I got a text message today from an aquaintance asking me how he can get his pest control and trapping license.

I laughed because I only here from this person when they want something from me (part time work, borrow a ladder, etc.).

So I asked him "Why? Do you want to be my competition?"

After a very long delay he responded "No,"

Everyone thinks this job is just about catching an animal. Nobody thinks about the countless hours that are spent doing all the other stuff that is the real work and has nothing to do with animals. In my opinion if you can't save money you have no shot at making it. Too many times I have to go buy something that costs money to do a certain job and if it wasn't for my ability to keep money in the bank I would of folded time and time again.

But "yes" I did tell him where to go to get the information he requested. There are already too many operators in this market so one more isn't going to hurt at all.

Nate had the same thing happen to me about
A week ago! He first asked if I was hiring then Went
On to ask what he all needed and what kind of
Advertising worked best and what animal was the main
Thing I have complaints for! Being in a very very
Small Market where I live I just gave him the basics on
What he needed!

Nate, please keep that idiot down by you. We have enough calls from people who hire the cheapest guy and then wonder how come the traps never get checked.

Paul,

He wouldn't make it two months. I did hear Batzner is hiring guys for wildlife. I am more afraid of these "Pest Control" companies getting into wildlife. Sure anyone can figure out if it is a squirrel or raccoon in that attic but it takes time to know if what they are hearing in the walls is bats, flyers, or mice.

I think I am departing at just the right time.

Can't teach ambition...

So true. I am all for ambition and that is why I did tell him the steps he needs to take. Competition makes us work harder to stay on top.

Not to fear Nate. Batzner had guys doing animal work more than twenty years ago and it cost them customers. This is just their idea of payback for us wildlife guys stealing so many pest customers. It just won't work. Every single pest control company ( except the little guy ) has tried animal control and failed. ( Heck, even some of the animal control companies have failed )

What I've seen over the past couple years is "desperation" businesses pop up. I think it's great when someone decides to operate their own business, but it requires serious planning, a fairly healthy investment, and then a couple years before you can expect to make your first dime.

With the flat economy (actually still sinking) many will try to start their own business as they can't find a "regular" job. People who are at the point of living paycheck-to-paycheck, or worse have lost a job and are barely hanging on, are in the worst possble situation to start a business.

Most WCO's start part-time while working a full-time job, hoping to build it to the point they can go full-time. To start full-time, it typically requires having enough money to live off of for a couple years. Everything you take in from the new business needs to be invested right back into the business, not put in your pocket.

The guys who jump in because they have a couple cages and need an income will usually be gone in a very short time period. If they have never ran a business and have no idea what the recurring costs are, it's a rude awakening. It's often the new guys who think the established WCO's charge too much, so they feel they can undercut them and "steal" all the business. Doesn't take long to end up in the red using that type of thinking.

Very good post, Mr. Scheller. When I first went full-time I was not surprised at the money I made, but the money I spent was a shocker!

Yup,

When you figure what goes out monthly between phone bill, internet bill, truck notes, insurance, fuel costs, supplies, advertising, accountant fees, it adds up fast.

Good topic and good post, I had a call about a month back wanting to know how I my business for pigeons is structured?
I'm still not sure he got the answer he was looking for, but it was an interesting couple of minutes.

I'd agree with everyone who stated it is easy to see the upside from the sideline, but once you commit you better have the
fortitude for the hardship that comes with making it real. A bachelor with no family, wife, etc...may be able to (if business
inclined) to suffer through much more than folks supporting families, but for most, the stress of making it isn't just on
the guy/gal in the field, but their whole lineage!

Every job I acquire is one step closer to being where we want to be, but each year is a long time and I'm still learning every
day what each day needs to be spent on to make strides forward in this industry.

Thanks for sharing, a thread like this is a good one for all the folks who lurk or read thinking this industry is a slam dunk
way to make a good living.

Justin

Completely understand. I have news media asking for interviews and friends. I don't give them much help. I don't do TV interviews anymore since it probably would not help me much and only get others interested in it. You don't need more competition. Animal Control companies are few in number compared to most other companies.

They dont think of the cost of workman's comp, insurances, gas, etc. What helps me in most of my accounts is the fact that I am licensed and insured. Most are not insured. Most companies will not allow anyone to do work unless insured.

Missouri requires no license, test or permit of any kind to do WC. As far as I know, that's unique or very rare. Any clown with a pickup and a couple of traps can "go into WC" here.
It's because of states like us that NWCOA exists.

Dave Wisconsin only requires a Trapping license and they give that to anyone who applies.

I like not having outrageous regulations and big brother breathing down our neck. The fact that Critter Control requires its franchisees to be members of NWCOA and 85% of the jobs I go "FIX" are from Critter Control of Madison should speak volumes (but that is a topic for another thread).

In Michigan, you apply for a permit at no cost, but must keep records of your catches,and report every three years. But the wildlife Div. is being pushed real hard by someone to have fee, testing for everyone at the expense of the permit holder. I have a good idea, but not sure. But it is not from people in Michigan. Not sure of the out come.

The MI thing died....unfortunately.

Dave I just talked to the special permit advisor
For wildlife control! She said that in February or march
They were going to be holding another meeting To
Re evaluate the new law! So maybe it's still in the works
For 2013

Ron,that is exactly what we figured when we went "full time". Two years of no "household" income from me. But I think the biggest reason that we were able to succeed in this bisiness is because I was lucky enough to have a wife that has never wavered in her support.

I know a few guys who would like to see a testing system here in Wisconsin and while I am against it personally I know it is popular among a lot of the established guys in the field. I think I am highly outnumbered on this topic.

I personally just can't understand why you would want the Government telling you what you can and can't do? Especially when HSUS and other groups "WILL" have an influence in that decision. Just makes no sense.

Like Paul always says on these forums. Wisconsin has some of the fewest rules and some of the fewest issues.

Well...I am certainly not in favor of the government being in our business. Small government is best...but is that the direction that the country is going? If a group is going to get regulations established, wouldn't you want it to be a group from our industry?

There are enough poor operators, that regulation is inevitable. Running any business is tough for most. Wildlife control is complicated enough to make it even more challenging. Good trappers are not always good business men - and vice versa. But, if you do not value or pursue training, how can you improve? Many probably flounder around, and the public suffers.

In my opinion, established companies want the regulations so that we can get better competitors and establish more credibility in the industry. Stronger competitors rises the bar for established businesses....and makes you a better company. Imagine a world with only Ford vehicles....we would still be driving model T's....

In Oregon a free permit is required But, you have to take a test from a 90 chapter manual, score 80% or better, be approved by the area odf wildlife biologest where you want to work, monthly trapping report. Some outlaw WCO's don"t know all this is required.

But there is where I believe you are wrong Dave.

The regulations will "NOT" be determined by "US" the regulations will be determined by them. NWCOA can show up and push for whatever they want but when politicians look at the numbers (2000 +or- for NWCOA) or (500,000 +or- for HSUS) who do you think they are going to listen too? So you are hurting the industry by starting the fight.

Sure you might get what you want (a test and have to pay a fee) but you will also get what you don't want and what HSUS does want. Look to the other States and see what is happening there.

Do you think I like seeing Critter Control driving down the freeway with cages piled up higher than the ladder rack and a raccoon sitting on top fully exposed in a thunderstorm? NOPE! Or how about the 19 jobs I did this year that Critter Control left babies (both squirrel and raccoon) in the attic to die and stink the whole house up because its their policy they don't go into attics. But they are a huge sponsor of NWCOA who is pushing for these regulation changes. And I am pretty sure Critter Control has training and probably annual training for their franchisees. So this whole "better competition through training" is garbage.

This fight will some day make it to Wisconsin and I hope I am long out of the Industry when that happens or else I will be up front fighting against the organization I have been a member of. And I am pretty sure that will raise some eyebrows on why its own members are fighting against them.

Nate, the cool thing about Wisconsin is that we are so proactive. I'm pretty sure that we've had a test that has just been waiting in the wings for enough money in Madison to do the testing. This is our test and if you're a moron you won't get a license. We don't plan on changing any of the rules and if your doing ADC work for anything other than money, you won't need a license. It's not something that we are pushing but if any outside group starts anything, we are ready.

I know I have heard that the test WWCOA put together isn't designed to keep competition out, instead it is designed to just prevent the true customer from coming in contact with the guy who is trapping for a six pack.

Without nwcoa type laws in WI, there is a void to fill by outside influences.

Outside influences have much more influence than NWCOA does or ever will. That goes for any and every State in the Union. Anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. Money and numbers talk and NWCOA don't have either one compared to the other groups.

Maybe someday that will change but it won't be in my lifetime. It is only a matter of time before you will be told how to do your job by HSUS. And as long as NWCOA is pushing States to come up with Regulation they will be influenced by HSUS and that is a fact.

hmmm.... interesting

So if nwcoa does nothing the other groups will go away?

No. It's a case of, no matter what NWCOA does the other groups will never go away.

of course not. But as in my State the other groups are doing nothing and that is because "nobody" is doing anything. But as soon as "ANY" group starts something those "other" groups will make sure they are heard.

Sometimes no action is the best action of all.

This thread was not supposed to be turned into a NWCOA thread and I don't know how it took that turn but it has gotten WAY OFF COURSE!!!

Sometimes a strong offense, is a good defense. But, I suppose everyone has their own opinion. Time will tell...

Very true Dave. I know we will never see eye to eye on this subject and all I can do is hope that the organization doesn't take their agenda nationwide. I would hate to have to fight against a organization I am a member of.

I hope NWCOA grows and gets strong and someday can fight against HSUS and the other groups but that day is long away and I think until that day comes they need to stay defensive not try to be offensive.

Thomas Jefferson said: I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. A wise man!

Yeah, taxes are no good.

I have to agree with Nate from Wi. It is not the people that are being service by ADC operators that are complaining about poor service. It is from out side sources. This came from the Dept. of Wildlife. I am only guessing, but I would say it is from full time ADC operators and business men.
I am one of those small operators. Just a few raccoons, skunks etc. Moles are my bread and butter.
I am retired. My over head is low. No workmen's comp, insurance for myself and employees etc.
I will tell you this, and I am 100% sure, that if and when you open up regulation for public comment the HSUS,PETA or some other group will be sitting right there. I am a member of a group
of sportsmen that had regulation in 1975, the regulation were 6-8 pages. Over the years, the same small group of sportsmen have regulation that are 22 pages long. Nothing and I mean nothing can be change unless
it is approved by this outside group. One of the importuned item in the regulation took 23 years to get past these people. One of the thing that the Wildlife Div. does not know is demographics of the permittees. This should have a big effect on regulations. The old saying money talks and shi$$ walks
I will not be around to many more years. As I see it we the (ADC) are our worse enemies. JMO