Running a pest control business means juggling appointments, hiring, customer service, financials and more. But as your business grows, so should your systems — and one of the smartest systems you can build is outsourcing.
Outsourcing focuses your in-house team on revenue-generating work, while handing off the rest of the office responsibilities to professionals who specialize in it. For many pest control companies, outsourcing can help bridge gaps without overloading the office staff or your budget.
Virtual Assistants (VAs): The Hidden Office Team — Hiring VAs to work on administrative tasks in different time zones can allow your office to function beyond the standard 9 to 5. With clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) and communication channels like Slack or Microsoft Teams, VAs can seamlessly integrate into your workflow without being physically present.
When I owned Spencer Pest, we had three VAs. They processed work orders, ran credit cards, sent invoices and statements, handled collections, scheduled appointments and sent out service reminders. This allowed our in-house team to focus on customer service and sales. Many of my clients are doing the same now, using VAs to handle behind-the-scenes tasks so their staff can focus on customer-facing work.
Talent Acquisition: Hiring Without the Headache — Finding good people takes time, which many owners don’t have in abundance. That’s why several of my clients rely on professionals like Nicole Lock. She was formerly the head of talent acquisition at Hawx Pest Control and now runs her own recruiting business. Lock writes job ads, screens resumes, conducts phone interviews and presents only the top candidates to your team. You’re not removing yourself from the hiring process; you’re just reserving your time for the most meaningful steps.
Bookkeeping: Better Numbers, Less Stress — When I switched to PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists at Spencer Pest, I saved over $75,000 annually in payroll alone. I also gained deeper insights into our financial performance.
A professional bookkeeping service doesn’t just handle your numbers; it highlights where you can improve and frees you from the stress of managing it all in-house.
Phone Answering Services: Always Be Available — Missed calls can mean missed revenue. Many pest control companies now use artificial intelligence (AI)-based phone answering solutions that handle inbound calls and sell new services. Whether you use AI or a live answering service like Grit, the goal is to ensure potential customers always reach a real solution, not just voicemail.
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About the Author
Sheri Spencer Bachman, ACE, is a second-generation pest management professional, and owner of the Pest Control Business Coach consulting firm based in Canton, Ga. You can reach her at Sheri@PestControlBusinessCoach.com.
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