Mosquito Hunters

Many people who look into franchising love the prospect of becoming their own boss, and this was no different for Army veteran-turned-<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=casey-and-jessica-reed-of-mosquito-hunters-ready-to-go-from-the-army-life-to-the-franchisee-life-2711521" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mosquito Hunters</a> franchisee Casey Reed and his wife, Jessica.The former Chief Warrant Officer was less than a year away from retiring from his 21-year career with the Army when he learned about <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/latest-stories.html">Mosquito Hunters</a> in December of 2018. FranNet consultant Amanda Berry briefed Reed and other retiring Army colleagues about the world of franchising while they were still on base in Fort Knox, Kentucky.&nbsp;“The Army has a pretty exhaustive, comprehensive program to help transition soldiers into civilian life and a lot of that has to do with résumé-building and looking for what we’re going to do for the next chapter of our lives,” Reed said. “What the consultant did was pair retiring and transitioning soldiers and military personnel with potential franchises and educate us on the process.”&nbsp;The lifestyle opportunities for a franchisee stood out the most to the Reeds, especially when it came to having job autonomy and spending more time with family.&nbsp;“What Amanda briefed us on was everything I was looking for in future employment,” Reed said. “I wanted a little bit of freedom and autonomy, to stay at home and not travel so much. I wanted to come home every single night and eat dinner with my wife and kids like a normal family and be my own boss.”&nbsp;The Reeds signed their Mosquito Hunters franchise agreement in February.&nbsp;“We purchased while still being active-duty,” Reed said. “I had six months left before retirement, so we purchased knowing we’d do a delayed start.”As a mother to five children and as a spouse who navigated the Army life alongside her husband for many years, Jessica is more than prepared for her family’s new enterprise.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I’ll be doing the spraying and operations, at least to start, and she’ll be the one really running this thing and keeping me on track,” Reed said of his wife. “She’ll be doing a lot of the scheduling and the books. I like to say she’ll be the brains.”The Reeds looked at a total of five different franchises but it was “very apparent” from the start that Mosquito Hunters was <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/the-top-5-reasons-a-mosquito-hunters-franchise-makes-business-sense-in-2019-2709386">a standout opportunity</a>. Since its founding, Mosquito Hunters has earned recognition as a competitive and affordable franchise option. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/why-mosquito-hunters-is-a-dream-business-for-franchise-prospects-2707761#trending">Its low cost of entry, simple business model and recurring revenue stream</a> are just a few reasons as to why it is considered a great investment. In May of 2018, the brand partnered with the more established franchise <a href="https://lawndoctorfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=casey-and-jessica-reed-of-mosquito-hunters-ready-to-go-from-the-army-life-to-the-franchisee-life-2711521" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lawn Doctor</a>, which has been around since the mid-1960s, further increasing its reach and scope.&nbsp;Mosquito Hunters also has a significant offering for Reed and his fellow veterans: The <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-provides-franchise-discount-to-military-couple-to-begin-next-chapter-of-civilian-lives-2708221">brand offers military veterans</a> and first responders $10,000 off the franchise fee.&nbsp;Throughout the discovery process, Reed especially enjoyed the conversations he had with members of the Mosquito Hunters Franchise Development team.&nbsp;“They had answers for every question I had and they were true answers, not what he thought I wanted to hear,” Reed said. “I felt like Mosquito Hunters was a real organization with real people and they had real stories. I didn’t want to get swayed into making this decision. Our talks were very educational and there was no pressure.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vetfran.org/for-veterans/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=casey-and-jessica-reed-of-mosquito-hunters-ready-to-go-from-the-army-life-to-the-franchisee-life-2711521#veterans-and-franchising" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">According to VetFran</a>, an organization that educates veterans about the benefits of franchising and also educates franchisors about the benefits of involving veterans, veterans leave the service with strong leadership skills and an understanding of teamwork, positioning people like the Reed family for success. Veterans account for 7% of the U.S. population, but 14% of franchisees are vets, according to VetFran.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Reeds’ Mosquito Hunters will be located in Boerne, Texas, about a half-hour drive from San Antonio, and is scheduled to open in the spring of 2020. Their Boerne Mosquito Hunters will also service the nearby cities of Spring Branch and Bulverde.&nbsp;The decision to franchise in Boerne was a strategic one. Reed noted that Boerne is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. While Boerne has general home service offerings, there isn’t anything specifically related to mosquitos.&nbsp;The Reeds are open to the idea of expanding with the brand and opening more territories, but for now, they are focused on getting their first location off the ground.The Reeds just purchased a house in Boerne, so they’re not yet <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-recent-female-franchising-force-is-taking-the-market-by-storm-2710182">fully integrated into the community</a>, but they do plan to be heavily involved. This includes becoming members of their local Chamber of Commerce and getting involved through their church.&nbsp;Reed believes the brand will be well-received in his market, especially considering the warmer weather. ”The length of our season here is going to be much longer than the average because there’s definitely <a href="https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/san-antonio-listed-as-one-of-top-25-cities-with-most-mosquitoes?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=casey-and-jessica-reed-of-mosquito-hunters-ready-to-go-from-the-army-life-to-the-franchisee-life-2711521" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">a mosquito issue in my territory</a>,” Reed said.&nbsp;The Reeds also plan to get their five children involved in their new franchise venture.&nbsp;“We’ll spend a lot of Saturdays at farmers’ markets; really wherever we can get the whole family involved,” Reed said. “I’m also pretty heavy into volunteering with youth sports and that can be paired up nicely with the franchise. We can get a bunch of little 8-year-old soccer players with Mosquito Hunters-sponsored shirts.”&nbsp;Reed anticipates he and Jessica will enjoy the franchisee life.&nbsp;“I think it’s going to be a very good business marriage because, for the better portion of my career, I’ve had the ability to work both on my own and as part of a team a lot in the military,” Reed said.&nbsp;He feels that a franchise opportunity like Mosquito Hunters is a great opportunity for military veterans.&nbsp;“What a lot of soldiers, especially retired soldiers, bring to the table is the work ethic and the understanding that what we put into it is what we get out of it,” Reed said. “It’s going to be successful based on the sweat coming off of the brow.”The startup costs for a Mosquito Hunters franchise range from $70,107 to $85,903. The franchise license fee ranges from $25,000 to $35,000. To learn more about franchising with Mosquito Hunters, visit <a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=casey-and-jessica-reed-of-mosquito-hunters-ready-to-go-from-the-army-life-to-the-franchisee-life-2711521" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/</a>.

Casey and Jessica Reed of Mosquito Hunters Ready To Go From the Army Life to the Franchisee Life 

1851 Franchise

The newly-retired Chief Warrant Officer and his wife will open their Mosquito Hunters franchise in the spring of 2020 in Boerne, Texas. 

This brand page has been paid for by MOSQUITO HUNTERS. 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

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Following a decades-long corporate career in global sourcing and green energy,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-lopez-48a785377/">Gina Lopez</a> began considering a pivot. She wanted financial freedom, but having risen to the leadership level, any corporate career move would likely require relocation, and she was determined to stay in Greenville, South Carolina. So, she turned to franchising.“What really triggered us to look at business ownership was that we wanted to have more control over our destiny from a financial perspective,” she said. “I had learned quite a bit about scaling businesses, making and keeping them profitable, even in tumultuous times, so I felt like I had the skills I needed to do it on a smaller business scale.”After connecting with&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a>, the parent company of&nbsp;<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/">Pest Hunters-Mosquito&nbsp;</a><a href="https://humbugholidaylighting.com/">Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting</a>, Lopez completed a thorough due diligence process before deciding to bring&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a> to her community.“We spent several months having conversations, going through due diligence — all those things,” she said. “I really liked that Happinest had a growth objective. They intended to continue to expand their brands and service offerings, so I felt like it was a good place to land.”“At&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a>, we combine decades of franchise expertise with a commitment to continuous innovation,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmartinfranchisedevelopment/">Eric Martin</a>, senior vice president of franchise development. “By leveraging technology, automation and data-driven systems, we’re helping franchisees operate more efficiently, improve customer experiences and scale smarter — while still maintaining the personal, community-focused service that defines our brands.”Since launching, Lopez has leaned into this growth objective as a part of the larger Happinest system and within her own business, embracing new technologies, staffing strategically and taking advantage of opportunities for additional visibility where possible.<h2>Leveraging AI and Automation</h2>As she has grown, Lopez has taken a strategic look at where technology can step in, as well as where it absolutely shouldn’t. By staying on the cutting edge of technology, Lopez learned early on that there were tools available to help her clear the all-too-common hurdle of working&nbsp;in the business rather than&nbsp;on it.By considering where technology can augment the business and team’s performance, rather than replacing the people themselves, Lopez has established a cost-efficient operating model for today and set the stage for long-term scalability within the business.“I’ve leaned into automation quite a bit,” she said. “It’s a pretty good substitute for adding people for about 80% of cases. And it’s kind of a natural evolution for a business like this to integrate some of these things because it’s really how people are used to behaving now… They’re no longer making phone calls; they’re sending inquiries online. They’re used to chatbots.”As the technology develops, Lopez is also keeping a close eye on the data it yields, using it to make smart decisions for the business.For example, she built an AI agent that can generate 90-day cash flow forecasts and acquisition plans. She performs detailed return-on-investment analysis on additional fleet vehicles at specific revenue points to ensure her expansion is backed by real data.“Business is a combination of taking your own knowledge and leveraging AI, and some of that is just a gut check,” she said. “For me, the AI analysis is typically confirmation of what I was thinking anyway, but with real numbers and a tangible business plan that I can look at and say, ‘Okay, am I executing to this?’”While the tools and technology have been key to her success, Lopez’s commitment to the human element remains an important part of her strategy.<h2>Prioritizing Connections, Locally and Nationally</h2>Having created a strong baseline with the Hunters-Humbug system and her own technology integration, Lopez has been able to focus even more closely on the interpersonal aspects of the business. From networking locally to contributing to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bhg.com/home-checkup-after-winter-11931911">Better Homes &amp; Gardens article</a>, Lopez keeps her focus on the visibility and relationships that will drive the business.“Leaning into networking and becoming an active member of the community has been so valuable for me,” she said. “Having worked in corporate America, my network was global, but this is a different network now. I’m really leaning into different business networking groups and fellow business owners to find opportunities to increase my sphere of opportunity. As the owner, you’re the face of the business, and you have to build a reputation through relationships.”As she looks toward the future, Lopez is leveraging the three-pillar revenue model that includes mosquito control, pest control and holiday lighting. With a blend of AI-driven efficiency and a real commitment to her Greenville community, Lopez is building her business and securing her family’s future.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters.">https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters.</a>&nbsp;

