Pest control entrepreneurs aim high for 2025 Start-up Stories

Daniel Nabors

As we begin the 2025 version of “Start-up Stories,” I think it is only fair to tell you that Daniel Nabors of Quality Pest Control bribed me to be included in this year’s group.

Here’s how it came about: In May 2022, I went on Facebook and told my friends I didn’t need anything for my upcoming birthday, but if they were feeling generous, I would love some underwear, Bibles and world peace. My post was tongue-in-cheek, but several people sent me underwear and Bibles. Nabors sent me both a Bible and lots of swag. Clearly, he wanted to be included in “Start-up Stories.”

In all seriousness, Nabors is a perfect candidate for coaching during our 2025 campaign. He is trying to
grow his small company in Lufkin, Texas.

“We have many of the right pieces,” he told me. “I see a lot of good things, but we still aren’t operating efficiently.”

Quality Pest Control grew from $751,595 in 2023 to more than $950,000 in 2024. Nabors’ projection for 2025 is $1.2 million. We will work on creating a better training program and improving communication between his employees and clients.

Nabors is one of eight companies highlighted in this year’s “Start-up Stories” column. The other seven include:

Joel Amores

Joel Amores, Apache Pest Control, Weston, Fla. Amores would like to use his five-year-old company as a springboard to a better life. He told me he would like to “buy a bigger home for my family and travel more often” within the next three years. Amores also would like to become more civic-minded and give back to the community. We will work on following up on sales leads and canceled clients.

• 2023: $332,833
• 2024: $390,000+
• 2025 goals: $468,000; train new technician on termite work; improve upselling

Matt and Leanna Alexander

Matt and Leanna Alexander, Arrow Pest Management, Blanchard, Okla. Arrow Pest Management was just founded in April 2024. Matt Alexander is an interesting fellow: He is a firefighter, the mayor of Dibble, Okla., and a licensed pest management professional (PMP). Despite juggling these three jobs, he and his wife are growing their company quickly. They are interested in working with me on marketing strategies.

• 2024: $160,000+ (April 1 through Nov. 30)
• 2025 goals: $350,000; find software that is a good fit for their company

Elliott Hahn

Elliott Hahn, Bigfoot Pest Management, Olympia, Wash. This is the second time the mythical Canadian creature has appeared in this article; Sasquatch Pest Control from Bellingham, Wash., was our first in 2023. The 40-year-old Hahn started his company in April 2021 and is roaring toward his first million. One of the things we will be working on is not “giving away” services. Sometimes, as small business owners, we try to entice people with free treatments or products.

• 2023: $291,000
• 2024: $354,000+
• 2025 goals: $400,000, although I think he will do much better than that; add a second technician

Travis Kjemperud

Travis Kjemperud, Buggin’ Out Pest Solutions, Forest Grove, Ore. The veteran pest pro was a finalist for the 2024 group, but I felt his company was too new, as he started in April 2022. I met Kjemperud in person at the Pacific Northwest Pest Management Conference last year outside of Portland, Ore., and I fell in love with the big, burly pest pro. We will focus on hiring, training materials, key performance indicators (KPIs) and an employee handbook.

• 2023: $170,000
• 2024: $275,000
• 2025 goals: $450,000; set up a wildlife program; hire a technician

Brian Zahringer

Brian Zahringer, BugBoss The X-Terminator, Clintonville, Wis. This 42-year-old Cheesehead gets the award for being the most patient with me. Like Kjemperud, he was considered for last year’s group, but I went in a different direction. This year, I didn’t see Zahringer’s application until after I had chosen my eight mentees. However, another owner had to back out, so that opened the door to add him. I’ve seen Zahringer successfully mentor other PMPs on social media. I will teach him the finer aspects of upselling and digging deep into KPIs.

• 2023: $158,732
• 2024: $200,000+
• 2025 goals: $230,000; hire first technician; double recurring revenue

Augie and Katelyn Gamelli

Augie and Katelyn Gamelli, Gamelli’s Pest Solutions (formerly Gamelli Landscapes), Shelburne Falls, Mass. This couple is transitioning from landscape services, which they started in 2020, to pest control.
We will focus on service agreements (SAs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

• 2023: $203,743 (includes landscaping)
• 2024: $200,000+ (without landscaping)
• 2025 goals: $250,000 (without landscaping); hire their first full-time employee

Cody and Laci Sandhoff

Cody and Laci Sandhoff, Sandhoff Services Pest and Termite, Waxahachie, Texas. I met Cody in the early days of the Paul Bello pest conferences. He has also shown up, as has Nabors, at some of the early leadership conferences hosted by Alan Feuer, Maria Sorrentino and me. Sandhoff Services is located just south of Dallas, Texas, so the opportunity for growth is high. We will work on training and debt reduction.

• 2023: $318,570
• 2024: $410,000+
• 2025 goals: $492,000; implementing staff meeting schedule

Those are my eight mentees I will write about this year. Our goal is to meet monthly, and sometimes more if situations warrant it. Each month, I will highlight one of these companies in the magazine. In December, we will see whether they hit their goals.

Good luck to all of you in 2025. I hope your profits are high and your stress is low.

<p>The post Pest control entrepreneurs aim high for 2025 Start-up Stories first appeared on Pest Management Professional.</p>

from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2025/01/13/pest-control-entrepreneurs-aim-high-for-2025-start-up-stories/
Sacramento CA