What Killroy Pest Control does

Killroy Pest Control is a family-owned pest management company founded in 1956 by WWII pilot Phil Olavarri and his wife Norma, currently controlled by founders' daughter Lynn and her husband Richard Schmidt. The company provides residential and commercial pest control services across the greater San Francisco Bay Area through four physical offices (Campbell HQ, Tracy, Hollister, San Ramon), covering ants, spiders, cockroaches, rodents, termites (subterranean, drywood, dampwood), bed bugs, fleas, ticks, burrowing animals (gophers, moles, voles), ground squirrels, and wildlife. Differentiated technical components include the Sensitive Solutions green pest control division (established 1993, EcoWise-certified, using botanical oils, beneficial insects, nematodes, and mechanical controls) and the Tunnel Topper® process, a proprietary sand-and-water slurry method for non-toxic ground squirrel control.

The company operates on an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methodology emphasizing sanitation, exclusion, habitat modification, and targeted pesticide application. It holds QualityPro, NPMA, PCOC, BBB, and EcoWise certifications and is California licensed, bonded, and insured. The 30-employee team carries 350+ years of combined pest control experience with a 17-year average tenure, including long-tenured branch leadership such as Tracy Branch Manager Tom Votta (with the company since 1981).

Revenue is generated through quote-based pricing across six streams: recurring residential and commercial maintenance plans (monthly through annual cadence), one-time treatments, termite inspections and Vikane gas fumigation (backed by a 4-year guarantee), Sensitive Solutions eco-friendly services, landscape/yard services (lawn pests, tree spraying, weed control, fertilization), and discount-driven acquisition programs ($30 first-time customer discount plus referral rewards). No long-term contracts are required. Customer acquisition relies on phone-based sales, online contact forms, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), Yelp, a content blog, and a referral program. No external funding, parent company, or acquisition activity is recorded.

Name

Killroy Pest Control

Legal name

Killroy Pest Control

Website

https://killroy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Family-owned pest management company founded in 1956 serving the San Francisco Bay Area, providing residential and commercial pest control, termite services, and eco-friendly Sensitive Solutions across four office locations in Campbell, Tracy, Hollister, and San Ramon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pest Control Services

NAICS

Exterminating and Pest Control Services (561710)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanitation, Monitoring & Trap/Station Programs (General) (HSAMAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic/Green General Pest Control Treatments (HSAMAAAJ), Commercial General Pest Control (Non-Specialty) (HSAMAAAL), Eco-Friendly Termite & Wood-Destroying Organism Control (HSAMALAJ)

Keywords

• Residential pest control
• Commercial pest management
• Termite fumigation services
• Integrated pest management
• Eco-friendly pest control

Headquarters

HQ city

Campbell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Residential Pest Control Services: One-time and recurring pest control services for homes covering ants, spiders, cockroaches, rodents, and other common household pests. Services can be scheduled as one-time visits or as part of monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual maintenance plans.
2. Commercial Pest Control Services: Preventive and remedial pest control programs for commercial properties including landlords, property managers, and business owners. Services are tailored by industry (education, hospitality, food service, healthcare, retail) and can be arranged on annual, bi-annual, monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly schedules.
3. Termite Inspections and Treatments: Comprehensive termite control services including inspections, identification of termite species (subterranean, drywood, dampwood), and treatment plans. Includes fumigation services using Vikane gas and a 4-year guarantee on fumigation services.
4. Sensitive Solutions (Eco-Friendly/Natural): Natural, non-toxic pest control services under the Sensitive Solutions brand, providing green alternatives for customers concerned about chemicals, pets, gardens, or the environment.
5. Landscape and Yard Services: Additional services including tree spraying/injection, lawn and yard pest control, ground squirrel control (including Tunnel Topper process), gopher and mole control, weed control, and fertilization.
6. Discount Programs: First-time customer discount of $30 off for general pest treatments. Referral rewards program. Termite inspections offered at a discount for current customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Killroy Pest Control provides residential and commercial pest management services, including year-round general pest control (ants, spiders, cockroaches, rodents), termite inspections, treatments and fumigation, and a Sensitive Solutions eco-friendly sub-brand for chemical-sensitive customers. The company also offers landscape and yard services such as tree spraying, lawn pest control, ground squirrel control via the proprietary Tunnel Topper process, gopher/mole/vole control, and weed control, serving eight Bay Area counties through four physical offices.

