Hey I'm going to open up a small ADC business just to go along with my normal job. I have a my book coming so I can study for the test to get my license. I was just wondering if you guys could give me any tips for getting started. Also if there is anyone here that's from Illinois that could give me some tips for the test that would be great too because the biologist I talked to said that this book I get only has 1/3 of the materials on the test and I'm just supposed to know the rest.

The test isn't too bad. A lot of it was common sense when I took it. You have to know the animal and what they are doing at different times of the year- like when do raccoons have their young. There were a few questions like when is it legal to use a colony trap or how many traps with teeth can I set. You just have to know the law and read the book. I took it 20 years ago so it has probably changed.
Getting started is easy. It's just like everything else. You get what you put into it. They will put your name and phone number on the state websites and a few others so you will get a few phone calls from that. The best way to get work is word of mouth and the next best way is to put your name in the phone book. You don't need an ad. Get some cards and go to every golf course, park dist, school dist, game warden, police dept, nursery, tree farm. Everywhere you think there would be people who could use your services and introduce yourself to them and tell them what you do and how it could help them. When you get a call treat them like your best friend and help them out. Tell them what you are going to do about their problem and then do it. Be fair and courteous and don't lie. Other people will tell their friends about you and you'll always have work. There is no secret. Business is relationships and you will have to work at it. I'm sure there are others doing what you want to do close by you so be nice to them and never say anything bad about them. Good Luck

Took mine a couple years ago. Wasn't to bad. Make sure you read the questions word for word and dont read anything into the questions. The problem I had was I read all the books that the DRN said and all were some different. I found the wed site had the best info. Good luck.

The ADC forum is the place to be . I got my license last year but didn't get started until a couple weeks ago. Get some cards or flyers with your number printed up and get them out there .You may want tp familiarize yourself with home construction so you can do the exclusion end of it. good luck

Register with google maps. Get insurance, don't go crazy on tool purchases. Have fun. I wouldn't bother with print advertising.

When I started print advertising was all I used. Business cards up on EVERY bulletin board I could find. Business cards left everywhere I went. Business cards left at every police station dispact, realty office, property management office, golf course, and landscape company within my area.

It got me work.

I still leave business cards at every bulletin board I come across but haven't had time to visit all the other places anymore. Try different things and you will find out what works for you in your area. What works for me doesn't work for others, and what works for others might not work for you. Time will tell you what works for you.

Like what was stated, DO NOT go crazy buying equipment but DO go crazy saving money so you have it when you do need to buy that expensive peice of equipment.

Good luck!

Dylan,

Once you get licensing, insurance, and some equipment...

If you have the time and consider yourself tech savvy, I recommend a web presence. A web site does not cost much to operate if you do it yourself. (less than $50 dollars a year)

It is rapidly becoming a majority's bulletin board and yellow pages. If you are not available on people's smart phones, you may miss out on calls.

There are many good books to help get started with web site building...there is a huge learning curve and a lot of trial and error. In the first days, while the phone is mostly silent and you are building good relationships, time spent learning how to build a web site is time well invested.

Nate must live in the part of Wisconsin where people can read. I don't remember ever getting a job from bulletin boards.

Well I have bad news. I got all my papers and was ready to go take my test but then I found out you have to be 18 years old. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to continue getting nuisance permits for every job. Thanks for all the advice though guys. I'll just have to wait till next year to really put it into action.

start studying now and working on getting the equipment you will need. As well as a savings account setup. I am in the midst of starting my own ADC business. My business license actually becomes valid tomorrow. But I have been doing research and getting my applicator licenses for a few months though.