Mosquito Hunters

Athletics have been a part of Lauren Harris’ life for as long as she can remember: She played a variety of sports growing up, was a four-year basketball letterman in college and even coached&nbsp;at the collegiate level. Sports have been a huge part of Harris’ life, and her professional career in coaching has taken her to jobs in Texas, West Virginia, Ohio and Nebraska. After more than 15 years in the field, Harris was ready to hang up the whistle and take on a new challenge: business ownership with <a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=first-time-business-owner-lauren-harris-is-gearing-up-for-a-big-year-with-mosquito-hunters-franchise-in-corpus-christi-texas-2712952" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mosquito Hunters</a>.&nbsp;Harris signed her <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Mosquito Hunters</a> franchise agreement in April 2019 and completed training in July. After launching as a soft roll-out in the summer of 2019, Harris feels she is set up perfectly for her first full spring season ahead. Harris’ Mosquito Hunters business will service the Corpus Christi, Texas area.Up until she became a Mosquito Hunters owner, Harris was a strength and conditioning coach for the University of Nebraska’s softball and rifle teams. After nearly eight years in Nebraska, she grew tired of the cold and wanted to move back to Texas. In addition to the warmer weather, Harris—who originally hails from the Lone Star State—wanted to be closer to her family and friends.&nbsp;This led Harris to begin applying for jobs in Texas. “The market for collegiate strength and conditioning jobs is extremely saturated so I couldn’t really find one in Texas that wasn’t a complete lateral move or that didn’t involve a pay cut,” she said.&nbsp;After contending with the lack of jobs in her field in the Texas market, Harris decided that it was time to take on a new challenge. “I began looking at owning my own business and somehow my resume ended up on the desk of a franchise consultant” Harris said. “My consultant helped me understand how business ownership works and what it means to own a franchise. I then filled out some questionnaires and she gave me a list of about 10 or so different franchises to consider.”From there, Harris narrowed it down to three franchises. By conducting her own research and taking part in a number of validation calls with franchise development teams and franchisees, she ultimately decided that Mosquito Hunters was the right fit for her.&nbsp;“Mosquito Hunters started to become the clear choice,” Harris said. “Based on my research and the validation calls, I knew it would be a business that I would be great at running. Mosquito Hunters had the best business model: It required a lower franchise fee, was easy to get started as a brand-new business owner and features immense opportunities for growth.”“Becoming a Mosquito Hunters franchise owner was extremely attractive to me because there’s a ‘playbook’ franchisees can follow to help them be successful—it was similar to that of sports. There’s tried-and-true processes in place to help you get off the ground and be succeed,” Harris added.&nbsp;In addition to positioning its franchisees on a path to success, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-employee-moves-up-through-the-ranks-to-become-regional-business-coach-2711882#brand-latest-stories">Harris was attracted to the support Mosquito Hunters provides their franchisees</a>. She noted how the brand helps franchisees with national and local marketing efforts and organizes various networking events for them to meet other franchisees.&nbsp;Harris feels that her past experience in collegiate coaching will help her be successful in running her Mosquito Hunters business. “There are certainly<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/new-franchisee-brian-ferraro-utilizes-hockey-coaching-skills-to-fuel-his-mosquito-hunters-business-2712191#brand-latest-stories"> parallels in coaching and running your own business</a>,” she said. “It’s a bit different than working with students, but the people skills, the public speaking skills, work ethic and the team player aspects all transfer over. Although Mosquito Hunters isn’t necessarily my ‘boss,’ I still need to execute their playbook and represent them in the best way I can.”&nbsp;Harris is excited to have her Mosquito Hunters business fully up and running in Corpus Christi. As she further establishes her franchise location, she plans to create an official “home-office space,” hire part-time technicians and maybe even sponsor a children’s sports team. “It would be really fun to have little orange Mosquito Hunters uniforms running around.”&nbsp;Since its founding 2014, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/new-franchisee-brian-ferraro-utilizes-hockey-coaching-skills-to-fuel-his-mosquito-hunters-business-2712191#brand-latest-stories">Mosquito Hunters has grown to more than 80 locations across 23 states</a>. The mosquito and tick control franchise has quickly become the leader in the fast-growing category by focusing on consistently high profit margins, recurring revenue streams, growth potential, low cost of entry and a simple business model.&nbsp;The total investment necessary to open a Mosquito Hunters franchise ranges from $70,107 to $85,903. The franchise license fee ranges from $25,000 to $35,000. For more information on franchising opportunities with Mosquito Hunters, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=first-time-business-owner-lauren-harris-is-gearing-up-for-a-big-year-with-mosquito-hunters-franchise-in-corpus-christi-texas-2712952" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/</a>

First Time Business Owner Lauren Harris is Gearing Up for A Big Year with Mosquito Hunters Franchise in Corpus Christi, Texas

1851 Franchise

After years of coaching at the collegiate level, Harris was ready to take on a new challenge—one that involved owning her very own business. 

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

first-time-business-owner-lauren-harris-is-gearing-up-for-a-big-year-with-mosquito-hunters-franchise-in-corpus-christi-texas

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Own a Mosquito Hunters

Mosquito Hunters 3-in-1 Model

Franchisee Highlight

Executive Q&A

Learn

Download Brochure

Visit Website

MOSQUITO HUNTERS

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

SOCIAL MEDIA

Corporate Salesperson Transitions to Entrepreneurship With Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting Franchise

Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting Names Industry Veteran Court Aiken Brand President

How One Hunters-Humbug Franchisee Blends Technology and an Interpersonal Focus to Drive Expansion

MOSQUITO HUNTERS MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT MOSQUITO HUNTERS

CONTACT MOSQUITO HUNTERS

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

City

State / Province

Zip Code

Own a Mosquito Hunters Franchise

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;

Photo of Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting Gina Lopez

Gina Lopez, owner of Hunters-Humbug of Greenville, blends executive-level data analysis with a high-touch community presence, reimagining what home service franchise leadership looks like.

success-gina-lopez-hunters-humbug

Photo of Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting franchise owner Jake Jones

corporate-sales-to-franchise-ownership

Photo of Hunters-Humbug franchisees Robert and Karen Hoffman

Starting With Holiday Lighting, Franchisees Find Success Year-Round With Hunters-Humbug’s Three-In-One Model

hunters-humbug-franchise-success-year-round-launch

Graphic with Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting logo & Jose Alvarado photo

Why This Former Banker Bet Big on the Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting Franchise — And Won

hunters-humbug-franchise-success-jose-alvarado

<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.

First Time Business Owner Lauren Harris is Gearing Up for A Big Year with Mosquito Hunters Franchise in Corpus Christi, Texas

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS