How much money can you make working for yourself in pest control?

There is a living to be made in pest control if you know how to do it right, but I would rush to add that living is in no way superior to living in other occupations. As a salaried pest control technician, you rarely earn more than the average wage in the UK. If you are self-employed, you have the potential to make more but don't assume millions. All of these millions are connected to larger companies that have the manpower and infrastructure to deal with companies that have a lot of money to spend on pest control.

According to the jobs website, the average wage for a pest control technician is £22,000. Self-employed pest controllers can earn the same or much more depending on their hard work, luck and connections in the industry if they are well known.

In fact, I know a window cleaner who has few, if any, qualifications to his name who makes way more than most self-employed pest control contractors I know. How much money you make depends largely on the effort you put into an endeavor.

I know pest control companies that haven't raised the prices of pest control contracts in 20 years. Like all the industries and markets in the UK, the pest control industry has a lot of competition. There are companies large and small that struggle to customize everything they can to attract customers. Some charge ridiculously high prices and others charge ridiculously low prices.

Pest control is particularly price sensitive as no customer wants pest control - they need it and will therefore look for the cheapest in many cases. This is especially true for commercial pest control clients who will do everything in their power to keep costs low.

I should add that a lot of pest control company owners I know manage to make a living making a living out of their business, but few, if any, have the traditional trappings of the wealth like big houses or cars.

So if you have a get-rich-quick mentality it won't happen. Blood, sweat, tears, and years are all it takes to build a pest control business that amounts to a well-paid. I would add that it's worth it in the end but it's the same with any business where you graft your way to a living.

Pest control technicians need a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the various pests, practical control methods, legislation, safety protocols, and paperwork associated with all of the above. One mistake could send you to jail. I'm not joking. You usually work with products that are not available to the public, so great care and effort is required when you are in the field. At the same time, given the knowledge and experience required by a professional pest watcher and the fact that it is not an obvious career choice for most people, it is quite stable.

I would add that pest control is not a recession-proof industry, but it is stagnation-resistant. I mean pests will always be around so you will need to control them but as any pest control expert will tell you that business is an important part of the job and can take a hit in a recession. I know many pest control technicians who lost their jobs in the downturn but many have kept them too.

If you want to do it as a profession then I don't see why not. Pest control is an undervalued but very important service. In most cases, you will make a reasonable living through pest control, whether employed or self-employed, but your effort and luck will determine your results.

Are You Ready To Take Your Pest Control License? https://youtu.be/xLFGXuxJvo0