How to Write a Pest Control Business Plan [With Free Template]

1. Create a cover page and table of contents

If you’re presenting your business plan to anyone, a cover page and table of contents will make your plan more professional-looking and readable.

1. The cover page should include your business’s logo, address, contact details, and the date you created the document.
2. A table of contents helps readers see what’s in the business plan and skip ahead to specific sections. (If your business plan is only a few pages long, you can skip this step.)

2. Introduce your business to the reader

Start your business plan with an executive summary and business overview. These two sections give readers a quick summary of your business, background, and structure.

Here’s how to write your executive summary and business overview.

3. Add your pesticide license information

If your state requires a pest control license, include information on yours. This tells potential investors that you’re legally allowed to perform pest management services and use approved pesticides.

You should describe:

• What type of license you have (e.g., private applicator or on-the-ground applicator license)
• The governing environmental control authority that has issued your license (e.g., Ohio Department of Agriculture)
• How often you will need to renew your license or certification

This information is also helpful for your own reference—especially license renewal guidelines.

4. Research your pest control market

Market research helps you figure out who your target clients are and what businesses you’re competing with.

Including market research in your business plan helps you create a strong marketing and sales strategy. It also gives investors and potential investors a realistic picture of your chances at success.

5. Choose what services you’ll offer

Write down all types of pests your business plans to handle. Are you focused on common pests like rodents and insects? Will you offer removal services for larger wildlife?

Then, specify the types of pest management services you provide. These can include:

• Fumigation services for insect infestations.
• Integrated pest management, a more environment-friendly approach to preventing infestations through techniques like biological control, habitat manipulation, and the use of disease-resistant plants.
• Preventative services, like monitoring with inspection cameras and maintaining barriers to entry.
• Consultation and education services that provide advice and education on how to prevent pest infestations.

You should also mention if you plan to offer any specialized services or products that are less common for pest control businesses, like:

• Special products. Do you have pesticide products that your competitors don’t offer (i.e., from an exclusive dealer). Do you use organic or plant-based pesticide solutions?
• DIY pest management products. Will you sell helpful products to customers as add-ons, like bait-boxes, mouse traps, or termite monitors?
• Specialized staff. Some pest control businesses have a certified entomologist, public health specialist, or other types of experts on staff to provide multiple areas of expertise.

Your services will vary depending on what your competition is offering and what your target clients need most.

6. Plan how you’ll price your services

Now that you know your core services, share how you’ll price those services to keep your company profitable.

Use this section to describe your pest control pricing strategy, including:

• Your hourly rate (with and without employee pay)
• Overhead and equipment costs
• Any adjustments for special services and materials
• Your goals for operating profit margins and gross margins
• All taxes and fees

7. Create a marketing and sales strategy

Putting a pest control marketing and sales strategy in your business plan will prepare you to promote your business effectively and on-budget.

To attract and win potential customers, you can use marketing tactics like:

• Buying Local Services Ads on Google
• Starting a Facebook page for your business
• Creating sponsored Facebook posts
• Paying for lead generation sites
• Starting a customer referral program
• Working on your pest control SEO
• Improving your pest control website design
• Sending email marketing campaigns
• Handing out business cards, flyers, or door hangers

Explain how each marketing tactic will help you get pest control leads, then estimate how much you plan to spend on each. (e.g., $940 to print postcards, $150 for a DIY website).

8. Plan how you’ll grow your team

Budget and plan for labor in your pest control business plan so you can predict your operating costs accurately—and be ready when it’s time to hire.

Include these details in your employee planning section:

• How many subcontractors or employees you need
• Time, effort, and cost to hire pest control specialists
• How many jobs you typically have per week
• How much revenue you need to make from each job
• Local labor rates and cost of living
• Employees’ hourly wages or salaries

9. Make a financial plan

If you’re looking for funding, this section is the most important for potential investors.

This section of your business plan should include these financial projections:

• Sales forecast: Where do you see your sales month after month?
• Personnel costs: If you’re hiring pest control workers, how much will this cost you? What skills do they need to work for you (certification, licenses, work experience)?
• Overhead and equipment expenses: What is the total cost of the chemicals and tools you’ll need to start running? What are your monthly overhead costs?

Indicate how much all of this would cost your business for the next year. To take this a step further, you can estimate your costs for the next two to three years.

Why do you need a pest control business plan?

You need a business plan when you start a pest control business so you can map out exactly how you’ll run your company. A business plan is your company’s blueprint.

Beyond giving you a guiding strategy, a pest control business plan helps you:

• Get funding. A detailed business plan gives banks, investors, and other financial supporters the information they need to give you funding. It’s your chance to make an argument for how their investment will help your business succeed.

• Set goals and initiatives. When you set objectives and ways to measure your success, you and your team will know what decisions are best for your company.

• Reduce risk. You can prepare for future problems when you plan out how to tackle them. Your business plan gives you a bird’s eye view of your competitors, market, and potential threats to your success.

If you’re several years into your business, it’s not too late to make a business plan. Adjusting your pest control business model, goals, and strategies will help you plan for the future you want to reach.

Once your business plan is finished, you’re ready to start winning more clients and running a successful pest control company.

Originally published in May 2020. Last updated on March 21, 2024.