How to Build a Pest Control Team That Actually Lasts

Want to scale your pest control business beyond a couple trucks without burning out or blowing up your margins?In this episode of the Pest Empire Builder Podcast, Chad Luke from Prodigy Pest Solutions breaks down how he went from zero relationships in a new city to $9–10M in 7 years and 40 techs on the road.If you own or lead a pest control company and you’re serious about growth, this conversation is your playbook.

What You’ll Learn / Highlights

• How Chad moved to a city where he knew no one and built a pest control empire from scratch

• The exact role door-to-door sales played in getting from 0 to 50 trucks (and why it’s different today)

• Why timing, luck, and market selection matter—and how to put yourself in the “right place, right time” more often

• The turning point from “good salesman” to actual business owner (technical ops, office, and financials)

• How to use technicians in the field to grow routes with simple neighbor/“cloverleaf” tactics

• The mindset shift from “I have to do it all” to delegating and hiring smarter people than you

• How Chad uses supercars as sales incentives and why culture is a huge lever for recruiting and retention

• The hidden cost of a bad hire and why keeping good people beats trying to replace them

• Why networking with competitors and masterminds will grow your business faster than hoarding secrets

Keywords sprinkled: scale your pest control business, door to door pest control sales, pest control marketing, pest control recruiting, grow your pest control company, home service business.

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below.

Email: support@pestempirebuilder.com

Website: www.pestempirebuilder.com

What does it really take to go from ground zero to a thriving multi-truck pest control business in just three years? In this episode of the Pest Empire Builder podcast, Matt Williams sits down with Scott Sandberg, co-founder of Ruva Pest Control, to unpack the grit, mindset, and strategic decisions behind one of the fastest-growing pest companies in the Northeast.

Scott didn’t just start a pest control business, he and his two co-founders launched Ruva in a new city where they knew no one. From humble beginnings to managing a fleet of 10 trucks, Scott shares the real story behind their explosive growth, including the unexpected lessons, brutal mistakes, and mindset shifts that changed everything.

You’ll hear how Ruva broke industry norms with a unique name, why they restructured employee compensation to attract A-players, and how they’ve cultivated a high-performance culture that’s primed for multi-location expansion. It’s not just about exterminating pests, it’s about building a scalable, values-driven business that changes lives.

Takeaways:

Why aligning pay structure with company values attracts top talent

The importance of mentorship and learning from others’ mistakes

How investing back into your business is the best growth strategy

Why boundaries and personal discipline are crucial for entrepreneurs

The power of casting vision and building a leadership pipeline

"It's not the knowledge that matters, it's being able to execute on it."

If you found value in Scott’s journey, share this episode with a fellow business owner or aspiring entrepreneur. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Pest Empire Builder podcast so you never miss an episode that could change your business!

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below.

Email: support@pestempirebuilder.com

Website: www.pestempirebuilder.com

What if you moved across the country to a city where you knew no one, and built a thriving, multi-million dollar business from scratch? That’s exactly what Kyle Weaver did. In this episode of Pest Empire Builder, we uncover the mindset, marketing strategies, and deeply personal motivations that helped Kyle turn bold risk into massive reward.

Kyle shares the rollercoaster story of starting his pest control company in San Antonio, Texas, after throwing a dart at the map post-2008 recession. With zero local connections, no safety net, and just a gritty determination fueled by his door-to-door sales background, Kyle overcame massive hurdles, licensing challenges, financial scarcity, and business plateaus, on his path to success.

You’ll hear how he leveraged emerging digital marketing tools long before they were mainstream, how AI and automation are supercharging his current operations, and why personal growth and family priorities now drive every business decision he makes. It’s a conversation that’s equal parts strategy, heart, and real-life wisdom.

Takeaways:

Start Where You Are: Kyle built his business in a new city with no network, just grit, hustle, and creative problem-solving.

Tech-Savvy Scaling: From PPC to AI phone scheduling, Kyle explains how leveraging technology helped him outpace the competition.

Redefining Success: True wealth isn’t always measured in dollars, it’s the freedom to never miss your kid’s soccer game.

The Power of Mentorship: Surrounding yourself with others who are further down the path can accelerate your growth and protect your joy.

Build the Human First: Your company won’t grow past the person leading it, Kyle unpacks how personal development fuels business breakthroughs.

“My business is only going to grow to the human I am.”

Loved this episode? Share it with a fellow entrepreneur, subscribe to the podcast, and take 5 minutes today to define your own version of success, then reverse engineer your business around it.

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below.

Email: support@pestempirebuilder.com
Website