Franchisor Stories
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: PestMaster is an eco-friendly, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) pest control company that offers essential services like pest, rodent and wildlife control.
PestMaster is a franchised eco-conscious pest control company, leveraging an established brand known for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and environmentally friendly pest control, rodent control, wildlife exclusion and vegetation management for homes, businesses and government clients.
With roots dating back to 1979, PestMaster was founded in California by Jeff Van Diepen and today operates more than 60 locations.
Mission: PestMaster’s mission is to stand as the gold standard for IPM by providing effective, innovative pest control solutions with a focus on customer peace of mind, safety, sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices.
Vision: PestMaster’s vision is to grow the franchise brand in the United States by leveraging continuous expansion of its franchise network, technological innovation and a commitment to environmentally conscious, customer-focused services.
PestMaster is currently offering franchise opportunities in all 50 states in the U.S., with limited availability in Nevada and New Mexico.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a PestMaster franchise ranges from $103,900 to $206,300. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $42,500 | $42,500 |
| Real Estate and Utilities | $0 | $5,000 |
| Vehicle, Wrap | $15,000 | $60,000 |
| Uniforms | $100 | $300 |
| Equipment | $7,300 | $8,500 |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Training | $3,000 | $7,000 |
| Signage | $0 | $5,000 |
| Licensing | $1,000 | $18,000 |
| Computers, Software, Office Equipment & Supplies | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Advertising | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $20,000 | $40,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee of $42,500 due in full upon signing of the franchise agreement. Qualifying current members of the U.S. Armed Forces or honorably discharged veterans and first responders (police officers, firefighters, or paramedics/EMTs) may be eligible for a discount on the initial franchise fee (on their first franchised business).
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, PestMaster franchise owners are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Continuing Royalty Fee | 7% of gross sales/month |
| Brand Fund Fee | 2% of gross sales/month |
| Technology Fee | $500/month |
| Additional Email Licenses | $15/license/month |
| Payment Processing Fee | $35/account/month |
| Field Service Software | $99/tenant account (plus $350/1,000 customers)/month |
| Marketing Services (TMS Connect) | $115/ territory/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 30 franchised locations operating for the entirety of FY 2024 reported the following gross sales:
| Quartile | Average | Median | High | Low |
| 1st Quartile (8) | $1,585,300 | $761,731 | $6,429,839 | $454,031 |
| 2nd Quartile (8) | $312,605 | $309,924 | $381,787 | $229,135 |
| 3rd Quartile (7) | $116,553 | $111,905 | $185,571 | $81,170 |
| 4th Quartile (7) | $54,450 | $58,716 | $79,950 | $29,934 |
| Total (30) | $542,842 | $241,336 | $6,429,839 | $29,934 |
The Initial Training Program is mandatory for the franchise owner and one manager/employee and consists of approximately 47 hours of instruction including both a self-paced remote program as well as an on-site training program held at the franchisor's headquarters in Reno, Nevada (or another designated location). New manager training and additional training are available as deemed necessary.
The franchisor will provide a proprietary manual and approved materials/suppliers list as well as the Initial Training Program. The franchisor will approve the initial marketing and advertising materials, establish internet marketing presence and website and provide the template for the graphic to wrap the business vehicle.
The franchisor provides its proprietary manual, which may be in physical or digital form as well as field service software, pest control software and financial management and bookkeeping software. The franchisor will establish an initial internet marketing presence and website and may establish and maintain an intranet or private website pages. The franchisor may also develop and provide one or more mobile technology applications for the franchise owner’s use.
Experience in the pest control industry is a plus, but not mandatory. PestMaster is looking for franchisees with strong business acumen and financial stability, with a willingness to learn, adapt and actively run day-to-day operations.
PestMaster is built as a hands-on, owner-operator business, especially in the early stages. Franchisees are expected to be actively involved in day-to-day operations, from managing finances, marketing and sales to overseeing technicians and building relationships in the community. Most owners start out running the business from a home office, often as a one-person operation, and then gradually add staff such as technicians, sales associates or office support as revenue grows. While you can eventually step back from some of the frontline work as your team develops, this is not designed as a semi-absentee or “set it and forget it” investment — success depends on engaged, present leadership.
PestMaster does not offer in-house financing or dedicated funding programs, and there are no formal partnerships advertised with third-party lenders, so franchisees are expected to secure their own capital to cover the franchise fee and total initial investment. In practice, that means prospective owners typically work with their own banks, SBA lenders, lines of credit or other personal funding sources to meet the brand’s financial requirements before moving forward with ownership.
“Something we got with franchising with PestMaster that I didn’t get with my other business as a sole proprietor is we got a full week of hands-on training: a week broken down between classroom time and actual hands-on training. So, you sit in the classroom and go over types of bugs and how they’re affected by certain chemicals. And then we actually went out for two days and did hands-on training, treating at a house for anything and everything that’s under the PestMaster umbrella. So, if you’re looking for a business — almost a turnkey business — that you could set your own schedule and effectively set your own income, it’s a pretty hard system to turn down. You get good support and you get all the benefits of being an owner without any of the drawbacks — as long as you’re hungry enough to grow the business.”
- Chris Chapman, Franchise Owner — Sandusky, Ohio
This year, the American pest control market reached a valuation of nearly $30 billion, dominating the global marketplace.
American urbanization and construction means the potential for more pests. With an increasing emphasis on health and awareness of pest-borne diseases plus a greater emphasis on food security and environmental regulations, pest control services are in high demand in the U.S., with market growth continuing at a rate of almost 7 percent.
Overall, the pest control marketplace in America continues to reflect strong growth possibilities.
PestMaster distinguishes itself in the franchised pest control realm by combining IPM with a strong focus on diverse revenue streams (residential, commercial, government contracts), eco-friendly practices, sustainability and lower startup costs.
In terms of competition, PestMaster faces several notable players in the pest control sphere, including Orkin, Terminix, Mosquito Squad, Truly Nolen, Anticimex, Critter Control, Mosquito Joe and Arrow Exterminators. However, PestMaster’s unique focus on a diverse menu, diverse revenue streams and sustainability set the chain apart in a crowded marketplace.
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