day to gain authority in the market. But when creating a website, he utilized copyrighted images from the internet, prompting a substantial fee. To avoid similar mistakes, it’s crucial to conduct the appropriate research before launching websites or campaigns.

Listen to this episode of the Multiply You Podcast as Austin Clark interviews Christian Allan, the Owner and Operator of Tailor Made Pest Control, about social media marketing for pest control businesses. Christian talks about his experience as an eight-year veteran of the pest control industry, his most respected peers in the space, and tips for launching a pest control company.

Israel Alvarez is the Owner and Operator of Insight Pest Management, a full-service pest and termite company. With 20 years of sales, management, and development experience, he has worked in national-level residential and commercial pest control. Israel is an Associate Certified Entomologist and holds a pest control operator license. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Pest Control Operators California-Ventura District and mentors other new pest control business owners. 

In the pest control space, transitioning from an employee to an entrepreneur is a difficult yet enlightening venture. You go from gaining valuable industry knowledge to managing operations, teams, finances, and regulatory compliance. How can you transition seamlessly into owning, operating, and scaling a reputable pest control company?

After leaving the commercial pest control space to launch a business, Israel Alvarez discovered the contrasts between growing an established brand under a leadership team and building a company from scratch. As an emerging entrepreneur, finances take precedence over revenue growth, so you must identify a median price point and perform quality services to complement it. As the regulatory environment becomes increasingly stringent, Israel advises educating and communicating with customers about safe, alternative pest control products.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark welcomes Israel Alvarez, the Owner and Operator of Insight Pest Management, who shares insider tips for launching and sustaining a pest control business. Israel shares the pivotal challenges he faced starting Insight Pest Management, his lessons learned from working at Terminix, and his company’s most monumental successes.

Lincoln Hall is the President of Briostack, which offers software for pest control businesses. As a data-driven leader, he specializes in SaaS, operational efficiency, customer relations, and strategic planning. Before Briostack, Lincoln was the Chief Operating Officer of Sage Pest Control, where he helped establish a strategic vision, build the customer service and accounting departments, and grow the company into a stable and profitable enterprise. 

With customer service and experiences becoming increasingly valued in the pest control space, businesses are looking for solutions to manage workflow and streamline services. How can you integrate best-in-class software to grow your company?

Pest control business software can be optimized to include customizable and full-service operating systems to manage your organization effectively. This includes complex scheduling, human resources, customer relationship management, and payroll. You can even evaluate options to select a tech stack that aligns with your business goals. When integrating this technology, data-driven entrepreneur Lincoln Hall recommends personalizing customer experiences to build valuable relationships.

In today’s episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark hosts Lincoln Hall, Briostack’s President, who explains how pest control companies can leverage software to enhance business operations. Lincoln describes Briostack’s value proposition, the evolution of business software into fully integrated tech stacks, and how Briostack distributes its services across pest control verticals.

Jodi Ashby is the Owner of Truckee Meadows Pest Control, which delivers top-tier pest control services to home and business owners in Reno, Nevada. Truckee Meadows also offers nuisance wildlife trapping, bird and bat exclusion, and termite services. Before founding Truckee Meadows with her husband, Jodi was the Director of Marketing at Rob Wolf and Associates and a distributor at It Works! Global.

Many pest control business owners strive to gain immediate recognition and grow rapidly. But this proves challenging for most mom-and-pop companies struggling to obtain funding and acquire initial customers. Learn the business growth secrets of one small pest control company that became a household name in the first three years.

Jodi Ashby didn’t want her pest control business to be an ordinary boutique establishment. She wanted to compete with notable brands like Terminix, so she partnered with local associations to sponsor events and produce radio and TV ads. When joining associations to grow your business, Jodi recommends participating in boards and committees to exchange value and build an exceptional reputation. 

Tune in to this episode of Multiply You with Austin Clark as he interviews the Owner of Truckee Meadows Pest Control, Jodi Ashby, about the role of community involvement in business growth. Jodi discusses her company’s marketing efforts, its talent attraction and retention strategies, and the mission of her nonprofit organization.

Robert (Bob) Sprague is a legal consultant and entomology expert witness with over 40 years of experience in the urban pest control field. He works with people who need expert assessment or wish to pursue legal action regarding damage from pest control applications, chemical spills, or other pest-related issues. Bob uses his entomology background and pest management expertise to resolve pest issues for homeowners, insurance companies, litigation attorneys, government agencies, and more.

Many situations in pest control can lead to a lawsuit, including wood-destroying organisms, bites and stings, and pesticide misapplication and exposure. What should you do if you’re facing a lawsuit (or a potential lawsuit)?

As an expert witness and legal consultant, Bob Sprague says that solid communication with clients can go a long way in avoiding a lawsuit. However, if a client won’t budge and goes on to file a lawsuit, it’s crucial that you keep your records in order, ensure all technicians have proper training, and take photos or videos during an inspection. Above all, contact a third-party expert like Bob, who can help you navigate this tricky situation.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark talks with legal consultant and entomology expert witness Bob Sprague. They discuss the best ways to avoid lawsuits, tips to navigate the process should a lawsuit arise, Bob’s most shocking cases throughout his career, and his journey to becoming an expert witness.

Scott Sneer is the President of PestLock, which provides environmentally friendly pest control services to the Pacific Northwest. In 1999, Scott found his niche in the pest control industry and joined the Alpha Ecological Pest Control team. He quickly climbed the ranks, helped the company double in size, and eventually became the CEO. When Alpha Ecological sold to Rentokil in 2015, Scott became the Residential Marketing Director. After two years, he went on to become the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at GRO Outdoor Living. However, Scott’s passion for pest control drew him back into the industry, and he started PestLock in 2018. 

There are a variety of challenges that come with running a company. From growing beyond your small company status to maintaining peace in a family-owned business, many things can weigh you down. Scott Sneer is here to share his insights and help you solve your most difficult business challenges.

After working in the pest control industry for over two decades, Scott has been through it all — career shifts, owner disagreements, hiring challenges, and outgrowing an old business model. His best advice for solving major challenges? Play to your strengths, supplement your weaknesses, communicate often, and be genuine.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Scott Sneer, President of PestLock, to talk about solving challenges and growing a home services business. Scott shares stories from his early days of working in the field, key sales rules to follow, and his advice for running a family business. Stay tuned!

Brad Wolfgram is the Owner of Results Pest Control in Rancho Cordova, California. He’s been in the pest control industry since 2013, holding positions such as Sales Representative, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Business Development Manager. Brad and the Results Pest Control team go the extra mile to keep pests out of homes and businesses and are well-known for their outstanding customer service.

Diving headfirst into entrepreneurship can be a scary endeavor. But that’s exactly what Brad Wolfgram did. He used his sales experience and people skills to start three different businesses — one of them during the pandemic! How did he do it?

Brad started his pest control company just as COVID-19 blossomed. He was exhilarated by the challenge and realized that if he could make it through this tough time, he could make it through anything. Brad says you just need to believe in yourself, create goals, and focus your mind on these things every morning.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Brad Wolfgram, Owner of Results Pest Control, to talk about building thriving businesses. Brad shares the story of starting his first company in 1992, why people skills matter in business, his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, and more.

Michael Bosco is the President of SafeHaven Pest Control, originally founded in 1955 by his family. He was brought up and trained to work as a structural pest specialist but eventually transitioned to lawn care. After 15 years of growing Soils Alive organic lawn care, Michael decided to return to the family business and re-launch the company with a fresh look and purpose. 

Michael is ACE-certified and is proud to be the third-generation owner of SafeHaven Pest Control. Outside of the business, he’s the President of the Texas Pest Control Association and serves as an executive coach peer group facilitator for McFarlin Stanford.

No business is an overnight success. Building up your company takes years of diligence, passion, and learning from mistakes. However, you don’t have to do it alone. Joining an industry peer group is the perfect way to connect with other business leaders, learn from them, and keep your goals on track. 

According to Michael Bosco, being in a peer group is like having your own board of directors. They know your challenges, hold you accountable, and frequently have solutions to similar business struggles. Michael says that peer groups are the most powerful eight hours of his business life — and in this episode, he shares why.

Tune in to the Multiply You Podcast as Austin Clark talks with Michael Bosco, President of SafeHaven Pest Control. Michael shares his journey to becoming the third-generation owner of SafeHaven, his successful experiences with peer groups and coaching, and why he believes every business leader should join a peer group.

Joshua Foster is the Executive Director at Zap Termite & Pest Control, which services Sacramento, California, and its surrounding areas. Joshua has been with the company for over five years, helping the team revolutionize pest control treatments and customer service initiatives. Before diving into the pest control space, he spent 12 years working for the city of Sacramento in the water treatment department.

Most people don’t grow up dreaming of becoming a pest control technician. But it’s a necessary service, and many people who wind up in the industry love their jobs. So how do you attract talent and foster enthusiasm for pest control?

One strategy Joshua Foster uses to make the pest control business exciting is a creative-centered process. Instead of using a cookie-cutter approach to business operations, he ensures team members can use their imagination and unique skill sets to deliver quality service. Additionally, Joshua makes sure employees are paid well, have ample vacation time, and develop strong relationships with the leadership team.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Joshua Foster, Executive Director at Zap Termite & Pest Control, to talk about tips to make the pest control industry appealing and attract new talent. Joshua also discusses his journey into pest control, the challenges Zap has faced since the pandemic, and his thoughts on the future of pest control.

Dylan O’Donnell is the President of Terrier Technologies, a pest control technology company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He’s been in the pest control industry for over a decade, previously serving as the Information Services Director for Plunkett’s Pest Control. Dylan received his bachelor’s in civil engineering and master’s in business administration and management from the University of Minnesota.

After starting his career in the pest control industry, Dylan O’Donnell realized the need for improved technology. So he took matters into his own hands and founded Terrier Technologies to help technicians, business owners, and entire pest control teams operate efficiently and effectively. 

With technicians out on jobs all day, it can be difficult to relay information in a timely manner. But what if you could give them the necessary tools and information to help them understand the scope of a job, from scheduling to costs to client preferences? That’s exactly what Terrier Technologies does. The company’s software eliminates communication gaps to help pest control professionals own their routes, efficiently service customers, and avoid extra office calls. 

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Dylan O’Donnell, the President of Terrier Technologies, to talk about the company’s software and how it benefits pest control professionals. Dylan also shares tips for adopting new software and maximizing your tech tools, the evolution of technology in the pest control business, and his strategies for staying on top of industry trends.