With trapping moles I run a 30 day service, so after catching on avg 1-3 moles all the activity has stopped within that first week . I check the property till the end of the 30 days with no change but 2 weeks later they are getting tunnels again? In everyones opinion is that new moles that moved in or ones that were deep, and would that be a continuation of 30 day or new service.
This is the first year that I have ran into this. It is driving me crazy and I hate call backs.

I am wondering if extending my service time would help this? or changing back to per mole with a heavy setup?

The topic of flat rate vs set-up/per capture fee will always be debated. Check the archives as I think this was lightly discussed in the last few months. My service fees are listed on my website if that helps any and I'm sure others have listed their fees as well. JUST KEEP IT PROFITABLE... ;-) As far as call backs I will always expect some as other nearby moles will likely recolonize the abandoned tunnels.

As far as call backs I will always expect some as other nearby moles will likely recolonize the abandoned tunnels.

"This quote is a fact."


Moles depending upon ground conditions and time of year can be deep or spending time with a litter for several days or a week or more at times that they dont venture up to the more shallow runs.

What ever attracted the first mole wil attract the new mole . It's just new moles moving in . I offer a 1 year or per mole . Sometimes I only get one mole in a whole year and other jobs they just keep coming and I loose money on them jobs but it works in the end . If it was up to me that's all I would do is moles . July is when I really start getting most of the mole jobs . If we get a lot of snow over the winter and the ground doesn't freeze up to much . As soon as the snow melts there will be excavation mounds all over and I'll gets lots of calls then . But July is the biggest month because people are watering there lawns and the woods will be getting dry . And the young moles start in to

I guess one of the issues that I am running into is whole way to price, if I was charging by the mole till caught 8 in one 3/4 acre yard. After that I moved to a flat rate for 30 day service to cover me for a whole month. The other thing is I dont understand the warrenty thing if you offer a year warrenty where you are getting a new batch of moles invading every couple weeks from the neibors then your not making any money unless you make the upfront cost out of mind.
As far as the 30 day services, after 30 days do you go back for per mole and if so how long?

Thank you for everyones input

I almost always sell a one week program. One week is plenty of time to catch the moles. Set heavy for a week and get out. I give no warranty. If they have more later it will generally be one or two and don't always need a one week program to remove them. I'll cut the price and time frame to get any more that come in. How often are you checking the traps on a 30 day program?

1 year service....once the activity stops...pull traps. No charge to reset....they just call you if they see activity.

On the 30 day service I set heavy the first week and check traps 2 times and most of time after that week all the activity has stopped and it's just going back 1 time a week till the end of the 30 days.

If you offer longer term....but shift some responsibility to the customer....it is a win win.

I do a set up fee which includes the capture of the first mole. Mole #2 on is per mole fee. The set up fee is good for four months, which will cover the next or any migrations, but they still pay the per mole fee. I'm good and real quick at catching moles, so if they had a large population of moles that I caught quickly I'll typically not charge a set up fee if I have to come back five months later.

Sometimes it helps to look at things differently. Who says you need to warrenty for moles? Why not have a service agreement for a set term....then pay per mole. In this manner, you collect a up front set up fee to cover your initial inspection....then they pay for performance.

I never have used the word warranty on a mole job before . I do just like Dave ,I come out wack your moles . If you get more give me a call and I'll come back and wack them . That's for the one year . I don't really like selling them a one year . But there's this other company that was taking to many of my mole jobs that offered a 1 year so I have to offer it . The more I try to tell people that there better off to go per mole the more they want the 1 year . It's wierd . It's like reverse sallmans ship or something

Wco's need to start thinking like Pco's. There is value in having long term customers.

Looking up the definition of warrenty and guarentee is an enlightening read. There are differences...

Ok Dave what's a pco

Pest control operator.

This is my fourth year for my company and have tried several methods. For my residential accounts I have finally determined the 30 day service works for me. I walk the property with the customer and estimate the number of moles on his property then I multiply that by $75 and that is his fee for 30 days. My minimum is $150 and I explain to the customer about how moles are territorial and once I kill the current moles they might have another come in. Once I catch the current moles I leave a note saying they are mole free and when their 30 days expire. It is understood I do not comeback unless they call me, I explain that I have too many customers to check on each one every week. Naturally I have accounts that the moles are continually coming back and I give these customers the option of having a annual plan. The annual plan is two times the 30 day account plus $100, so the minimum is $400.

My customers seem happy with this program and I don't get the dreaded cheats who will empty your traps and reset so they don't have to pay for the per mole fee. I even had one who left his out of sight grips on the porch steps,. this guy was a Surgeon.

Some of you fellas work alot more reasonably then I can in my business. We sell a 7-10 day trapping program initially for around $400.00 > $500.00 then give a 30 guarantee if the area isnt bordering alot of potential call back threats. If potential call backs appear to be eminent then we will allow one additional set up with one check to round out the program. Beyond that our seasonal programs vary from $900.00 > 1500.00. Habitat and size of the area to be serviced,distance traveled etc. all determine pricing.

You are correct Bob. I did an unscientific study on my prices. Not including travel time I calculated that I do mole work for $30 an hour. I don't push mole work anymore, so the mole jobs that I do take I fit around my more lucrative work, a time filler so to speak. I actually explain that to my mole customers. You may see me in a few days or it may be next week, just depends on how busy I am. Even working this cheap I only land 1 in 5 mole jobs. I bet the guy around here that charges $15 a mole with no set up lands a lot more!