Mosquito Hunters Franchisee Pilots New Service Line, Humbug Holiday Lighting, with Great Success

Beth Willis has been a franchisee with Mosquito Hunters* for six years and in that time, she has doubled her territories with the brand. Much of her growth can be attributed to the multiple service lines offered by the brand, from mosquito repellent services to pest control. 

“My customers trust me and know me so they come to me first when they need additional services, which is what makes the ability to offer several service lines so great,” she said.

For her first several years with the brand, it was a seasonal business, especially given the fact that her territories cover the Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area. However, Willis is no longer limited to a seasonal model; Mosquito Hunters recently launched a new service line, Humbug Holiday Lighting, which gives franchisees even more opportunities to scale their business year round.

Willis was one of the first franchisees to pilot the new program and has already experienced impressive growth, gaining 50 new customers over the course of six weeks. The addition of this new service line has also had a positive impact on Willis’ employee retention. 

“This service line filled in the other parts of the year where I couldn’t offer my other seasonal services. Now, I am able to get better employees because I can offer full-time work and a better opportunity for them,” she said.

1851 Franchise spoke with Willis about her journey into franchising and her plans for the future. 

FEATURE QUESTIONS

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Willis: I am an entrepreneur at heart. I had a traditional job when I graduated from college and decided it was not for me. I opened an insurance agency and had it for 10 years, then I sold it. After that, I opened an online store for about five years.

Then I decided to go into franchising so I didn't have to keep reinventing the wheel. I started with Mosquito Hunters about six years ago; it was a seasonal business, so it allowed me to keep working with my online store in the off season. 

1851: How have you leveraged the multiple service lines offered to customers to help you scale your business?

Willis: My biggest tool for growth is my reputation. Spending six years with Mosquito Hunters means that people know and trust me. I have always been customer-service focused, because I hate when service people don’t call back or when they don’t show up when they say they will. That was never going to be me and my business.

My customers trust me and know me so they come to me first when they need additional services, which is what makes the ability to offer several service lines so great.

I have been able to scale my business substantially over the years. I added my second territory in year three. Year five, however, started posing some challenges for me; I felt like I kept starting over with employees, because my services were seasonal at the time. My employees would leave for the winter and sometimes not come back. Mosquito Hunters realized this was something other owners found to be challenging as well and a factor that was hindering growth. They’ve found another service line to overcome this: Humbug Holiday Lighting. This service line filled in the other parts of the year where I couldn’t offer my other seasonal services. Now, I am able to get better employees because I can offer full-time work and a better opportunity for them. 

That is one of the best things about Mosquito Hunters; they have been really adaptable and willing to grow. Sometimes it’s scary if your vision doesn’t align with a franchise brand, but Mosquito Hunters is very willing to listen and take feedback. That’s how Humbug came about because franchisees wanted something year round and it has been really great. They are approachable, and they really listen. 

1851: You were one of the first Mosquito Hunters franchisees to pilot the Humbug Holiday Lighting service line for a year. How did that go for you?

Willis: I was terrified to try it, to be honest. When I first started with the brand six years ago, I was very business-minded and confident with my entrepreneurial abilities, but I was not a pest control expert, which was the part that made me nervous. However, I just learned as I went along.

That fear came up again with this new concept because I didn’t have experience with getting on ladders and setting up holiday lighting. I was one of the last pilot franchisees to say yes because I was so apprehensive about it.

Eventually, I decided to move forward with it and, once I decide on something, I go one-hundred and a trillion percent in. I jumped in with both feet and learned as I went. I didn’t know how to measure houses accurately and how to calculate the amount of materials I would need at first. I did make some mistakes, but that’s how I learned. I got 50 new customers for six weeks of work, which I’m very pleased with.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Willis: I don’t do anything just a little bit; I do everything full force. I want to continue to grow. I hope my kids can work in this business someday.

My oldest daughter is 18 and in college, and she helps in the summer when she is home. My next oldest child is 16 and he is ready to start helping too. This will be my retirement and something I can pass down to my kids — if they are interested in taking it over — or I can sell it one day.

ABOUT MOSQUITO HUNTERS:

Before the thousands of happy clients, before the franchising, even before the incredible mustaches, Mosquito Hunters started with a single backpack sprayer and a dream. Since becoming a part of Happinest Brands, Mosquito Hunters has quickly become one of the fastest growing pest management franchises in the United States. Mosquito Hunters exists to help our customers and their pets safely enjoy outdoor living spaces by keeping the mosquitoes and ticks at bay. Mosquito Hunters makes mosquito control affordable and effective, and provides mosquito control services guaranteed by our Client Happiness Promise. Mosquito Hunters is a 2023 Franchise 500 brand, ranking no. 497 for its financial strength and stability, unit growth and brand power.