Turn it up to 11: PMP’s 2020 State of the Industry Report

Turn it up to 11! PHOTO: ISTOCK.COM/THINGLASS

Pest management professionals (PMPs) will be giving it their all in 2020, as they rock on to another year of projected high revenue and strong profits.

Pest Management Professional’s (PMP’s) 2020 State of the Industry survey shines a spotlight on the pest control industry. Of those asked, 93 percent said their outlook for next year is optimistic.

Revenue will be up, according to 88 percent of respondents.

Net profits will rise as well, said 86 percent of the PMPs asked. Even better, none of the PMPs who answered our survey this year expect profits to be down.

Scott Elsner, owner of BayPest Solutions in DePere, Wis., projects higher revenue and profits for 2020 because the company’s involvement in pest management associations exposes him to new and emerging ways to control pests. Strong ties to suppliers and vendors help, too.

“The services we offer will help drive our revenue and net profits for 2020,” he says. “We believe that being committed to exceeding customer expectations one job at a time builds our team, net profit and revenue.”

The company, which offers general pest control to residential and commercial customers, services farms as well. In addition, Elsner publicizes his rodent control services separately on his company’s website. Smart move, as rodent management ranks second in survey respondents’ top revenue-generating services, after ant management. Cockroaches, termites and other wood destroying insects (WDI), and bed bugs round out the Top 5 revenue-generating pests.

“2020 will be a banner year partly because we strive to provide top-quality services,” Elsner says.
 

Touring the country

Some pests are more prevalent in parts of the country than others, and that can have an impact on profits. Todd Barber, president of Barber’s Best Termite and Pest in Tallahassee, Fla., counts mosquito control among his top profit-generating services.

“Florida has an ever-increasing population, and given our tropical climate, there is always pressure from unwanted pests. This provides PMPs with an excellent opportunity,” he says. “We have seen growth in all of our treatment programs in 2019, and we look forward to what 2020 has in store.”

Certainly, PMPs who make a name for themselves in their communities reap the rewards of a successful business. Jim Harmon, president of California Pest Management in San Dimas, Calif., says marketing efforts are paying off, generating more company and brand awareness.

“We are starting to see results with call-ins for new service requests up 45 percent this summer — and still on the rise,” he says. “This will set the stage for an additional 17 percent anticipated growth in revenue.”

Equipment and materials are essential to every pest control business. PMPs who responded to our survey said that in 2020, they intend to pony up for bait stations, insecticides and green products. They also plan to invest in sprayers, hoses, dusters, vehicles and the accessories that go with them, as well as safety gear, our survey says.

“Our fixed costs for operations actually have been lower this year, and will be lower next year too, thanks to our efforts working with our insurance providers for both vehicle and workers’ compensation coverage,” Harmon says. “This included additional worker training in a much wider array of safety topics, driver safety and professional service.”

Coming soon: Learn more about PMPs’ expectations for 2020. Our exclusive 2020 State of the Industry supplement, sponsored by Bell Laboratories, features benchmarking data, infographics and analyses that shine a spotlight on key pest management industry trends and projections.