What does it take to grow a pest control business from a one-man operation in a small Ohio town to a multi-state franchise? In this powerful episode, we dive into the grit, resilience, and vision required to scale beyond borders, and why your “setback” might just be your greatest setup.

This week on the Pest Empire Builder Podcast, host Matt Williams sits down with Anthony from Complete Pest Solutions, a pest control powerhouse born in Youngstown, Ohio. Anthony shares his raw and inspiring journey, from managing a large team, surviving a devastating fire that wiped out his equipment and vehicles, to rebooting his business with a clear, hard-earned blueprint. But the real gem? How he turned adversity into opportunity by launching a franchise model that now empowers others to build their own pest empires, without repeating the same mistakes.

If you’ve ever wondered whether franchising could be your next big move, or how to grow while staying rooted in family and community, this episode is for you.

Takeaways:

Why a catastrophic fire became the unexpected turning point in Anthony’s business journey

The power of referrals and grassroots marketing in early-stage business growth

How franchising creates opportunity while preserving family and community values

The real costs, and rewards, of building a franchise from scratch

Why being coachable and having grit matter more than financial know-how

"You either bow down to it, or you go into the storm and say, ‘We’re going to come out stronger.’” 

If this episode sparked something in you, subscribe now and share it with a fellow entrepreneur. Then take 10 minutes to journal: What storm in your business might actually be the setup for your next season of growth?

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below. 

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.pestempirebuilder.com

Are you throwing money at marketing and seeing nothing in return?In this episode of the Pest Empire Builder Podcast, we tackle a problem every pest control business owner faces: marketing that drains your wallet but doesn’t deliver. Host Matt Williams sits down with Aaron Shishilla from WolfPack Advising to talk straight about what it really takes to grow your business through marketing that actually works.

Aaron brings years of experience in digital marketing for pest control and home inspection companies, and he’s not afraid to call out the hard truths. Together, Matt and Aaron unpack why cookie-cutter marketing fails, why most agencies get it wrong, and how you can finally build a customized, holistic strategy that scales your business.

Whether you’re a solopreneur juggling calls or an established company ready for growth, this episode will help you stop guessing and start winning.

Key Takeaways:

You must build your marketing strategy on your business’s actual strengths, not what’s trending.

No one marketing tool (like SEO or PPC) is a silver bullet, you need a tailored, full-picture approach.

Communication between you and your marketing team is non-negotiable for success.

Social media requires consistency and authenticity, don’t aim for perfection, just be real.

Tracking, feedback, and optimizing based on actual data is the key to ROI.

“There’s no magic pill. There’s no ad agency that will save your business without you doing the work too.” - Aaron Shishilla

Next step?Take a hard look at your current marketing. Are you guessing? Or building with purpose? Share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur, then journal your top 3 marketing strengths, and weaknesses. Oh, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode that helps you grow your pest control empire.

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below. 

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of the Pest Empire Builder Podcast, host Matt welcomes SEO and digital marketing strategist Danny Leibrandt to break down how pest control businesses can dominate online. From building a powerful Google Business Profile to leveraging Local Service Ads (LSAs), Danny shares actionable steps that home service business owners; especially pest control pros; can take to stand out in a highly competitive market. Danny’s journey from freelance copywriter to industry expert in pest control SEO is both inspiring and practical. He pulls back the curtain on the digital strategies that are actually working today and why many companies are overpaying for mediocre results.

This conversation is loaded with wisdom for owners trying to get out of the technician mindset and grow into scalable entrepreneurs. Whether you’re just starting your pest control company or looking to expand, this episode walks through the foundation you need to build, how to avoid common scams, and what marketing investments really produce ROI. If you’ve ever wondered where to start with digital marketing; or if what you’re currently doing is worth it; this episode will give you clarity and direction.

Key Takeaways:

1. Start with Strategy – Define what success means to you before investing in marketing.
   

2. Google Business Profile Is Your Foundation – Optimize name, categories, location, and reviews.
   

3. Local Service Ads (LSAs) Are a Must – Easy to set up, high-quality leads, and only pay per qualified call.
   

4. Watch Out for Overpriced Agencies – Many businesses overpay for vague SEO services with no ROI.
   

5. Play the Long Game – Think in terms of lifetime customer value, not just initial acquisition cost.

"If you’re not ranking well and your business name doesn’t include keywords, that’s going to hurt your visibility; simple as that." – Danny Leibrandt

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below.

Want to learn more about Matt Williams? Check out the links below. 

