Mosquito Squad Plus

When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/blog/2025/august/luke-cain-mosquito-squad-plus-franchise-owner-of/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-marine-corps-veteran-found-freedom-and-purpose-with-mosquito-squad-2730523" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Luke Cain</a> graduated high school in Georgia in 2001, the tragic events of September 11 shaped the course of his life. He remembers walking into a recruiter’s office and saying, “I want to go.” That moment marked the start of his journey into the Marine Corps.Cain would go on to serve five years on active duty in the Marines and another 11 as a contractor in the intelligence field. “After that time, I decided I needed to find my next thing and started looking outside of the government,” he said.That search led him to an unexpected opportunity with&nbsp;<a href="https://mosquitosquadfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-marine-corps-veteran-found-freedom-and-purpose-with-mosquito-squad-2730523" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mosquito Squad Plus</a>, the fast-growing pest control franchise under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-this-marine-corps-veteran-found-freedom-and-purpose-with-mosquito-squad-2730523" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Authority Brands</a> umbrella.&nbsp;<h2>From Combat to Entrepreneurship</h2>Transitioning from military structure to civilian life wasn’t easy. “It was completely different money and a major lifestyle change,” Cain said. “I really wanted to do things on my own and beat my own path, but after two decades of being around the government world, I didn’t have the experience to start something on my own. I didn’t even know what ROI was. I didn’t know the business side of it.”A friend from South Carolina owned a&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquito-squad/info">Mosquito Squad</a> franchise and encouraged him to look into it. “I thought it might be a good fit,” Cain said. “Someone owned the territory in my area and was willing to sell it. That’s what happened. I continued my intelligence career in tandem for a few years while I got the business going. I jumped right in after that in Augusta, Georgia.”Cain opened his first Mosquito Squad location in July 2015 and soon discovered that his Marine Corps discipline translated perfectly to business ownership. “By year three, I entered it full-time, and that forced me to really work it and expand,” he said. “That’s when it really took off.”<h2>Leading From the Front</h2>Cain approached business the same way he approached his military career — with leadership, structure and accountability. “In the Marines, you lead by example,” he said. “Any task my team is doing, I’ve done myself already.”That leadership mindset paid off. Cain not only grew his Augusta franchise but also purchased his friend’s South Carolina location, turning around its stagnant performance. “More than 80% of the employees stayed,” he said. “So with me investing the time and getting the processes and procedures in place, we grew 43% the first year.”His ability to rally and lead others didn’t stop at his own team. Around the same time, Cain joined the Franchise Advisory Council, helping to strengthen collaboration among fellow franchisees.&nbsp;“I completely jumped in at a leadership capacity and was learning along the way,” he said. “After visiting other locations, I learned a lot of best practices. We really need to learn from each other. I started contacting other owners and said we should get together. My favorite part definitely is the relationship with the other owners — I can call them my friends.”<h2>Living the Mission and Finding Freedom</h2>For Cain, the military taught him structure and dedication — skills that helped him&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquito-squad/top-5-reasons-invest-mosquito-squad-franchise-2730090#featured">thrive as a business owner</a>. But franchising also gave him something he didn’t have before: freedom.“I have a lot more time with my kids now,” he said. “I coach my kids’ football team, go on all the field trips and holiday meals at school. That was one of my reasons for franchising. I wanted my own family, and I wanted to be able to spend enough time with them.”Today, Cain’s two Mosquito Squad locations are hitting record growth, and he continues to plan for the future. “As a franchise, we’ve figured out that we are coming to a plateau and we are evolving into a full pest control company,” he said. “Figuring that part out and doing it well is the goal now.”<h2>Advice for Fellow Veterans</h2>For other veterans considering franchising, Cain’s advice is simple. “If you go into it, go into it fully,” he said. “Do what is put in place. There’s a reason it’s a franchise. Don’t try to do it your own way. There are other owners doing the same thing — take that wealth of knowledge and use those processes. You also have to put in the time.”Cain’s story reflects what many veterans find in franchising — a chance to use their leadership and discipline to build something meaningful, on their own terms. “It’s about freedom,” he said. “I’ve spent my life serving others, and now I get to do that in my own way, building something that supports my family and my community.”For more information, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquito-squad">https://1851franchise.com/mosquito-squad</a>.

veteran Franchisee Spotlight: How Marine Corps Veteran Luke Cain Built a Thriving Mosquito Squad Business

1851 Franchise

After 16 years in military and government service, Marine veteran Luke Cain applied his leadership skills to entrepreneurship, growing two Mosquito Squad franchises and creating a new life.

This brand page has been paid for by MOSQUITO SQUAD PLUS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