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<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise&amp;utm_medium=referral%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20Elite%20Window%20Cleaning%202-minute%20drill">Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting</a>, the 140-unit pest management and holiday lighting franchise, continues to grow both in footprint and infrastructure, now with the addition of industry veteran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtka">Court Aiken</a> as its new brand president. With 24 years of experience in the franchise industry, including time spent with Cold Stone Creamery, Dunkin’, Clockwork Home Services/Direct Energy, Neighborly and Threshold Brands, Aiken has experience in operations, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, customer service, finance, and brand leadership. Now, in his new role with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a>, Aiken will work alongside both franchise owners in the system and members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a> leadership team to propel the future success of the Hunters-Humbug brand.While Aiken sees clear business potential in the Hunters-Humbug model, much of what drove him to join the team was less tangible. In addition to a scalable business, Aiken sees clear value in the leadership team's approach. This alignment was a key contributor to his choice to join and will continue to inform how he steers the network as everyone throughout it pursues healthy, impactful growth.“I very quickly identified the love and dedication that everyone at Happinest shares for their brands, and it’s not just siloed into the brands that a single person might work for,” Aiken said. “It truly is a cross-functional team where everyone helps each other. The passion is palpable. One of the things that struck me very early on was that the development team at Happinest maintains their relationships with the people they’re bringing into these brands long after the ink is dry on the franchise agreement. The strength and power of these relationships is truly unique, and I’m excited to be a part of an amazing team that focuses on this aspect of the business.”<h2>Aiken’s Vision for Hunters-Humbug’s Long-Term Growth</h2>Aiken joins the Hunters-Humbug team at a unique inflection point. After&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-three-in-one-franchise-model-2729107">officially rolling out its three-in-one model</a> last spring, Hunters-Humbug has significantly expanded the revenue potential for its franchisees and opened the door to even stronger long-term growth.“I truly believe in and endorse the idea of us not just being a mosquito control or abatement company but moving into the pest control space,” Aiken said. “The mosquito control space has become crowded both with other franchises and mom-and-pop operations — even lawn care companies have jumped in with both feet. Branching out to pest control allows us to differentiate ourselves, and adding holiday lighting only compounds the impact even further.”With this in mind, Aiken is embracing a franchisee-first leadership approach, prioritizing the support, resources and additional innovations that will propel growth. While Hunters-Humbug was built on a foundation of mosquito control, the addition of pest control was a big step, and the brand has now positioned franchisees to enter the lighting world with both holiday lighting services and the potential to provide permanent lighting solutions.“My vision is for Hunters-Humbug to be the leader in this space,” he said. “And it’s not just one space. I really look at our market as two spaces. We’re a pest control franchise, and we’re also a lighting franchise. And the team and I are incredibly well-positioned to take us to the next level in both industries.”<h2>Driving the Next Generation of Hunters-Humbug With Collaborative, Hands-on Leadership</h2>Reflecting on his career to this point, Aiken says one of the best pieces of advice he has received is to “listen first, talk later.”“When I was younger and trying to establish myself, I always wanted to be the smartest person in the room and make sure people knew it, but I’ve learned that I learn much more from the people around me than I could ever hope to know on my own,” he said. “This has taught me to be methodical… to make sure I’ve truly processed what people are saying before giving a deliberate and measured response."As Aiken steps into his new role, he carries this lesson with him, making a concerted effort to prioritize a collaborative approach and work alongside the Hunters-Humbug owners who have “boots on the ground” each day. By hearing what they have to say and not just falling back on default rules, Aiken will support and empower owners in the ways they actually need, driving success at both the unit-level and system-wide.“I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit behind the computer and tell people to do things because I think they’re the right things,” he said. “The beauty of Hunters-Humbug is that I’ve joined a team that shares that vision. When we’re making decisions for the Hunters-Humbug brand and for the franchisees, we’re asking for feedback. We’re looking to franchisees to give us their opinions.”&nbsp;“And as much as I love the franchisees, I love the technicians even more because they’re often the ones actually doing the work; they’re the ones who have to live with the decisions that we make,” he continued. “Getting out and spending time in the field with the owners and their techs is incredibly important to me. I’m a very hands-on leader.”With Aiken at the helm, Hunters-Humbug is poised to enter its next phase, balancing aggressive market expansion with a deep, personal understanding of the franchisee experience. Combining his decades of corporate expertise with the practical lessons he learned as a franchise owner himself, Aiken is charging toward the future with a high-powered, multi-service model that remains rooted in the success of the people behind it.&nbsp;To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters">https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters</a>.&nbsp;

Photo of Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting president Court Aiken

Aiken, who brings over two decades of franchise experience and a deep passion for franchisee relationships and support, will lead the brand’s next major growth phase.

Casey and Jessica Reed of Mosquito Hunters Ready To Go From the Army Life to the Franchisee Life

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