Product overview

Killroy Pest Control is a family-owned pest management company founded in 1956, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around three core offerings: Residential Pest Control (covering household insects, rodents, and termites), Commercial Pest Control (for offices, schools, healthcare, hospitality, and retail), and Termite Services (inspections, treatments, and fumigation). The company operates a specialized sub-brand called Sensitive Solutions for eco-friendly and natural pest control. Additional services include lawn and garden pest management, rodent and wildlife control, burrowing animal services (gophers, moles, voles), ground squirrel control using the proprietary Tunnel Topper process, tree spraying and injection, weed control, and customer preparation resources. The company serves the greater San Francisco Bay Area through offices in Campbell, Tracy, and Hollister.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sensitive Solutions: A special division offering creative, green, natural pest control options including eco-friendly, pesticide-free, and chemical sensitivity solutions. Has been serving the Bay Area since 1993 as the original 'green' pest control service.

Products and services

• Residential Pest Control Year-round pest control services for homes covering insects, bugs, ants, spiders, cockroaches, rodents, and termites, offered as one-time treatments or recurring maintenance plans for Bay Area homeowners.
• Commercial Pest Control Preventive and remedial pest management programs for commercial properties including offices, educational facilities, healthcare, hospitality, food service, and retail, using Integrated Pest Management approaches with flexible preventive schedules.
• Termite Services Comprehensive termite control including inspections, identification of subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites, treatment plans, and Vikane gas fumigation backed by a 4-year guarantee.
• Sensitive Solutions (Eco-Friendly Pest Control) Eco-friendly and natural pest control sub-brand offering chemical-free and low-toxicity solutions for customers with chemical sensitivities, pets, or organic gardens, using botanical oils, beneficial insects, nematodes, and mechanical controls; EcoWise certified.
• Ground Squirrel Control California ground squirrel control using the proprietary Tunnel Topper® process, a sand-and-water slurry that fills tunnels and repairs damage without poisons; ideal for school grounds, special turf areas, and ranches.
• Burrowing Animal Control

Quantifiable outcome

• Termite fumigation guaranteed for 4 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• EcoWise CertifiedminorOthers · 1 January 1993Killroy's Sensitive Solutions division is EcoWise certified, indicating the company's green and natural pest control services meet environmental and safety standards set by EcoWise.
• National Pest Management Association (NPMA)minorOthersKillroy displays the NPMA logo on its website indicating membership or certification alignment with the national pest management industry association.
• Professional Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC)minorOthersKillroy displays the PCOC logo indicating membership or regulatory alignment with the California pest control operators' association.
• QualityProminorOthersKillroy displays the QualityPro certification logo, indicating alignment with a professional standards and best practices certification program for pest management companies.
• Better Business Bureau (BBB)minorOthersKillroy maintains a BBB accreditation rating for its Campbell, CA location, demonstrating adherence to BBB standards for trustworthiness and transparent business practices.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Orkin: Largest pest control company in North America, operated by Rollins Inc. Directly competes with Killroy across residential and commercial pest control, termite, and IPM services, but at national scale with vastly larger marketing budget, technician base, and commercial account capabilities.
• Clark Pest Control: California-based regional pest control company offering residential and commercial pest, termite, and lawn care services. Closest comparable to Killroy in geography (California-heavy), service mix, and family-business legacy, but operates at substantially larger scale.
• EcoShield Pest Solutions: National pest control company built around eco-friendly and integrated pest management services. Competes most directly with Killroy's Sensitive Solutions division as both firms emphasize green, low-toxicity treatments alongside conventional options.
• Dewey Pest Control: California-focused regional pest control company serving residential and commercial customers with general pest and termite services. Comparable in scale, regional orientation, and service mix to Killroy.
• Aantex Pest Control: Southern California pest control operator providing residential and commercial pest, termite, and rodent services. Comparable in independent regional operator profile, though its geographic focus differs from Killroy's Bay Area concentration.
• Truly Nolen Pest Control: National family-branded pest control company offering residential, commercial, and termite services with a recognizable identity. Comparable to Killroy in family-business heritage and full-service pest offerings, but with national footprint.
• Western Exterminator: California-headquartered pest control provider serving residential and commercial customers across the Western US. Directly comparable service mix and California concentration, providing head-to-head competition in shared geographic markets.
• Terminix (Rentokil): Major national pest control provider now part of Rentokil Initial, offering residential and commercial pest, termite, and wildlife services. Competes with Killroy across the same service categories and uses national account programs that can pressure smaller regional operators.

Emerging players

• Debug Pest Control: Eco-focused pest control startup offering chemical-free and IPM-driven pest services. Competes with Killroy's Sensitive Solutions division in the green/eco pest segment, though at a much earlier stage and with a narrower service footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Ecolab: Global provider of water, hygiene, and infection prevention solutions that also operates a pest elimination business serving large commercial and institutional accounts. Overlaps with Killroy in commercial pest control but operates as a diversified incumbent across many categories rather than a focused pest specialist.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KillroyPest
• Instagraminstagram.com/killroypestcontrol
• Xx.com/killroypestcont

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Killroy Pest Control