How to Start a Pest Control Business in 2026

Pest control is one of the best-kept secrets in the trades. It doesn't get the same attention as HVAC or plumbing, but the business model is arguably better: low startup costs, high margins, and a recurring revenue structure that most other trades would kill for.

Bugs don't take a year off. Neither do rodents, termites, or mosquitoes. And homeowners who start a pest control plan tend to keep it running for years. That subscription-style revenue is what makes pest control attractive from a business standpoint.

Here's what it takes to get started.

Licensing and certification

Pest control is heavily regulated because you're applying chemicals in and around homes. Every state requires a commercial pesticide applicator license, and most states also require a separate pest control operator (PCO) or structural pest control license to run a business.

The process typically involves:

• Completing a state-approved training program (40 to 100 hours depending on the state)
• Passing a written exam covering pesticide safety, application methods, pest identification, and regulations
• Some states require 1 to 2 years of experience working under a licensed operator before you can get your own business license

If you're starting from scratch with no pest control experience, plan for 6 to 18 months to get fully licensed. If you've been working for a pest control company, you may already have your technician certification and just need the business/operator-level license.

Budget: $300 to $1,000 for training, exams, and license fees. Some states also require continuing education credits annually ($100 to $300/year).

Business formation

LLC, EIN, business bank account. Same drill as every trade business. $200 to $600 total.

One thing specific to pest control: several states require a surety bond before they'll issue your operator license. Bond amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000, and the annual premium is typically 1% to 5% of the bond amount. So a $10,000 bond might cost you $100 to $500/year.

Insurance

Pest control insurance is actually more affordable than most trades because the physical risk profile is lower. You're not cutting into walls or working on roofs.

• General liability ($1M/$2M). $800 to $2,000/year for a solo operator. This covers property damage claims (like if a chemical stains a countertop or damages plants).
• Pollution liability. This is pest-control-specific. Standard GL policies often exclude chemical contamination claims. A separate pollution liability policy costs $500 to $1,500/year and covers chemical misapplication or spill claims.
• Commercial auto. $1,200 to $2,500/year.
• Workers' comp. Required once you hire. $1,500 to $3,500/year per employee. Pest control has a relatively low workers' comp rate.

Solo operator total: $2,500 to $6,000/year. That's on the low end compared to most trades.

Equipment and startup costs

This is where pest control really shines for startups. You don't need a $30,000 van full of specialized equipment.

Item	Cost range
Vehicle (SUV, van, or truck, used)	$10,000 - $22,000
Backpack sprayer (commercial grade)	$150 - $400
Power sprayer (truck-mounted or portable)	$800 - $3,000
Bait stations, traps, exclusion materials	$300 - $800
Initial chemical inventory	$500 - $1,500
PPE (respirator, gloves, coveralls)	$200 - $500
Inspection tools (flashlight, mirror, moisture meter)	$100 - $300
Licensing, insurance, bond, formation	$3,000 - $7,000

Total startup: $15,000 to $35,000. On the low end of trade businesses. And unlike HVAC or plumbing where one bad compressor or water heater eats your profit on a job, your per-service material costs in pest control are usually $5 to $20.

Pricing and the recurring revenue model

This is what makes pest control special. Most pest control businesses run on a subscription model: quarterly treatments at a fixed price, with free callbacks between visits if pests return.

Typical 2026 pricing for residential pest control:

• Initial treatment: $150 to $300 (more thorough, takes longer)
• Quarterly maintenance: $80 to $150 per visit
• Mosquito treatment (seasonal): $75 to $125 per monthly application
• Termite treatment: $500 to $2,000+ depending on method and home size
• Rodent exclusion: $300 to $1,000 per home

The math on recurring revenue is why this business model works: 100 quarterly customers at $100/visit is $40,000/year in predictable revenue, and each service takes 20 to 30 minutes once you know the property. That's achievable in your first year.

Check the contractor rate data to see pest control worker wages in your market. Your pricing should support billing rates of 3x to 4x the local median wage (higher multiplier than mechanical trades because service visits are shorter and drive time is a bigger percentage).

Getting customers

Pest control marketing is different from other trades because you're selling prevention, not reaction. Most people don't call a pest control company until they see a roach or a mouse. Your job is to reach them before that happens, or be the first call when it does.

• Google Business Profile. Same as every trade. Set it up on day one. "Pest control near me" is the number one search term that drives leads.
• Door-to-door in targeted neighborhoods. This works better for pest control than almost any other trade. Walk neighborhoods in spring when bugs are starting up. Offer a free inspection. Conversion rates on door-to-door for pest control run 5% to 15%, which is high.
• Nextdoor and local Facebook groups. When someone posts "seeing ants in my kitchen, any recommendations?" you want to be the first helpful response.
• Real estate agents and property managers. Termite inspections for home sales are a steady source of leads. Property managers need regular pest service for their units.
• Referral incentives. Offer $25 off the next service for every referral that converts. Pest control customers talk to their neighbors, and bug problems tend to be neighborhood-wide.

The seasonal question

Pest control is less seasonal than landscaping but not fully year-round in northern climates. In the south and southwest, it's 12 months of work. In the north, you'll see a dip from November through February.

Smart operators use the slow months for rodent exclusion work (sealing entry points, which is labor-intensive and higher-ticket) and commercial accounts that run year-round regardless of season.

First-year expectations

A motivated solo pest control operator can build a customer base of 80 to 150 recurring accounts in year one. At an average of $400/year per customer in service revenue, that's $32,000 to $60,000 gross. After expenses, take-home is $20,000 to $40,000 in year one.

Year two is where it gets interesting. Your existing customers renew (retention rates in pest control are typically 75% to 85%), plus you're adding new ones. By year two or three, a solo operator can realistically clear $60,000 to $90,000, and adding one technician lets you scale to $150,000+ in gross revenue.

The businesses that grow fastest are the ones that focus on route density (serving clusters of homes in the same neighborhood) and lock customers into annual agreements rather than selling one-off treatments.

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