Mosquito Hunters

Before he became a business owner, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshambrose843/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mosquito-hunters-strong-marketing-support-positions-franchisees-for-success-2718177" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Ambrose</a> served as a U.S. Marine for more than two decades. He first became aware of franchising as a career opportunity when a friend of his started working with a franchise consultant. Ambrose says he hadn’t previously considered entrepreneurship, but, inspired by his friend, he too began working with a franchise consultant and was eventually put in touch with <a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mosquito-hunters-strong-marketing-support-positions-franchisees-for-success-2718177" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mosquito Hunters</a>, a 130-plus unit outdoor pest control brand.Ambrose signed his franchise agreement in January of 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his territory was fully up and running in March of 2021, at a time when the home services industry began booming and the need for mosquito abatement was continuously growing.But it wasn’t only that increase in demand that inspired Ambrose to become a franchisee. When Ambrose decided that he would invest with <a href="https://mosquitohunters.com/staugustine-fl/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mosquito-hunters-strong-marketing-support-positions-franchisees-for-success-2718177" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mosquito Hunters</a>, it was because he was impressed by the “ground game” the brand offers its business owners, meaning the marketing systems and tools the franchise provides to help build brand awareness. This ground game covers everything from branded vans and lawn signs to digital&nbsp; marketing efforts.“Mosquito Hunters franchisees told me all about the ground game,” he said. “No other franchisees talked about it as I was researching other brands in the segment, so I was unsure of the process at first. But that all changed when I saw the impact it made on my business. If you’re not putting out door hangers, road signs or getting the logo out there, you’re missing out on so many more touch points with potential customers, and the ability to acquire a customer who has a mosquito problem you can solve.”&nbsp;Ambrose said when people in his community think of mosquito abatement, he wants to be the first person who comes to their minds. “I have had friends say, ‘I’ve seen your signs everywhere,’' he added. “Everyone in the community is seeing them and I’m hitting more touch points quicker and faster than the competition, so brand recognition is stronger for me.”Another reason Ambrose chose to franchise with Mosquito Hunters was because of the industry itself. “After many validation calls with Mosquito Hunters franchisees, I was convinced it was exactly what I was looking for,” he said. “I get to operate out of my home and don't have to worry about finding a building, securing a lease or extreme overhead with employees.”Other advantages Ambrose leverages as a franchisee with Mosquito Hunters include recurring revenue streams, payroll management, converting leads into sales and the ability to focus on running the business rather than the behind-the-scenes tasks.&nbsp;“Under parent company <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/happinest-brands/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mosquito-hunters-strong-marketing-support-positions-franchisees-for-success-2718177" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Happinest</a>, Mosquito Hunters offers expertise and outsourcing that extends much farther than just one brand,” he said. “The marketing dollars for three brands go further, they outsource when necessary and extensive support is available when I have questions or run into an issue.”&nbsp;As he continues to grow his business, Ambrose says he is excited about future growth thanks to the support he finds with Mosquito Hunters and Happinest. Franchisees like Ambrose are seeing growth as demand for home services continues to climb following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry is valued at $600 billion, and the team at Mosquito Hunters and its parent company Happinest are prepared for even more growth going into 2022.&nbsp;“COVID really was the perfect storm in terms of setting up growth for Mosquito Hunters,” said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-ruby-3775b961/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mosquito-hunters-strong-marketing-support-positions-franchisees-for-success-2718177" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Stephanie Ruby</a>, Director of Franchise Development for Mosquito Hunters. “People are at home more and want to be able to go outdoors, and now with staffing shortage issues all over the country, Mosquito Hunters provides a great opportunity for franchisees to work for themselves in a booming industry.”“Ideally, the goal is to add 40-plus units for Mosquito Hunters [in 2022],” added Ronald Ens, Franchise Development Manager for Mosquito Hunters. “After the acquisition of the brand in 2018, there were six units, today there are more than 130 locations nationwide. And with so much demand in the industry, there is plenty of room for franchise expansion.”The total investment necessary to open a Mosquito Hunters franchise ranges from $73,937 to $96,437. The franchise license fee ranges from $25,000 to $35,000. For more information on franchising opportunities with Mosquito Hunters, visit <a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-mosquito-hunters-strong-marketing-support-positions-franchisees-for-success-2718177" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/.</a>

How Mosquito Hunters’ Strong Marketing Support Positions Franchisees for Success

1851 Franchise

Franchisee Josh Ambrose explains how the pest-control brand has emerged as a leading player in its segment through savvy local marketing efforts.

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

how-mosquito-hunters-strong-marketing-support-positions-franchisees-for-success

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.

How Mosquito Hunters’ Strong Marketing Support Positions Franchisees for Success

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS