Pest Control

[Jaggsy 25]

Ok chaps could be a tough one this i'm really looking for some guidance....i'm seriously thinking about setting up my own pest control business and have been offered a 400 acre site on a contractual basis, main pest species there are feral pigeons, seagulls and crows (with Canada geese and widgeon in the autumn)....how would you go about quoting for this and preparing an offer letter? ..

 

any advice greatly appreciated

 

TIA

 

Martin

[jembo 0]

I think you need to ask yourself some questions in order to quote:

1) how long is the contract for

2) is it dependant on seasons

3) how much of your time will it take

4) are you expected to be there everyday

5) are you expected to do the pest control alone

6) will this be your only contract

7) how much in real terms do you need to earn

travelling time / expenses

9) if you are setting up a buisness you will need to provide invoices etc so you need to incorporate administration time

10) you will also need to think about insurance - such as public liability.

 

Hope this helps!!!!

 

Good luck

[moley 115]

Ok chaps could be a tough one this i'm really looking for some guidance....i'm seriously thinking about setting up my own pest control business and have been offered a 400 acre site on a contractual basis, main pest species there are feral pigeons, seagulls and crows (with Canada geese and widgeon in the autumn)....how would you go about quoting for this and preparing an offer letter? ..

 

any advice greatly appreciated

 

TIA

 

Martin

 

you will never set up a succesful buisness on one contract , but go for it , you gotta start somewhere, your gonna need risk assesments , insurance ,method statements and qualifications to name just a few,before you even think about a quote, sorry to knock the wind out ya sails , but nothing these days is as straight forward as some may think,everyone want reams of paperwork these days, i had to do all the above plus more, just to catch a few rabbits on some water board land last year, its a long story

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Martin; In order to get a better mental picture of what everyone's on about here mate; Go HERE, to Killgerm and have a mouch about their on line catalogue. That'll show ye what essential bits of kit might cost ye to start with. It's expensive, in a word!

 

Then, contact them and ask for their catalogue and see if they'd be so kind as to allow ye copies of their two Training Litrature booklets, " ADVICE for people involved in or setting up in pest control " and " Pest Birds ". Also, I can't too highly reccomend the absolutely superb Air Weapons ~ Safe Handling courses they arrange. Best day out I've had without sex involved!

 

Best of luck.

[FPO 0]

one other point worth considering, It is one heck of a commitment for you, but if you are in a relationship it also needs 100% comitment and support from that person. There are the weekends booked free, then another important customer rings! So long as you have the understanding of a partner then as everyone else has said do some reading up and go for it. You will probably find from time to time you seriously underquote, but its all part of that wonderful learning curve! In the first few years it definately helps to have another job to fall back on. Also ask yourself with this job is what the customer wants achievable, no point putting in hours of time and money, if the customers goal is not realistic

 

All the best! - A Pesties other half!

[mole catcher 1]

Ok chaps could be a tough one this i'm really looking for some guidance....i'm seriously thinking about setting up my own pest control business and have been offered a 400 acre site on a contractual basis, main pest species there are feral pigeons, seagulls and crows (with Canada geese and widgeon in the autumn)....how would you go about quoting for this and preparing an offer letter? ..

 

Ask yourself this big question first.Q1, do you have the skills and desire to work full time as a pester?

If the answers yes go to question 2. if not go out and gain them

Q2, Do i have enough knowledge of the laws regarding the pest speices and methods im going to persue ?

if yes goto Q3, if not go out and gain them

Q3, will my life style allow me to work as a full time pester and will i have my familys support?

Now that is where most bussinesses of any sort fail, because they dont have the support of the family unit. sit down and talk with the wife and kids, explain cash flow will need monitoring and adjusting and get them involved in some way and all work together.

Q4 do i have the skills to run a bussines?

Paperwork is the one thing that bogs down most forms of bussines and running your own bussines is full of office time, mostly time that should be spent with the wife and kids. There are some great courses that cost nothing to attend run buy the local employment office. visit your local dole office and ask about free start up bussines courses, you will be amazed just how much is out there and costing nothing.

Q5, how much is it going to cost to set up?

start off small, work at it and be honest in what you hope to achive. I started my bussines up years ago with 134 quid in the bank and many yrs later im still trading after having no overdrafts or loans to repay within that time.

 

I think it is only after you have asked yourself a few questions like those above that you will need to worry about how to go about putting out tenders for the work, and like ive said, get yourself on a bussnes start up course and they will teach you how to go about it.

 

good luck in reaching your goals

 

Ps, have a look in some of the earlier threads as this is becoming a popular question subject.

[Jaggsy 25]

Many thanks for those valuable replies (and especially for that link Ditch)...much appreciated

 

Martin

[Vermin Dropper 2]

Good link that Ditch,

 

I've just had their catalogue of training cources arrive, I like to think I'm quite proficient at what I like to do, but having the qualifications to prove it will certainly help, also widening ones horizons to cover day to day bread n butter jobs is the way to go me thinks

[Jaggsy 25]

Point's above acknowledged but lad's you'd be amazed! (or maybe you wouldn't) but i know of guy's who work for 'major' pest control companies pissing about on rooftops without informing the Police in an attempt to reduce feral pigeon numbers having shot an air rifle (once or twice) and go under the grand title of 'qualified' and 'technician' .... seriously there's some pretty poor practice going on out there

 

Having said that although i take on board the points made about difficulties and obstacles i think its important to remain positive and optimistic about any change of direction in life

[mole trapper 1,693]

There are a lot of cowboys in the pest control world, lots without qualifications, insurance etc.

When they f..k up they do it big time, then they get proper fu..ed by allsorts of official gouvernment bodies and legal teams. OH DEAR WHAT A SHAME, did that sound sincere enough. :whistle: .

 

Get qualifications or get on the front page and the telly, simple really.

[Vermin Dropper 2]

There are a lot of cowboys in the pest control world, lots without qualifications, insurance etc.

When they f..k up they do it big time, then they get proper fu..ed by allsorts of official gouvernment bodies and legal teams. OH DEAR WHAT A SHAME, did that sound sincere enough. :whistle: .

 

Get qualifications or get on the front page and the telly, simple really.

 

 

Did anyone see the cowboy pest controller on "House of Horrors" recently??

what a joker he was

[mole trapper 1,693]

There are a lot of cowboys in the pest control world, lots without qualifications, insurance etc.

When they f..k up they do it big time, then they get proper fu..ed by allsorts of official gouvernment bodies and legal teams. OH DEAR WHAT A SHAME, did that sound sincere enough. :whistle: .

 

Get qualifications or get on the front page and the telly, simple really.

 

 

Did anyone see the cowboy pest controller on "House of Horrors" recently??

what a joker he was

 

I rest my case.