Main Target Animals in your Biz
#6603415
08/26/19 12:15 PM
08/26/19 12:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76 Lemars, Iowa
NWTrapper85
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76
Lemars, Iowa
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Second year in business so try not to ramble on too much. I do ADC work on the side of my full time job with for now until I get more business to take off. Just started doing google ads hopefully that will help. For you guys that have been around a while or new for that matter did you just say only handle 5 or 10 different animals to begin with? I started with the typical raccoons and opposums and moles, squrriels etc. I am good friends with the DNR in my area he just wants me to stick with the main fur bearing animals at this time which is fine with me. So I don't do anything with Bats, birds or reptiles, deer, livestock. Been thinking lately get rid of doing moles in biz and stick with just doing Raccoons, skunks, opposums, fox squrriels, woodchucks beaver, fox and coyote. Figure better to get good a few animals and then expand later. And yes I know I really should take some classes etc down the road to get trained on the other ones. Anyone here just do a handful of animals or even 2 or 3 and send everything else to competition? Thanks.
Last edited by NWTrapper85; 08/26/19 01:50 PM.
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Re: Main Target Animals in your Biz
[Re: NWTrapper85]
#6603546
08/26/19 05:41 PM
08/26/19 05:41 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 48 Eastern Iowa
Joe Taylor
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 48
Eastern Iowa
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Great question, and I say use a balanced approach. The more often that you tell a new customer that you cannot help them, the more you depict your business as limited and lacking competency. On the flip side, if you take jobs with animals that you have zero or very limited experience, and you provide substandard service, then that image will get out to the local public.
My suggestion is to make a ranked list of wildlife with those you feel are easiest to trap/address at the top. Look at your list and keep plugging away at the top ones to gain more experience and confidence. For those you have zero or limited experience, do your diligent research to learn more about the species and try to create opportunities to gain experience. You suggested taking class, great. Talk to friends and see if you can do some free trapping to try various traps/placements/baits. If a call comes in with a request to trap, explain that you are working to build expertise in trapping that particular species, and tell them you would consider adjusting the total bill if YOU are not satisfied with the end result. I remember doing this with deterring turkeys.
Its intimidating to take on a new species, but for my business I want to be in a position of offering services against as many local species as possible. It's challenging, but well worth it.
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Re: Main Target Animals in your Biz
[Re: NWTrapper85]
#6603563
08/26/19 05:59 PM
08/26/19 05:59 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 95 Florida
bjansma
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 95
Florida
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I only advertise for 2 species. I would rather drive 50 miles to get a raccoon out of an attic than ground trap a opossum someone saw in their backyard in my hometown. We are rather selective in the jobs that we do. I think it makes sense from a business perspective. It might make more sense for a part timer. I broke down my average revenue per job down by species. I really only want to pull an animal out of a home where there is an entry point and a chance at upselling repairs.
Bob Jansma
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Re: Main Target Animals in your Biz
[Re: Joe Taylor]
#6603617
08/26/19 06:50 PM
08/26/19 06:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76 Lemars, Iowa
NWTrapper85
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76
Lemars, Iowa
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Great question, and I say use a balanced approach. The more often that you tell a new customer that you cannot help them, the more you depict your business as limited and lacking competency. On the flip side, if you take jobs with animals that you have zero or very limited experience, and you provide substandard service, then that image will get out to the local public.
My suggestion is to make a ranked list of wildlife with those you feel are easiest to trap/address at the top.
Its intimidating to take on a new species, but for my business I want to be in a position of offering services against as many local species as possible. It's challenging, but well worth it. Thanks thats kinda what I've been doing get first time call on squrriels then get second and third job doing gets a little easier. I made a updated list on my business page mostly since using Google ads and dont want bad calls which have to pay for The more familiar animals what I do and dont do. I dont like to have people on phone if I cant help them feel bad..not sure good or bad to do that way just dont want them call and ask them kick them to someone else. I might pm you Joe if you dont mind see your in Iowa too.
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Re: Main Target Animals in your Biz
[Re: eric space]
#6606282
08/30/19 04:28 PM
08/30/19 04:28 PM
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76 Lemars, Iowa
NWTrapper85
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76
Lemars, Iowa
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For 25 years (before I retired from it) my forte' was groundhogs. We did all other animals too but my main was the groundhog. Charged a flat rate per job, not a per animal rate as we mostly used a disposable snaring system where we never saw nor handled the groundhog, he just died in the hole. Had you posted a pic in another thread on snaring them. Or was that someone else I've like to try it sometime for groundhogs.
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Re: Main Target Animals in your Biz
[Re: EatenByLimestone]
#6606284
08/30/19 04:31 PM
08/30/19 04:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76 Lemars, Iowa
NWTrapper85
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 76
Lemars, Iowa
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Bats are absolutely wonderful. The only thing we dont love doing is bedbugs. They're just skeevy. But it's a service people need. My DNR at least for now is limiting me on what they don't want me to do...not to say I couldn't get more knowledge and get qualified . But for now he says no Bats, Reptiles, Birds. So I keep the peace and follow that for now want to stay on the good side of him since he helps me line up jobs etc now on top.
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