How This Marine Corps Veteran Found Freedom and Purpose With Mosquito Squad

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When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisabet-laferriere-8a0a5551/">Elisabet Laferriere</a> started working with her parents Gail and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-rodrigues-66537299/">Arthur Rodrigues</a> at their&nbsp;<a href="https://mosquitosquadfranchise.com/">Mosquito Squad</a> franchise in southeastern Massachusetts, she was an hourly seasonal employee answering phones. Fifteen years later, she runs day-to-day operations alongside her husband,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-laferriere-8b143a2b/">Dave</a>. And they’re beginning to introduce the next generation to the family business.“Right away, I learned that customer service is the foundation of everything. I was salesperson number one, customer service person number one,” Elisabet said. “It was on my shoulders to treat people well and earn their trust.”Neither Elisabet nor Dave had prior experience running a business. Her background was in graphic design and he was an electrician. But franchising helped them figure it out together.“We’ve had to learn every piece of running a business,” Elisabet said. “Thank God for franchising. The team behind us has been fantastic.”“I was lucky because at the beginning, I got to see from the outside: her working the business by herself in our home office,” Dave said. “It’s amazing to think what could be accomplished this way. Without franchising, it would’ve been really tough.”&nbsp;<h2>Stepping Up in Times of Challenge</h2>Elisabet’s journey from seasonal employee to franchise co-owner was shaped by challenges she was forced to weather early in the partnership. Within the first few years, Arthur, who handled fieldwork and hiring, suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fall. “I had to continue running the office, making sales and doing customer service while also stepping into his role,” Elisabet said. Gradually, she began dispatching technicians, mixing chemicals, prepping trucks, hiring staff, managing marketing and overseeing general operations.Working closely with her parents provided Elisabet with what would become a valuable crash course in management and financial oversight.&nbsp;“I observed how my dad managed a crew. I also learned by watching what not to do,” she said. “My mom taught me a lot too. She was a banker and handled our bookkeeping and budgeting. Math isn’t my strong suit, so learning QuickBooks, budgeting and cash flow was critical. I would’ve floundered without their guidance.”<h2>A New Generation Joins the Team</h2>Dave worked as a career electrician in the Boston area. Entering the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquito-squad/info">Mosquito Squad</a> fold in 2022, his arrival brought new energy to the business, immediately impacting the broader culture of the family’s entrepreneurial efforts. “We joked about me coming to work here. But, eventually, it became evident there was actually a place for me,” Dave said. “I’m mechanical and good with people. And I’ve been a foreman, so managing teams and culture comes naturally.”Elisabet agrees: “Dave turned the culture of our business around,” she said. “When he came in, he made technicians feel appreciated. And that’s been huge.”In 2023, the Laferrieres bought out Elisabet’s parents, taking full ownership of the business. That same year, their oldest son, Elijah, joined part time over the summer.&nbsp;“It's a good experience to learn work expectations while we build good humans,” Elisabet said.“Our oldest got a paycheck for part-time work,” Dave added. “We’re proud of that.”<h2>Further Building a Family Legacy</h2>The Laferrieres’ franchising journey didn’t stop with Mosquito Squad. In 2024, the family added&nbsp;<a href="https://lawnsquadfranchise.com/">Lawn Squad</a> to their franchise portfolio. Leveraging their experience, the Laferrieres have grown their partnership alongside the parent company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/">Authority Brands</a>, building synergies with the new&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/lawn-squad/info">Lawn Squad</a> addition.“When I came in, it helped us free Elisabet up to concentrate on the office side more and for me to learn a whole other business,” Dave said. “The techs are similar. They need a little more know-how on the Lawn Squad side. But it's the same business model. It's house to house. And we're using the same software for the most part. It's just a route-based business. So, it’s been great.” &nbsp; 2026 will also see further growth on The Mosquito Squad side of the couple’s business, as the Laferrieres continue their adoption of the brand’s evolution as Mosquito Squad Plus, offering an even greater array of pest control services in the new year.“We did sort of like a soft launch on a lot of those new services. But we’re full tilt in 2026. So, there's a lot more that we can do for our customers!” Elisabet said. “They've got other problems besides mosquitoes and ticks and now we can solve those.”The expansion reflects the couple’s continued commitment to both growth and service. Despite the challenges of running a family business, the Laferrieres have found a rhythm working together.&nbsp;“I love working with my wife. She’s fantastic,” Dave said. “We’re a great team and can conquer any business together.”&nbsp;<h2>Building a Legacy That Lasts</h2>Elisabet started as a seasonal worker alongside her parents and learned every part of the Mosquito Squad business. Today, she and Dave operate two Mosquito Squad units and three Lawn Squad locations in Massachusetts, bringing their children into the business as they grow.“It’s nice to offer opportunities to the next generation,” Dave said. “We don’t know if this is the path they’ll choose, so we ease them in.”“We didn’t have this plan 15 years ago,” Elisabet said. “My parents started the business as a retirement plan. Dad didn’t want to grow it big. He was happy when revenue and staffing were manageable. But, as I got better at running the business, and it grew, I realized the potential for my boys. We want to pass it down.”With Elijah now entering the family business, Elisabet and Dave continue to build a franchising legacy they can bequeath, turning a story of resilience and growth into both a retirement plan and a family franchising legacy.About Mosquito Squad Plus: Mosquito Squad® Plus' mission is to be the premier outdoor pest control company in the industry by providing state-of-the-art products and services through its best-in-class technicians and sales teams while bringing awareness to the importance of pest management to help control diseases transmitted by pests. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mosquitosquad.com">www.mosquitosquad.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.authoritybrands.com">www.authoritybrands.com</a>.About Lawn SquadLawn Squad franchising, developed from the Weed Pro brand name and system, is part of Authority Brand’s home service portfolio. Originally founded in 2001 by Rob Palmer in Ohio as Weed Pro, Lawn Squad provides expert services including fertilization, weed control, aeration, seeding, and pest management, all supported by a strong recurring revenue model. With comprehensive training, operational support, and a focus on delivering high-quality, science-based lawn treatments, Lawn Squad empowers franchise owners to enhance local landscapes while growing scalable, community-focused businesses. For more information, visit https://lawnsquadfranchise.com/About Authority Brands:Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands' companies include 14 leading home service franchise brands: America's Swimming Pool Co. Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating &amp; Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, and Woofie's. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,700 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology, and operational support. See&nbsp;<a href="http://authoritybrands.com">authoritybrands.com</a> for more information.&nbsp;

Mosquito Squad franchise, Mosquito Squad Plus, Lawn Squad franchise, Authority Brands

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How This Marine Corps Veteran Found Freedom and Purpose With Mosquito Squad

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