Mosquito Hunters

<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mosquito-hunters-soft-roll-out-program-a-huge-boon-for-franchisees-such-as-real-estate-professional-jim-tomberlin-2712954" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mosquito Hunters</a> stands out as a franchising opportunity thanks to its low cost of entry, recurring revenue stream, simple business model and more.&nbsp; What further sets the brand apart from other business ownership opportunities is its <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/why-mosquito-hunters-offers-soft-opening-strategies-for-franchisees-2709769#franchisor">Soft Roll Out (SRO) program</a>. The brand’s SRO allows new franchisees to lay the groundwork for their upcoming<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Mosquito Hunters</a> franchise opening while also maintaining their day jobs.“The Mosquito Hunters SRO program is a tremendous benefit for franchisees who want to ease into the franchising process,” Franchise Development Manager Ronald Ens said. “Mosquito Hunters provides extensive training to all of our franchisees and gives them the tools they need to succeed. That said, we absolutely understand why some of our newer franchisees may want to ease into the franchise life more slowly. Franchising for the first time is a huge step, and we’re happy to work with our new franchisees as they enter a new chapter in their professional lives while also carrying on with their existing jobs.”One franchisee who took advantage of the brand’s SRO program is James Tomberlin. Tomberlin, a real estate broker who has worked in the industry for 17 years, signed with Mosquito Hunters in August of 2019 and officially opened his franchise, Mosquito Hunters of South Katy in Texas, in February of 2020. Prior to his official opening, he got a head start on marketing and networking efforts, which helped him acclimate to the business while also continuing to work in real estate.“Real estate is a great business,” he said. “I can’t imagine stopping that entirely, but I was getting into this phase of life where I was on the cusp of becoming an empty nester. My second kid is about to graduate high school and go to college, which means I’m about to have some extra time on my hands. I was looking around for a way to fill that extra time now that I’m not coaching or driving car pools—the sort of things you do as a parent when your kids are younger.”Although Tomberlin has both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance, he wanted to go into business with a roadmap and support. He spoke with a franchise consultant who helped him find Mosquito Hunters and determine whether or not it was the right fit for him. Tomberlin then met with the franchisor team and liked what he saw, from the scalable business model to the brand’s mustachioed mascot, Gunther the Hunter.Tomberlin is excited about this new venture. He noted that in his region, people put a lot of money into their backyards and often don’t even know that a bug-banishing solution is nearby. To that end, he recently joined a local BNI chapter to help spread the word about his business and worked at a local home and garden show in January.Tomberlin is busy, to be sure, but he also loves the flexibility a franchise like Mosquito Hunters offers.“In real estate, every day is different, and in Mosquito Hunters, every day is different,” he said. “It’s a rare day when I don’t touch both of the businesses. The SRO has been great because I’ve been able to keep my real estate practice going while starting my franchise.”Tomberlin also loves the recurring revenue potential and repeat customer base. “In real estate, I can help my client find their dream home, but if I do my job correctly, they won’t need me again for quite a while,” he said. With my Mosquito Hunters business, I get the opportunity to work with my clients throughout the year and for many years to come.”By offering its SRO program, Mosquito Hunters can continue to <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/from-corporate-volatility-to-a-people-focused-franchise-how-mosquito-hunters-newest-franchisees-found-support-and-training-2709423#franchisor">attract high-caliber franchisees</a> like Tomberlin and ensure they have a smooth transition into franchise ownership."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<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mosquito-hunters-soft-roll-out-program-a-huge-boon-for-franchisees-such-as-real-estate-professional-jim-tomberlin-2712954" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;

Mosquito Hunters’ Soft Roll Out Program a Huge Boon for Franchisees Such as Real Estate Professional Jim Tomberlin

1851 Franchise

The bug-banishing brand’s Soft Roll Out program helped Tomberlin continue in his real estate career while also adjusting to franchise life.

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

mosquito-hunters-soft-roll-out-program-a-huge-boon-for-franchisees-such-as-real-estate-professional-jim-tomberlin

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

Why Invest in a Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting Franchise in 2026

Science and Scale: How Miguel Diaz Is Driving the Future of Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting

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

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-jones-a4726443/">Jake Jones</a>, a former corporate salesperson, spent about 20 years in the award recognition business before exploring opportunities to become his own boss. Though he initially considered brick-and-mortar brands, Jones found his way to the home services space and eventually got connected with the team at&nbsp;<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 over 140-unit pest control and holiday lighting franchise backed by&nbsp;<a href="https://happinest.com/">Happinest Brands</a>.“At the time, I knew nothing about franchises. I just knew I wanted to be my own boss, and given I’d been in the recognition industry for 20 years, I didn’t have any background on starting a business,” Jones said. “I had no education on accounting or marketing, so I needed a franchise to get me trained in both pest management and holiday lighting, as well as the how-tos of starting your own business.”Jones made sure he took the time to find the right fit before launching his business in July of 2025.<h2>Family Inspiration and Support</h2>While Jones’ corporate role was flexible in terms of his schedule and the option to work from home, he was no longer fulfilled by the work. When he was “no longer excited to get out of bed in the morning,” Jones knew it was time to look for another path.“My wife, Kelly, played a big role in this process,” he said. “Her dad was an entrepreneur, so she grew up in that lifestyle. She was very supportive through the transition from having a set salary to taking the leap of faith. She wanted to see me doing something I enjoyed.”With the encouragement of his wife and three daughters, Jones launched his&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a> business last summer, just in time to take advantage of a busy pest season and build a runway for a steady holiday lighting season, too.“The pest management got off to a quick start, then the lighting season was fast and furious for sure,” he said. “It started in October and November with sales and installations and continued through December and January with maintenance and take-downs.”<h2>Early Wins and Lessons Learned</h2>While business ownership was new to Jones, he was able to draw on his prior sales experience to serve as a foundation, of sorts, as he began to grow. The industry was new, but the practice of building relationships was not. His prior experience actually paid off nearly immediately, empowering Jones to sell services to a large country club in his area in his first week of sales.“I apply the relationship-driven approach to residential sales, too,” he said. “There is so much information available as you walk up to someone’s house. Maybe they have a Kansas City Chiefs flag, a motorcycle or animals out front. I’m always just trying to build the personal connection. I’m not trying to sell them on anything immediately. I’m introducing myself, explaining that I’m a small business owner and trying to break down some barriers to help them feel a bit more comfortable.”This approach has helped him make the most of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/hunters-humbug-franchise-success-year-round-launch-2729733">Hunters-Humbug’s three-in-one model</a>. While the recurring nature of the mosquito business helps stability, the ability to build strong relationships with clients and expand services from that point has opened the door for substantial business growth.Now, Jones is also passionate about the Pest Hunters facet of the business, noting that it allows for higher-level problem-solving and an opportunity to shine in an industry where many providers fall short.“The mosquito control is a huge part of the business, but, for me, pest management is the biggest piece of the pie,” he said. “A lot of times, people are intimidated by it, and there are a lot of pest control companies that don’t do a great job. The opportunity to complete those services at the level of quality we maintain is what really gets me excited. I just think there’s so much potential.”<h2>Jones’ Future With Hunters-Humbug: Growth Through the Franchise Model</h2>As he looks toward the future with the business, Jones is focused on scaling, and he feels confident to pursue this growth thanks to the backing of the franchise system.“One of the huge benefits of the franchise system is your peers,” Jones said. “I've got three guys who were in my training class, and I talk to them daily. We're all at the same point in our business journey having been live for about the same period of time, but there are also franchisees I can talk to that have been doing this for a long time. The amount of information they have is very valuable, and everyone’s willing to help everyone else out.”Armed with the operational playbook from Hunters-Humbug and the support from fellow franchisees, Jones is focused on expanding, hiring and training a team to focus on execution while he continues to focus on business development.“My plan for the year is, essentially, to sell and figure it out later,” he said. “I feel confident I have the tools available to figure it out, and I’m working to build a team to be out in the field so I can do more of what I enjoy, which is the growth of the company. As I look back on the first eight months of operations and how far I’ve come in such a short time, I feel this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If I could do it over again, I would — in a second.”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;&nbsp;

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

After about two decades in sales performance and award recognition programs, Jake Jones turned to the pest management and holiday lighting brand as a pathway to exit the corporate world.

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

Design with Mosquito Hunters, Pest Hunters, and Humbug Holiday Lighting branded vehicle

Scaling the Rockies: Brad Goins' Remote Success With Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting in Colorado

remote-franchise-ownership-success-pest-hunters-mosquito-hunters-humbug-lighting

In the pest control industry, there is a wide range of skill sets, and a deep divide between “a guy with a sprayer” and a technical expert who understands how and why certain treatments work and the complex regulatory demands of the industry. For&nbsp;<a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/">Pest Hunters-Mosquito Hunters-Humbug Holiday Lighting</a>, the three-in-one franchise backed by&nbsp;<a href="http://happinest.com">Happinest Brands</a>, having this knowledge at the leadership level and disseminating it among franchisees is foundational to its continued growth.Leading this effort is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguel-diaz-34a19519">Miguel Diaz</a>, who serves as director of operations and brings decades of experience to the system. Not only has Diaz spent over 20 years learning the industry firsthand, but he has shown a steady commitment to professional development and is part of an elite group of experts recognized by the Entomological Society of America.<h2>The Rare ACE Credential</h2>For large pest management organizations, having an entomological expert on staff provides additional knowledge and expertise to support pest identification and other problem-solving needs. While Diaz did not go to school for entomology, he holds the Associate Certified Entomologist designation, a credential that requires years of frontline experience and ongoing demonstration of expertise. Even rarer is the&nbsp;<a href="https://entocert.org/awards/past_winners/ace-professional-award">ACE Professional Award</a>, which Diaz received in 2018.“The ACE Professional Award is presented to those who have demonstrated excellence in the industry and made significant contributions,” he said. “I’m one of only nine in the nation. How many pest control companies are there in the U.S., and how many of them have someone with an ACE Professional Award on board? For franchisees buying into the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Hunters-Humbug</a> model, there is built-in support from someone who has been recognized as one of the best in the industry.”Over the course of his career, Diaz has translated his knowledge into state-approved continuing education courses, provided training sessions and remained engaged with leaders throughout the industry at large. Now, he’s able to leverage this expertise and prior teaching and training experience to elevate Hunters-Humbug owners and teams throughout the system as it continues growing.<h2>Further Professionalizing Hunters-Humbug’s Commercial Services</h2>As Hunters-Humbug continues to scale, Diaz is leveraging his knowledge to support franchisees in branching out to commercial services. In sectors like hospitality, warehousing and education, there are specific procedures and requirements necessary to meet widely accepted standards set forth by organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="https://aibinternational.com/">American Institute of Baking</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsf.org/">National Sanitation Foundation</a> (NSF). Diaz’s background in auditing and prior experience with these agencies bridges the gap between Hunters-Humbug and major industries in need of service.“Pest control is in the background of almost every industry,” he said. “There’s nothing you buy on the consumer side that didn’t go through an auditing process to make sure it’s safe for consumers. You can’t sell to the public without being certified.”Beyond consumer goods, even industries like education and hospitality require specific pest management practices. For example, most schools have integrated pest management coordinators.“There are certain requirements that schools have for managing pests,” Diaz said. “We always start with the safest, least‑intensive options. If those don’t work, there’s a clear step‑by‑step process to move to something stronger, and that next step may need approval.”“These are the kinds of things you need to know to service these customers,” he continued. “All of these things are documented, and there are steps in place. These are the rules we have to follow for commercial accounts, and because I know them well, I can support our franchisees in navigating their commercial contracts properly.”<h2>The Three-In-One Edge</h2>Diaz joining the team was a crucial resource as the brand evolved from just mosquito-related services to pest, mosquito and holiday lighting. Adding pest control to the lineup transformed the brand into a powerhouse multi-service platform, drastically increasing the total addressable market for franchisees and supporting steady, year-round revenue streams.As Diaz’s leadership has bolstered franchisees’ growth in the commercial space, these successful commercial relationships have also expanded across services.During the 2025 holiday season, the Humbug Holiday Lighting arm brought in more revenue and added more commercial accounts. More businesses are looking for one reliable partner to handle both pest control and lighting, and Hunters-Humbug is positioned to deliver that.With precision, reliability and expertise front and center in all interactions, Hunters-Humbug franchisees deliver a service experience that builds trust and encourages clients to both explore additional service offerings and maintain a steady, ongoing relationship with the brand.“At the end of the day, it’s the education, the knowledge and the person doing the work that’s important in these relationships,” Diaz said. “As a franchise system, Hunters-Humbug is a locally owned company, but the owners and teams have the skill and expertise of a major national brand.”<h2>Building the Playbook for 2026 and Beyond</h2>Under Diaz’s leadership, the training program for new franchisees has been further built out to include both classroom education and immersive, hands-on experiences.“We have a full day of classroom education and a full day of on-site training where our owners are walking around with a flashlight, describing and using the equipment,” he said. “This hands-on approach ensures that, as our owners go throughout their days, they aren’t just looking for bugs. They’re looking for risks, entry points and other integrated pest management opportunities, and they’re also familiar with and able to describe how their tools work to a client who wants to understand the treatment plan.”As Hunters-Humbug continues to grow, Diaz will ensure franchisees have the tools and training necessary to exceed the “fly-by-night” perception that some clients have of the pest management industry and develop a relationship-based, science-backed business.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; &nbsp;

Photo of Miguel Diaz, Pest Hunters, Mosquito Hunters, Humbug Holiday Lighting

With decades of experience and the esteemed Associate Certified Entomologist designation, Diaz brings deep knowledge to the Hunters-Humbug franchise system, empowering its next phase of growth.

miguel-diaz-franchise

Mosquito Hunters’ Soft Roll Out Program a Huge Boon for Franchisees Such as Real Estate Professional Jim Tomberlin

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS