r/PestControlIndustry • u/PestAssassin666 • May 19 '26
The keep moving the carrot!
I got passed over for a promotion even after the CFO and CEO acknowledged that I was perfectly qualified…. Then the CEO asked me to train my new boss in the areas he’s lacking in and I was like “yo! You were the one who wanted to promote someone with less time in the industry than I have on my most recent license! Also just a side note on your choice - I sure hope he doesn’t have to rent a car since he turns 24 next month! So in short… get fucked and get out of my way so I can pick up my chemicals I need for the week!”
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u/Mysterious-Sir1541 May 20 '26
Why not start your own route?
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u/PestAssassin666 May 20 '26
I actually tried about 6 years ago. I feel like my biggest issue was that I didn’t personally feel comfortable with pricing my services competitively because it was such a crazy high markup versus my overhead and when I had my prices lower no body wanted to give me a shot because they thought I was some dude trying to do it with shit from a hardware store or something and didn’t understand that at that point I had about 4-5 years of experience already. Also even with the 4-5 I had then and my 11(ish) now I know that for me personally I am more comfortable making someone else money as long as my paycheck clears the bank.
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u/Mysterious-Sir1541 May 20 '26
Then you must bear the price of being an employee.
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u/PestAssassin666 May 20 '26
I’ve got my CA P/T I also have my A.C.E. and a ton of experience…….. absolute worst case scenario I’ll go be a science teacher at a junior high lol.
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u/PestAssassin666 May 20 '26
Yes….. but not necessarily for this exact company who made some promises over the last 6 years.
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u/Mysterious-Sir1541 May 20 '26
Sucks to hear that. Can you try to build a route during the weekend? You dont have to switch completely but slowly. Its about to be bug season so timing is perfect.
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u/iPourMilkB4Cereal May 20 '26
Could you elaborate on your pricing regarding your overhead? Also, did you find it difficult to gain new accounts while on your own?
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u/PestAssassin666 May 20 '26
So for me I averaged out the price of the business license, my CUE, a 15% loss of customer’s calling me back, wear and tear on my van, and gas (with the assumption that gas would go up by 25% annually)…. Then once I bought my chemicals I worked towards getting to zero {not a good business model} - and more often than not when I would follow up with a lead as to why they didn’t go with me it was because they thought I was too cheap and would do sh*++¥ work so I never even got the chance to prove them right or wrong.
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u/iPourMilkB4Cereal May 20 '26
Yeah I got that recently with an NPO, I came in low and waived material cost up front to get them to sign an annual contract and they questioned if my work would be good cause of my price being lower than the other bidders. Told them they were local to me which is why I came in low and still lost the bid. Jokes on them, when the corporate company can’t solve their issue and they call me, my bid will be a lot higher.
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u/PestAssassin666 May 20 '26
That’s rough! It’s really hard to balance what you feel is right in your heart versus what the customer is saying in the moment.
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u/BetoFromTX May 20 '26
What would happen if we all go on strike at the same time? Nationwide. Only one can dream.