Always empower and encourage your managers, even when they make mistakes. Let them know that it's okay to fail and that you're there to support them. In today's episode, Eric and Jake dive into the critical differences between the mindsets of business owners and employees. Eric highlights the importance of leadership, vision, creativity, and risk-taking for owners. Tune in to learn how to cultivate a successful mindset as you build and scale your pest control company.

Topics Include:

Introduction (0:00)
Maintaining Influence with Managers (7:04)
Clear Expectations and Roles (9:19)
Employee vs. Owner Perspective (10:20)
Hiring to Replace Tasks (12:07)
Importance of KPIs (14:18)
Partnership Dynamics (16:06)
Transitioning from Manager to Owner (17:35)
Finding a Mentor (20:02)
Giving Room to Fail (22:07)
Parenting Analogy in Business (24:38)
Managing Free Time (26:05)
Empowering and Encouraging Managers (29:13)
Closing Remarks and Appreciation (31:38)

In today’s episode, Eric and Jake discuss the importance of customer engagement in the pest control industry. They emphasize that spending extra time with customers, understanding their needs, and celebrating wins can significantly enhance retention and create positive word-of-mouth. The conversation also highlights the inspection process as a valuable opportunity to introduce additional services to clients. This episode is packed with actionable tips to help you maximize productivity and engagement within your PCC.

Topics Include:

Introduction (0:00)
Productivity and Engagement (5:36)
Technician Productivity: Cloverleafing and Sales (6:15)
Technician Sales Training and Incentives (8:22)
Technician Retention and Add-On Services (10:03)
Technician Equipment Maintenance and Organization (13:09)
Office and Sales Productivity: Voicemails and Leads (18:03)
Collections and Autopay (20:53)
Win-Back Campaigns (32:01)
Training and Cross-Departmental Training (33:30)
Customer Feedback and Voicemail Follow-Up (40:43)

In today's episode, Eric and Jake record from Pest World in Denver, Colorado. They highlight the importance of networking opportunities at Pest World and reflect on the educational content available, including vendor education and new technology in the pest control industry. They emphasize the dual purpose of their presence at the event: engaging with pest control operators and enhancing their knowledge through high-quality classes. Tune in for insights and updates from this special industry gathering!

Topics Include:

Introduction (0:00)
Special offer for podcast listeners (3:51)
PCO community growth and engagement (8:02)
Vendor relationships and discounts (10:18)
Community connections and support (14:08)
Best networking event insights (22:06)
Promo code for membership discount (26:11)
Building a pest control community (28:59)

In any company, the implementation of new policies can often be met with resistance or misunderstanding. In today's episode, Eric and Jake dive deep into the complexities of implementing policy changes within a pest control company, using their recent experience with box elder bugs as a case study. They also emphasize the need for clear communication about the changes, why they are being made, and how they benefit everyone involved, from the company to the customer.

Topics Include:

Introduction (0:00)
Implementing Policy Changes (4:09)
Challenges of Policy Changes in Larger Companies (5:04)
Box Elder Bug Issue (6:11)
Market Variations and Pest Proliferation (8:02)
Office Staff and Policy Communication (10:12)
Policy Rollout and Staff Resistance (12:08)
Importance of Clear Communication (14:06)
Multifaceted Policy Change Challenges (16:36)
Educating Office Staff on Pest Issues (19:15)
Box Elder Bug Life Cycle Explanation (23:10)
Customer Education and Buy-In (26:15)
Timing and Preparation for Policy Changes (27:00)
Customer Communication Strategy (29:50)

In the pest control industry, it is essential to recognize when a customer may not be worth the trouble. In today’s episode, Eric and Jake address the challenging decision of when to fire a customer. Sometimes, despite the effort to gain and retain customers, certain clients can be more trouble than they're worth. This includes customers who are abusive, unreasonable, or cost the company more money than they bring in.

Topics Include:

Introduction (0:00)
Original meaning of Halloween (4:12)
When to fire a customer (6:49)
Business with future customers (10:24)
Customer cancellation motivations (14:16)
Customer compliance in pest control (17:15)
Toxic customer relationships (22:02)
Customer abuse of free services (25:25)
Karma in customer service (28:23)
Firing aggressive customers (30:45)
Standing up for your staff (34:26

Customer retention is essential for sustainable growth and profitability. In today's episode, Eric and Jake welcome Erik Maki with Service First Pest Management. Erik shares why companies often lose accounts not necessarily to competitors stealing them, but due to a failure to provide perceived value. When customers feel informed and valued, they are more likely to remain loyal, even in the face of competitive offers.

Topics Include:

Introduction (0:00)
Music genre choices (5:50)
World-class customer service challenges (9:15)
Customer service in pest control (12:00)
Starting a business journey (15:23)
Entrepreneurial support from spouses (20:27)
Door-to-door commercial sales strategy (22:38)
Getting past gatekeepers in sales (26:45)
Value delivery in pest control (36:38)
Selling preventative pest control (40:05)

Attending industry events, such as PestWorld, provides a unique opportunity to meet vendors and fellow pest control professionals. In today's episode, Eric and Jake welcome a very special guest, Allan Draper with .proof Pest Control. Allan shares his experience at PestWorld and encourages attendees to step outside their comfort zones, engage with others, and participate in social events. These interactions can lead to unexpected opportunities and valuable connections!

Topics include:

Introduction (0:00)
Bug Bux Podcast Evolution (5:39)
Pro tips for PestWorld (8:32)
Networking at PestWorld (11:21)
The origin story of Bug Bux (18:11)
Community support in pest control (23:47)
Abundance growth mindset (25:17)
Money management and personnel challenges (30:34)
Hiring to replace yourself (34:09)
Industry growth and company value (39:33)

One of the most pressing challenges faced by PCCs is managing incoming calls from potential customers who fall outside their service areas or require services they do not offer. In today's episode, Eric and Jake welcome Phil Kirkeiner, co-founder and CEO of Baton Leads. Phil shares his unique path from studying music to becoming an accountant, and eventually finding his way into the pest control industry through summer sales. His experiences led him to identify a significant gap in the market: the need for a better referral system for pest control leads.

Topics include:

Introduction (0:00)
Baton referral network innovation (5:05)
Building referral networks locally (6:44)
Customer service and lead generation (10:37)
Customer retention challenges in business (13:16)
Value proposition in business (20:55)
Pest control industry referrals (24:15)
Grit and self-doubt in entrepreneurship (27:41)
Supportive spouses in entrepreneurship (32:51)
Expanding referral platforms (36:20)