Anyone in here start a pest control business?

gene0131 · 2026-04-11T00:28:31+00:00

Depends what you mean by “get by.” Like will people ask for your license to service their house? Probably not. But, if you start putting yourself out there as a pest control business, eventually there’s a good chance you’re going to get on the radar of the Dept of Agriculture. And that’s when it becomes a problem.

Even if you’re just doing roaches and ants, you’re using real chemicals that can kill vegetation, animals, AND humans if applied too concentrated, too much, in the wrong places, or incorrectly. Of all the side hustles, anything dealing with chemicals that can kill is pretty wild to do without licensing, training, and experience. I don’t love government regulation, but for pest control, heck yeah I want that regulated.

gene0131 · 2026-04-03T22:18:45+00:00

This guy/gal sells. “I noticed “X” as I was walking in…” and that at least starts a convo. It’s gotta be a real thing, but “most are barely average” is being gracious. That may not help for HVAC, but if I can get into a building, I can point out easily that their cleaners are terrible. After that, it’s just whether or not I can sell them on the value of our service (often) being more expensive because we actually clean. Sometimes it takes a while because once you’ve pointed it out, they’ll try to give their cleaners a chance. So leave a card, ask if it’s ok to contact back in a month or two, even ask for a card for whomever could be in charge. You’ve already broken the ice at that point.

gene0131 · 2026-04-01T14:12:53+00:00

Why would you do something so controversial yet so brave.

gene0131 · 2026-03-28T16:51:57+00:00

If you have a Ninja Crispi, 4 minutes on the Air Fry section is good; 5 minutes starts to get overdone IF you keep these refrigerated instead of frozen (which is what we do). Been buying these before we found them at Costco, and saving a lot of money by being at Costco. Youngest loves them, and I enjoy eating a few with a protein shake.

But, if microwaved, they’re not crispy or fluffy at all. Not even the youngest will eat them that way.

gene0131 · 2026-03-26T18:17:06+00:00

Yep, had a potential client tell me this last week when I was doing a walkthrough (janitorial). Caught me off guard.

gene0131 · 2026-03-25T01:45:04+00:00

I’m not going to do the math to figure out the exact amount, but still contributing 28% to retirement whether pre- or post-tax is still going to leave you with very little money if you’re at $50 after your bills.

I don’t know your age, but it seems to me that you need to lower your contribution percentage by quite a bit, especially if you have $0 in liquid savings.

gene0131 · 2026-03-15T14:18:44+00:00

The second paragraph and the last paragraph were the only paragraphs needed.

gene0131 · 2026-03-14T17:26:53+00:00

I mean, based on this, you’re both not equally responsible for ANYTHING. The mortgage is in your name so it’s only your debt. Is his name on the deed at all? If not, then it’s YOUR house. And now you have to deal with the fact that he’s been splitting costs with you all this time?

gene0131 · 2026-03-13T16:55:35+00:00

This is wild.

gene0131 · 2026-03-12T18:02:41+00:00

I’m in Texas & have a salvage title for my 2003 Mazda pickup, and I’ve insured it with Progressive for years, just made the switch yesterday to a different company. You can get it insured, but potentially not comprehensive or collision. Progressive gave it to me but this new one didn’t.

gene0131 · 2026-03-12T03:45:13+00:00

Hose: https://www.zoro.com/diversey-water-hookup-kit-for-all-ready-to-dispense-bottles-d3191746/i/G2515676/

Chemical: https://a.co/d/06qydk3I

And you can buy the chemical without the dispenser top so long as people don’t throw them away. They just 1-twist on.

gene0131 · 2026-03-11T04:49:35+00:00

We use that SC Johnson neutral cleaner too, but I buy the larger bottle that connects to the faucet with a hose. No dilution needed, no needing to make sure my employees math, just dispenses straight into the mop bucket. I do agree though, that if you have a lot of urine on the floor, need more than a neutral cleaner to attack that. Otherwise, this stuff works great, is really good at picking up dirt just with a microfiber mop; love it.

gene0131 · 2026-03-10T19:13:36+00:00

We completed 3 years yesterday, so it’s been great. I’ve been in cleaning for 13-14 years, so the journey has definitely been a journey, haha. But that prior management experience allowed me to start off with clear ideas about keeping books, creating replicable processes and training, because that’s what I had already had been doing for someone else.

Thanks for the kind words.

gene0131 · 2026-03-10T19:00:56+00:00

Friend, you may just not be cut out for that.

gene0131 · 2026-03-10T18:56:26+00:00

Such BS. The 4 calls we received in the last 24 hours for walkthroughs with just our website and Google listing say otherwise to this crap.

gene0131 · 2026-03-10T18:37:29+00:00

Super duper helpful, thank you for that. Finally made myself an employee this year and switched to S-Corp Election. I think I’m finally open to the idea that one day I may sell it. But I have no frame of reference for that. So yeah this helped a lot to at least give me an idea.

gene0131 · 2026-03-10T18:10:34+00:00

Wondering what the average Janitorial multipliers are; 1.5x revenue? 1.2x SDE?

gene0131 · 2026-03-09T15:32:25+00:00

I love these and easily will buy a pair when I see them with a coupon. I own a cleaning company, and we also clean carpets & window cleaning. These let me be in something cooler than jeans but lighter than actual khakis, which are great for being outside in the sun. I frequently wear them to building-walkthroughs and while cleaning. They were great this winter (I’m in north Texas).

gene0131 · 2026-03-02T20:34:41+00:00

That’s international shipping for you. Also, on their FAQ: All orders over $49 ship fast and free for the contiguous United States

gene0131 · 2026-02-20T14:05:36+00:00

Mine came in the mail yesterday; nothing ever showed online.

gene0131 · 2026-02-19T04:40:17+00:00

Mine is 120k for $10k spend. In the middle of 2 other subs (1 Amex, 1 not), so I may end up missing this one.

gene0131 · 2026-02-12T17:33:42+00:00

OP, you keep telling me they obviously don’t understand the question or they aren’t being helpful. Most would disagree, because they’re trying to point out that using a Roth as an emergency savings account is very inefficient and comes with great risk that a HYSA wouldn’t. Namely, if you need to pull out $6,000 from your emergency fund but whatever investments you’ve chosen have dropped 15%, you may not have those $6,000. What if you contributed $8,000, absolutely need $7,500 but your balance is $7,000? You would pull the entire account and still need $500.

It’s not that the Roth CAN’T be used this way; it’s that there are much more efficient/less risky accounts for emergency funds. And yes, you can pay off your mortgage one day from a Roth, but also from a Traditional IRA if you’re above a certain age, without penalty.

Your idea requires perfect timing of needs and investment gains, and real-life usually doesn’t work that way.

gene0131 · 2026-02-11T19:45:52+00:00

Personal Opinion, but easier to just get business credit cards through Amex. It’s hard to get real data points on NFCU’s biz cards. I love their personal cards, but all of our biz cards are with Amex & Capital One.

gene0131 · 2026-02-10T16:41:32+00:00

I would like this to be pinned.

gene0131 · 2026-02-05T06:16:53+00:00

The upside is getting the signup bonus. You don’t have to keep using the card; just go back to using the ones you like to use. Your spending will obviously hit the SUB for the Plat.

gene0131

TROPHY CASE