Welcome to Pest Control License, where we give you up-to-date information and trends in the pest control and termite industries. Whether you are looking to start your own pest control business, expanding into a new state, or simply needing general information on pest control licensing, we are here to help.
While it does depend on your unique state, the process of gaining a pest control license is often expensive, time consuming, and challenging. Some state’s tests are particularly difficult to pass, and many technicians / operators end up taking the test multiple times before passing. For specific information about your state’s licensing guidelines, click on your state’s link on the right hand side of this page. If you would like to learn how to start, or expand, a pest control company WITHOUT having to get the upper-level license then check out this trick below.
Why You DON’T Have To Get A Pest Control License
Many new business owners find it easier, and more cost effective, to simply hire someone that has the pest control license they need. How does this work? You just pay someone to act as your qualifying manager. Most states require someone with several years of experience to obtain an upper-level pest control license to oversee the activities of the pest control company. For a list of states that require someone with several years of experience and an advanced license to be on the company payroll click here.
If you are hoping to start your own pest control company, the advantages of hiring on someone with an advanced pest control license are impressive. For example, by hiring someone you won’t have to spend countless hours preparing for the test. You won’t have to pay the enormous test fees, nor will you have to pay the additional fees that the state charges each year to renew a pest control license. You won’t have to pay for a commercial prep-course (most people have to take these if they want to pass the exam on the first attempt). You also won’t have to take time off of work and drive down to the testing center. By hiring someone that already has the pest control license, you can save tons of time, money, and headaches. You can literally get started within one week of finding someone to qualify your company.
How Much Will It Cost To Hire Someone That Is Licensed?
When you hire someone on that has the proper pest control license allowing him/her to qualify your company, you don’t necessary have to pay them as a full-time employee. Often times, you can find a pest control license holder that will be a bit more hands off and allow you to pay him or her as a sub-contractor. This means that you won’t have to pay payroll tax on them, unemployment, or FICA taxes (which are generally the employers responsibility to match and cost around 7% of their salary). Saving on these costs is very important. Many companies hire a pest control license holder in this manner and it works out very, very well for them.
You will usually end up paying a pest control license holder around $500 – $1000 per month. There is a service called Pest Start that actually specializes in helping new companies find low-cost license holders that can qualify their company for cheap.