Instagram

Email: [email protected]

Join host Matt Williams on the PEST Empire Builder podcast as he talks with Rob Greer, COO of Rove Pest Control and co-author of Empathy and Understanding in Business with FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss. Rob shares his journey growing Rove from a single branch to a five-state operation with 75 technicians and over 15,000 customers. He dives into the power of empathy in business, recounting how curiosity and key questioning turned around a struggling employee by aligning on shared values. Rob also discusses the importance of simplifying complex problems, building trust through vulnerability, and letting go as a leader to empower teams. From his ultra-marathon experiences to coaching high school cross country, Rob’s insights on leadership and resilience will inspire business owners to foster stronger cultures and solve problems effectively.

Key Takeaways

Empathy in Action: Use curiosity and questioning to uncover shared values and turn around team conflicts.

Simplify Problems: Peel back layers of complexity to focus on core issues, whether with staff or customers.

Letting Go: Delegating to capable leaders reduces micromanagement and drives organizational efficiency.

Vulnerability Builds Trust: Exposing yourself to risk fosters trust, improving teamwork and customer service.

Vision and Culture: Leaders must communicate a clear vision to align teams across all business functions.

"Simplify the noise to find the heart of the problem; then solve it with empathy."

In this episode of the PEST Empire Builder podcast, host Matt Williams sits down with Lenny Gray, a door-to-door sales expert, author, and coach who built and sold a successful pest control company using door-to-door strategies. Lenny shares his journey from knocking doors to pay for college to becoming a top performer at Orkin, earning Rookie of the Year and making $50,000 in 1998. He reveals the three core principles of door-to-door success; hard work, mental toughness, and commitment; and explains how to overcome the fear and rejection that come with knocking on 600 doors to find your groove. Lenny also discusses his ethical, relationship-focused approach to sales, which has helped him train reps across industries like pest control, solar, and alarms. 

Key Takeaways

Core Principles: Hard work, mental toughness, and commitment are essential to succeed in door-to-door sales.

Learning Curve: Talk to 600 people (about 50 per day, six days a week) to master the process and find your rhythm.

Ethical Sales: Lenny’s scripts and systems emphasize integrity, building long-term customer relationships rather than quick sales.

Efficiency Boost: Door-to-door sales can densify client bases, reducing technician windshield time and increasing profitability.

Life Skills: Door-to-door hones communication and resilience, skills that translate to any career or industry.

"If you’re willing to knock doors, I’ll make you able with systems that work."

In this episode of Pest Empire Builder, host Matt Williams continues his conversation with Steven, General Manager of Pest Nation, diving deeper into creating a phenomenal company culture that drives business success. Steven shares powerful stories of team unity, like employees rallying to support a colleague during a family crisis, showcasing how a strong culture extends beyond the workplace. He discusses the importance of a robust onboarding process involving multiple team members to ensure alignment and clear expectations. Steven also reflects on the costly lessons of pride-driven hiring mistakes and the transformative power of humility in leadership. Highlighting the Pest Empire Builder (PEB) mastermind, he explains how diverse perspectives from the community help leaders and teams overcome challenges and scale effectively. This episode is packed with insights for leaders seeking to foster loyalty, accountability, and personal growth within their organizations.

Key Takeaways:

Quote:“I care more about you than what you do, building people creates a culture that lasts.” — Matt Williams

In the premiere episode of Pest Empire Builder, host Matt Williams introduces Steven, General Manager of Pest Nation, to discuss scaling a pest control business through effective systems and a strong company culture. With 15 years in the industry, Steven shares his journey from North Carolina to leading Pest Nation’s expansion into Atlanta, Orlando, and Nashville. He emphasizes simplifying sales processes using cost-effective tools like Google’s suite to reduce friction and overhead. Steven highlights the power of listening to frontline employees to identify inefficiencies and empowering teams to build their own systems, fostering accountability and trust. Through stories of transparent leadership and the value of mastermind groups like Pest Empire Builder (PEB), this episode offers actionable insights for business owners aiming to grow efficiently while cultivating a supportive team environment.

Key Takeaways:

“Keep it simple and listen to your people—they’ll show you where the friction is.” — Steven

The Pest Empire Builder is where pest control professionals come to level up; not just in business, but in mindset, leadership, and legacy. If you’re a pest control company owner who is growing, scaling and refining through your team, this show is your roadmap to time and financial freedom. We'll dive deep into high performing teams, sales, service, operations, a powerful business structure that leads to rapid growth. Every episode is designed to help you stop working in the business and start building a business that works for you.