EP 54: From Side Hustle to Scaling – How Magic City Pest Control Built a Multi-Million Dollar Business

Welcome back to The Journey! In this episode, Rusty Prewett sits down with Kenzie Prosch, owner of Magic City Pest Control, to discuss his unexpected path into the pest control industry and how he built a thriving business from the ground up.

Kenzie shares how a broken-down car led him into pest control, his experience bootstrapping the company with just $100, and the strategic moves that helped him scale to $2.5M in revenue. From door-to-door sales to leveraging Facebook marketing and acquisitions, Kenzie’s journey is packed with real-world lessons on growth, leadership, and business strategy.

Key Topics Covered:

✅ An Accidental Entrepreneur – How Kenzie fell into pest control and never looked back. ✅ Bootstrapping to $2.5M – Starting with just $100 and growing a profitable business. ✅ The Power of Networking – Why building relationships with competitors can fuel success. ✅ Acquisitions & Expansion – Lessons from buying businesses and entering new markets. ✅ Marketing that Works – How Magic City Pest Control scaled using Facebook ads and referrals. ✅ Avoiding Costly Mistakes – What Kenzie wishes he knew about marketing and lead nurturing.

Kenzie also dives into the importance of tracking KPIs, how to keep costs down while growing, and why revenue per mile is one of the most critical numbers in his business. If you’re in pest control or looking to scale a service business, this episode is packed with actionable insights you won’t want to miss!

⏱ Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome Back to The Journey: Introducing Kenzie Prosch 0:27 – Magic City Pest Control: Kenzie’s Background & Business Origins 3:08 – First Steps into Pest Control: From Elementary Education to Entrepreneurship 5:18 – Early Challenges: Juggling Five Jobs While Starting Out 8:45 – Breaking into the Industry: From Technician to Branch Manager 12:16 – Scaling Up: Recruiting Sales Teams & Growing to 1,000 Customers 15:10 – Making the Leap: Why Kenzie Left His Corporate Job to Go All-In 18:08 – Bootstrapping the Business: Starting with Just $100 21:32 – The Power of Referrals: How One Customer Sparked Growth 25:40 – Facebook Marketing Success: Driving Leads for Just $25 per Sale 30:12 – Acquisitions & Expansion: Growing into Birmingham & Huntsville 35:16 – The Importance of Networking with Competitors for Business Growth 40:28 – Scaling Challenges: Managing Growth & Expanding into New Markets 45:10 – Key KPIs That Matter: Why Revenue Per Mile is a Game-Changer 50:42 – Lessons from the Journey: What Kenzie Would Do Differently 55:12 – Long-Term Vision: Goals for Magic City Pest Control in the Next 5 Years 1:00:01 – Final Thoughts & Where to Connect with Kenzie

🔗 Connect with Kenzie & Learn More: Visit Magic City Pest Control online or follow them on social media to stay updated.

📍 Follow The Journey: 📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prewettpestjourney 📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theprewettpestjourney

🔊 Listen now and get inspired to take your business to the next level!

EP 53: Visit With EOS Implementer, David King, After PPC's 2 Day Annual Planning

Welcome back to The Journey! In this episode, Rusty Prewett sits down with David King, an EOS Implementer, to break down the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and how it has transformed Rusty’s business over the past three years. From quarterly planning to accountability charts, they discuss what it takes to implement EOS effectively and how it helps businesses scale while maintaining clarity, accountability, and simplicity.

If you've been considering EOS or need a refresher on how to get back on track, this episode is packed with real-world insights, including how Rusty’s company rebooted its EOS approach after hitting a plateau.

Key Topics Covered:

• What EOS Is & Why It Works – The six core components of EOS and how they keep companies aligned.
• Lessons from the Pandemic – How businesses running on EOS thrived through uncertainty.
• The Importance of Accountability – Why every role in a company needs ownership and clear measurables.
• Keeping It Simple – How overcomplicating systems can slow down growth and what to do instead.
• Building a Winning Team – How EOS helps get the right people in the right seats.
• The Power of Scorecards – Tracking key measurables to ensure business success.

Rusty and David also share game-changing leadership lessons, including why "inspect what you expect" is a crucial mindset for any business owner. Whether you're self-implementing EOS or just exploring better ways to streamline your operations, this episode is full of practical takeaways to help you grow.

🔗 Learn More About EOS & Connect with David King:

Visit eosworldwide.com and search for David King to find expert guidance on implementing EOS for your business.

⏱ Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome Back to The Journey: Introducing David King 0:21 – Revisiting EOS: Why Rusty Brought David Back After 3 Years 1:15 – What Does an EOS Implementer Do? 3:00 – How EOS Helped Businesses Thrive During the Pandemic 5:18 – Rusty’s EOS Journey: From Startup to Scaling 7:03 – The Power of a Reboot: Getting Back to EOS Basics 9:22 – The Six Core Components of EOS & How They Work 12:16 – How EOS Protects a Business from a Visionary’s Chaos 14:41 – Accountability Charts: Why Every Role Needs Ownership 17:00 – Simplifying for Success: The Key to Long-Term Growth 19:26 – The Role of Scorecards & KPIs in Business Performance 22:03 – Key Leadership Lessons: “Inspect What You Expect” 25:00 – Building a Strong, Trust-Based Company Culture 28:42 – Final Thoughts & How to Get Started with EOS

Follow The Journey:

📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prewettpestjourney📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theprewettpestjourney

🔊 Listen now and take your business to the next level!

EP 52: Reflections and Resilience: Lessons from 2024 (Part 2)

Welcome back to The Journey! In this episode, Rusty Prewett continues his deep dive into 2024, sharing both the hard-fought wins and the unexpected challenges that shaped his company’s trajectory. If you missed part one, go back and catch up on the goals and benchmarks set for the year. Now, in part two, Rusty takes you behind the scenes of what it really took to grow a pest control business—from hiring key players to overcoming financial roadblocks.

Key topics covered:

• Celebrating Wins: The first-ever PEACO Awards trip, hiring pivotal leadership, and expanding into Huntsville.
• Building a Stronger Team: The impact of hiring a Director of Sales, an HR Director, and top-tier talent.
• Financial Challenges & Lessons Learned: The challenges of forecasting, cash flow planning, and finding the right bookkeeping partner.
• A Hard Hit from Google: Losing 1,500+ five-star reviews overnight and the determined comeback.
• Scaling for 2025: The importance of SOPs, fire prevention (not just firefighting), and strategic planning for growth.

Rusty also shares his mindset going into 2025, including an upcoming trip to the Scale event by Pest Daily. Whether you're in the pest control industry or simply navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom and practical insights.

⏱ Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome Back to The Journey: Recapping Part One 0:35 – Why Reflecting on 2024 is Crucial for Growth 1:26 – Celebrating Wins: The First-Ever PEACO Awards Trip 3:07 – Hiring a Director of Sales & Their Shift to Operations 4:06 – PEACO Fest: The Annual Team Event & Special Guest Speaker 5:38 – Key Leadership Hires: Bringing in an HR Director & Recruiter 7:03 – The Game-Changer: How Our HR Director Made an Immediate Impact 9:03 – The Challenge of Financial Forecasting & Cash Flow Management 10:56 – Transitioning to FRAXN for Bookkeeping & The Learning Curve 11:43 – Expanding Into Huntsville: Acquiring a Mosquito Business 12:49 – Joining the Alabama Pest Control Association Board 13:26 – Challenges Faced in 2024: From Google Woes to Scaling Struggles 14:31 – Losing 1,500+ Google Reviews Overnight & Fighting Back 16:00 – Turning a Setback Into a Comeback: Rebuilding Our Reviews 17:00 – The Need for Scalable Processes & SOPs for Growth 18:25 – Fire Prevention vs. Firefighting: A Key Leadership Lesson 19:44 – Preparing for 2025: Why Strategic Planning is Essential 20:26 – Looking Ahead: Attending the Scale Event by Pest Daily 22:00 – Closing Thoughts: Lessons Learned & A Mindset for Success 23:08 – Call to Action: Leave a Review & Stay Connected

🔗 Follow the Journey: Facebook

📍 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theprewettpestjourney 

EP 51: Reflections and Resilience: Lessons from 2024 (Part 1)

Welcome back to The Journey: Navigating Pest Control and Business! In this exciting episode, Rusty Prewett reflects on a whirlwind 2024 and kicks off 2025 with fresh goals and lessons learned. Join Rusty as he shares insights from a year full of challenges and triumphs, including:

• Achieving $1.8 million in new sales and lessons from ambitious targets.
• Growing the company to $3.7 million in revenue and expanding operations.
• Hiring and onboarding a stellar team while fine-tuning processes.
• Successfully entering a new market with a new acquisition.

From the sunny beaches of Destin, Florida, Rusty offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the ups and downs of growing a pest control business, proving that every setback is a setup for growth. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or simply curious about the pest control industry, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Follow the Journey👇📈

https://www.facebook.com/prewettpestjourney

Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theprewettpestjourney 

0:00 Welcome to 2025: Reflections from Destin, Florida

1:02 Podcast Goals for 2025: Consistency and Growth

1:51 The Purpose of the Podcast: Documenting the Pest Control Journey

2:33 Recap of 2024 Goals: Wins, Challenges, and Lessons Learned

3:52 Starting from Scratch: Launching During the Pandemic

4:44 Scaling Up: Aiming for $3 Million in Revenue in 3 Years

5:37 2024 Goals Overview: Sales, Hiring, Training, and Expansion

9:52 Sales Goals: Targeting $2.7 Million in New Sales for 2024

13:22 Lessons from Falling Short: The Importance of Ramp-Up Time

15:09 Hiring Goals: Adding 7 Salespeople and Achieving 4 Hires

16:19 Building a Team: Onboarding and Training Successes

17:23 Revenue Growth: Ending 2024 with $3.7 Million

18:06 Focus on Retention: Processes for Termite, Pest, and Mosquito Services

18:46 Market Expansion: Entering Huntsville with a Mosquito Business Acquisition

19:10 Takeaways and Next Steps: Wins, Losses, and Lessons to Share

20:03 Looking Ahead: Plans for Consistency and a Fresh Production Team

20:22 Stay Connected: Follow Us on Facebook

In this special episode, we feature Rusty's keynote speech at the 2024 West Alabama SHRM Conference, where he highlights the journey of Prewett Pest Control in building a clear vision and strong workplace culture. In this episode, listen and discover powerful strategies for cultivating a strong organizational vision and driving a  positive workplace culture. Whether you're a business leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about effective leadership, this episode offers valuable insights into creating a vision-driven, culture-focused environment that leads to lasting success.

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast." 

Follow the Journey👇📈

https://www.facebook.com/prewettpestjourney

Watch the PEACO Fest 2023 YouTube video that Rusty shares with the group👇🎥

https://youtu.be/aAfZSOJ6wXQ?si=gwx2yt7fN2dPhO19

The Journey Podcast is alive! It's been 5 months since our last episode so Rusty checks in with a quick update.  Rusty and the team have been busy at Prewett Pest in 2024 as they've brought on new team members including a Marketing & PR Coordinator, HR Director, Director of Sales, 4 new Sales Professionals, and 4 new Service Professionals.  Additionaly, PPC has expanded into a new market with a company aquisition in North Alabama. 

Join Rusty in Part 2 of the 'Recap of 2023' as he reviews the previous year and talks about the kickoff of 2024. 2023 was defined as year of growth and CHANGE! After 14 years of owning and operating an Allstate Insurance agency, Rusty shares the details of selling the business, which was bittersweet, but allowed him to focus on growing the pest business. He also touches on developing new leaders in the organization, utilizing the company's Development Program. Is the program perfect? No. However, it helped to provide a framework for some key people who had a desire to grow professionally within the organization. There was also a big focus on taking the inside sales model to the next level by making it a focus to get better.  Additionally, Rusty touches on collection improvements, lead management, specialization in sales verses service roles, and engaging the outside sales team with bi-weekly book club calls and training.

Book Club: Book 1 https://www.ultimatesalesmachine.com/book-1a 

Book 2 https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Thinking-Big-David-Schwartz/dp/1785040472 

5 STEP SALES PROCESS: "Price is only an issue in the absence of value" "Be the orange!" BASPA 1. Build Rapport 2. Ask Questions 3. Sell Value 4. Propose a Plan 5. Assumptively Close!

Join Rusty in EP 47: Part 1 as he shares another journal entry update and recaps 2023. Prewett Pest started in July 2020 and 3 years later the company crossed over the $3MM mark but not without wins, losses, speed bumps and road blocks. Rusty shares the company's 2023 goals and gives an update on the final results. The good, the bad, and the ugly! Reverse engineering goals has proven a strategic way to break down big goals and allows the team to focus on the daily, weekly and monthly things that help move the company to its 10 year target of being a $25Mm company.

Sit in on PPC's bi-weekly book club call where our team discusses chapters 3&4 of 'The Magic of Thinking Big' by David Schwartz. In previous episodes you may have heard Rusty talking about the PPC Book Club he started in the beginning of 2023 with his sales team. The response and feedback was so good it led us to open up the book club to the entire company for anyone that wanted to participate. We break down each call by chapters and every session someone new leads the call.  This week we discuss chapter 3 (Build Confidence & Destroy Fear) and chapter 4 (How to Think Big).  

Book Club is optional for anyone in the company that wants to participate and books selected vary on different topics.  This particular book, 'The Magic of Thinking Big', is a book that Rusty read over 20 years and made a huge impact on his way of thinking and dreaming big things.  We hope you enjoy!

Please follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/prewettpestjourney

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Thinking-Big-David-Schwartz/dp/0671646788 

This week Rusty brings you along to be a part of Prewett Pest's bi-weekly sales huddle.  Rusty started hosting these sales zoom huddles at the beginning of 2023 and every 2 weeks the PPC sales pros get to engage with their peers, share best practices and check in on what's working and what's not.

This week Rusty has friend and mentor, Justin Slocum, on as a guest to share his story and how he's performed at a high level as an entrepreneur and sales minded business owner.  Prior to selling his Allstate insurance agencies, Justin was one of the largest Allstate agency owners in the country with $40M in annual premiums and consistently performed in the top 1% of agents countrywide.

Join us on this episode and learn about Justin's journey and how it can be applicable to growing a sales organization.