Pest Control Services

About 10,000 companies provide residential, commercial and industrial pest control services in the US, with combined annual revenue of about $7 billion. Major companies include Terminix and Orkin (owned by Rollins). The The industry is fragmented: the 50 largest firms control less than 50 percent of the market. A typical pest control firm has 20 employees, one office location, and annual revenue close to $2 million.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by home sales and the occupancy of commercial and industrial properties. The profitability of individual companies depends on providing good service. Large companies benefit from brand recognition and economies of scale in advertising, franchising or backoffice operations. Small companies can compete successfully because large companies have no advantage in providing good service. Average annual revenue per employee is about $85,000.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Pest control firms - also called pest control operators (PCOs) - are in the business of identifying the presence of pests and applying poisonous chemicals to kill them. Firms hire and train employees to detect and identify pests, and to choose and apply chemicals, which typically involves certification.

Companies buy chemicals and other control systems from distributors or directly from the large number of chemical manufacturers. Chemicals are identified as general- or restricted-use, which are the more dangerous chemicals that can be applied only by a certified worker (“applicator”). Labor costs are the largest operating expense for pest control firms.

The two ...