I have a son that would like to take a course on ADC. Thinking of turning our hobby into a job. He is well educated and currently working but thinking of getting some formal training and starting his own company. Nothing overnight or halfheartedly. If this takes a year or two to get right then that's what it takes. Any info or ideas would be greatly appreciated . Thanks all

Most of us took a leap-of-faith. Took what we knew, thought we knew and what we learned and worked hard to make it a business. LT Grey does offer training. I don't know of anyone else, other than buying a franchise, which you will be paying a percentage of your business forever. Depending on what you want to do that can be good or bad.
You have the right attitude, it takes time to establish a business. How to advertise, reading your market and what to charge are common questions. No easy answers.

The very first thing that I would check out is do you have a viable population of customers in your part of Nebraska. I would guess the best place for you to start a business would be smack dab in the middle of some city like Omaha.

Driving 30 miles to the Milwaukee area got real old, real quick. I'll never regret moving. We do four of the most populated counties in the state and a large customer base makes it easier to build a decent business.

I understand that some guys probably make a living doing predator work for large ranches but that would never work with the farmers around here. They would expect you to pay them for having so much fun catching their wildlife.

Thanks for the info guys, keep it coming. And Paul, we live just outside of Omaha, we try saving the predator work for trapping season.

There are a few of us that offer training. You will have to look and seek out those that may offer the training you need, based on the type of work you are going to do. The very best general training will come for the conferences like WCT and NWCOA. Also states like NY ,CONN and others offer some great training sessions, plus the real learning comes from the talks with others in the halls , around the dinner tables and just hanging out. the more a person subjects himself to the way others do things, the broader the person becomes. Plus just being on here and just reading what is said, if a person thinks about it, there is so much that is given out here. Also the past Podcasts done By Robb Russel is still a great resource, as is the podcasts that Mike is doing now. And starting next month I will also be doing some ADC training podcast as per request by others on my shows. Now with all that being said, The very first thing you have to look at, and ask your self, Is there a market for your intended service, with a large enough population of serviceable people in your area, that you want to do work in. There are some areas that may have human / wildlife conflicts, yet the people will do it on their own. Then there are the areas where the folks are use to using services for their needs. they are the areas you may have to go to, Paul hit the nail on the head. Also, just knowing how to do it meaning the work, is only a small part. the big part is getting the work to do.

Thanks Jonesie, I honestly Believe the Omaha area can support another ADC company. The big national chain has had a guy here for ten years now. He is usually booked 2 to 4 months out. I think he greatly over charges for everything. We are looking at trying to get some training in Bats and moles. Already doing quite a bit of private ground hog and raccoon removal. Any help would be great. Thanks again!!!!

University of Nebraska Lincoln
On-line Course - National Wildlife Control Training Program: Core Principles and Information Course and Exam

http://nebraskamaps.unl.edu/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=12794&idcategory=709

LT GREY a memeber on here trains trappers all across the country in a one on one two week course.

It sounds like you are most likely right about the area being a serviceable area, and yes on the training. One word of note. Not directed to you, but your statement just jared a thought in my bone head. I always hear of folks saying, and I use to think the same thing. They think their competition is over charging. yet the other company is booked solid, and the folks that are cheaper are not booked as much. The one danger that we as small business people fall into is pricing, what we feel is right based on what we will pay. sticker shock LOL (with most of us being fur trapper back ground , well we fall into the cheapest bunch of people out there LOL) Many will charge what they are willing to pay, the I wouldn't pay more mind set, so I won't charge more. Others feel that by being lower in cost that it will bring more work in, and on some calls it will, But most folks that are service minded people are looking for the job done right and the 10 to 20 % difference in price may not be liked, but they will go with because the person seems to know what they are doing or have the right answers. better Job results anticipated.

I had a very good friend that was a successful businessman, he said to me, to succeed in a business, that business must do the best job they can do work wise, and charge the most that the market will bare. That is hard to do for many of us in the ADC field, not the doing the best job, we pride ourself in being the best in knowing how and getting it done, but charging the most the market will bare is hard for us. The rule in the service industry, if we are not losing 10 percent of the calls based on price of the service then we are charging to low. Many companies will lose 20 to 30% of the calls because price, yet are still booked hard in certain markets. We hate losing work. but again that same friend told me, when calls are coming in go up in price that way you are not turning them down, they will weed them self out, when calls are slow, then go down in price to keep the work coming, but never go below you operating and profit costs. He also told me, the problem with small business is we take the business as a part of us, we can never separate from it. that leads to disaster.

I am sure others more qualified in business than I, will and should chime in to give as deeper look.

I sure am not more qualified, however a bit of advice. Keep very close records of your expenses. Truck cost, truck expences, Cost of all this training. Insurance, Cost of paper, stamps, advertizing, ETC. Including your time for all the paper work. I think you will be surprised at what you find.

Thanks again guys. I would get in this business but I have a body shop truck shop and I am so busy I cant see straight. Paper work and legality wise I know all to well.What does everyone do advertising wise. Dex, Yellowbook, Website,, Paper, Magazines???? Trying to think about what we can afford after the auction today.....nothing!!!! Oh well, they cant take the fun away!!!!

yeah they can LOL

come on Jonesie make me fell a little better, lie to me. I still got 200 coons 5 yotes 2 mink and a dozen beaver sittin up north. my top cat was only 230. but my reds did good. looks like we will be targeting them more this year.

well 200 coon is better than 400 LOL

Feel better?