Mosquito Hunters

Throughout her life, Cindy Hostbjor has traveled all over the United States and the world: She grew up in a military family, has a husband who worked in the oil industry, and spent 15 years traveling the country performing cooking demos with Kitchen Craft Cookware.In 2019, Hostbjor decided she had done enough traveling. She wanted to spend more time with her husband, family and friends in her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana — which ultimately led her to seek out a new business opportunity.That opportunity was franchising with <a href="https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=thanks-to-the-soft-roll-out-program-mosquito-hunters-franchisee-cindy-hostbjor-was-able-to-establish-her-territory-and-ramp-up-her-ground-game-2713430" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mosquito Hunters</a>.&nbsp;“I really was done traveling all the time,” Hostbjor said. “We were on the road basically all of the time, driving from place to place. We quite literally dodged heavy storms and tornadoes on a weekly basis; I was ready to be done — but, I wasn’t ready to be done working. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/why-the-mosquito-hunters-business-model-is-perfect-for-franchise-owners-looking-to-expand-their-portfolios-2711825#brand-latest-stories">I wanted to work for myself, be my own boss</a> and be in Lafayette with my husband, family and friends.”The desire to spend more time in Lafayette and become her own boss led Hostbjor to explore franchising. Throughout her research process, Hostbjor noted that one brand in particular kept popping up: <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/info">Mosquito Hunters</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-continues-huge-growth-momentum-into-2020-and-prepares-for-a-busy-spring-season-2712258#brand-latest-stories">The Mosquito Hunters brand resonated with Hostbjor for a few reasons</a>. “What I really liked about Mosquito Hunters as a business was that it does a service for people,” she said. “When I was working with Kitchen Craft, I really thought I was doing a service for people — showing them how to use our waterless cookware, therefore showing them how to prepare healthy meals while also saving time, money and energy. Although mosquito and tick control is a completely different business, you’re still in the business of helping people. Mosquito Hunters is a business that helps bring people back to their yards. It alleviates the anxious feelings about ticks and any of the associated diseases.”Additionally, Hostbjor noted that throughout the course of her discovery process, she was impressed with <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/mosquito-hunters-employee-moves-up-through-the-ranks-to-become-regional-business-coach-2711882#brand-latest-stories">the level of professionalism from the Mosquito Hunters corporate team</a>. “Everything they did was extremely professional and punctual,” she said. “And, when I met with Andy Fuller, the CEO, he was also really professional, knowledgeable and down to earth.”As far as Hostbjor was concerned, Mosquito Hunters checked all the right boxes for this new business venture.&nbsp;Hostbjor signed her Mosquito Hunters franchise agreement in July 2019 and services the Lafayette, Louisiana community. She was even able to bring on her business partner from Kitchen Craft — Sandy Hayes — as her office manager, which Hostbjor noted was a huge selling point for her.&nbsp;Another huge selling point for Hostbjor on becoming a Mosquito Hunters franchisee? The Soft Roll Out Program (SRO). Because she signed on with the brand in July, Hostbjor was the perfect candidate for the program: Franchisees who sign on with the brand between April and August are eligible. Summer is considered the brand’s peak season so an owner who signs on during this period wouldn’t have enough time to get everything done in order to be up and running. Rather than rushing the process, the SRO program allows new owners to train, obtain licenses and begin their “Ground Game,” activities such as networking and marketing at the local level.&nbsp;“Most importantly, the SRO program gave me the opportunity to really lock in my territory,” Hostbjor said. “I was able to have enough time to solidify my presence as a new business owner in Lafayette: I drove my Mosquito Hunters branded vehicle all over town, put out lawn signs and handed out marketing materials. Actually, we ended up getting a lot of our customer base from Ground Game activities.”“With the Soft Roll Program, new Mosquito Hunters franchisees are able to spend the time needed to really ramp up their business,” <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mosquitohunters/how-mosquito-hunters-franchise-development-manager-ronald-ens-helps-grow-the-brand-and-keep-customers-safe-2711757#brand-latest-stories">Mosquito Hunters Franchise Development Manager Ronald Ens said</a>. “Cindy Hostbjor is a prime example of how beneficial the SRO program can be for first-time business owners. Cindy was able to establish such a strong Ground Game that most of her customer base came from seeing her lawn signs or her Mosquito Hunters branded vehicle driving around town.”Now that the 2020 busy season is almost here, Hostbjor is really excited to get out there and make a name for her Mosquito Hunters franchise. “I am setting realistic goals for my first full season as a Mosquito Hunters franchisee — I hope to add 100 customers quickly as I further establish a base here in Lafayette. I plan to hire my first technician soon and will eventually start looking for a small office that’s outside of my home.”Founded in 2014, Mosquito Hunters has quickly become the leader in the fast-growing mosquito and tick control space. Now with more than 80 locations spanning 23 states, Mosquito Hunters boasts a business model with consistently high profit margins, recurring revenue streams, growth potential and a low cost of entry.&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=thanks-to-the-soft-roll-out-program-mosquito-hunters-franchisee-cindy-hostbjor-was-able-to-establish-her-territory-and-ramp-up-her-ground-game-2713430" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://mosquitohuntersfranchise.com/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thanks to the Soft Roll-Out Program, Mosquito Hunters Franchisee Cindy Hostbjor Was Able to Establish Her Territory and Ramp Up Her Ground Game 

1851 Franchise

Hostbjor signed her franchise agreement in July 2019 — and, thanks to the Soft Roll Out Program, she was able to transition smoothly into her new role as a Mosquito Hunters franchisee.

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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<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;

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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.

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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.

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Thanks to the Soft Roll-Out Program, Mosquito Hunters Franchisee Cindy Hostbjor Was Able to Establish Her Territory and Ramp Up Her Ground Game

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