The spring and summer months are almost always peak season for Australian businesses that offer pest control services. As the temperature rises, so too does the volume of calls from customers reporting sightings of creepy crawly things that make them want to vomit. Unfortunately, the autumn and winter months tend to be a lot quieter for these businesses – meaning their staff have a reduced capacity to take new bookings (which is doubly annoying considering those are peak hours for things like home inspections and pre-winter storm preparation). If you’re thinking about starting an Australian pest control business, it’s important to know what you’re getting into. It might seem like an easy way to make some cash, but remember that it’s a service business first and foremost. There’s no avoiding hard work if you want to succeed in this industry. With that in mind, here are some important factors you should consider before making your final decision…
What Does It Take to Become a Pest Controller?
If you’re hoping to make a quick buck by spraying a few pests and asking for payment, you’re out of luck. Pest control work is a long, arduous process that requires thorough planning and execution. For starters, you’ll need to select the right gear and chemicals for the job. Some pests, like ants and silverfish, are best dealt with by spraying a residual insecticide around the building; others, such as mice and spiders, are best dealt with by baiting. Other things to consider include researching your local environment, finding your target market, and taking the time to build trust and rapport with your customers. It’s not an easy job, but the payoff is definitely worth it: pest controllers can expect to earn an average salary of $53,000 per year in Australia.
Finding the Right Location
This is an obvious one, but it’s important nonetheless. You’ll want to carefully consider the location of your business before opening your doors for business. Why? Because pests don’t respect geographical boundaries. Depending on what type of pests you plan to deal with, you may find yourself traveling all over the place while on the job. If you’re hoping to tackle a wider area, you’ll want to find a centralized location that is easily accessible to your customers. When choosing a location, think about which types of businesses are in the area. You’re likely to find a lot of competition, so it might be worth looking for a spot that isn’t already saturated with businesses of your type (like a residential area rather than a commercial one).
Customer Expectations
Before you even open for business, you’ll want to consider what your customers expect from you. More importantly, you’ll want to make sure you’re meeting (or exceeding) those expectations. This is particularly important if you’re planning on targeting residential customers. Most homeowners will have dealt with pests at one point or another, so they have certain expectations when it comes to dealing with them again. Make sure you’re meeting those expectations before you start taking on new customers. For example, homeowners expect you to be prompt when responding to a booking request. If you take longer than 24 hours to return a phone call, text, or email, you’ll risk losing the customer completely.
The Importance of Reputation
If you’re going to build a successful business, you’ll need to rely on reputation more than anything else. You’ll need to earn the trust of your customers so that they are comfortable recommending you to their family and friends. You’ll want to make sure you’re maintaining a high level of communication with your customers. You should be keeping a record of phone calls and emails and responding to them in a timely manner. You should also be taking detailed notes during your home inspections and offering suggestions for how to deal with the pests inside the home. When it comes time to get paid, you’ll also want to make sure you’re fielding any payment questions or issues quickly and professionally.
Things to Think About Before Launching Your Business
There are a few important things to consider before you launch your business. Obviously, you’ll want to make sure your product is high-quality; you don’t want to have to deal with any customer complaints. You’ll also want to make sure you have a strong marketing strategy in place. You’ll want to make sure you have the proper licenses and permits to operate a business in your area. You may also want to consider hiring a business consultant to help you with the initial planning and launch of your business. This is especially true if you’re hoping to start your business with a minimal investment. Business consultants often have access to a range of funding options that can help you get the ball rolling without having to come up with thousands of dollars upfront.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of things to consider before starting a pest control business. You’ll want to make sure you’re selecting the right type of service for your area and that you’re meeting your customers’ expectations. You’ll also want to make sure you have a strong marketing strategy in place. And, of course, you’ll want to be prepared for a lot of hard work. You’ll be working outside in all types of weather, dealing with difficult customers, and working long hours during the busy season. If you can handle that, however, you may be able to find a rewarding new career in pest control!
