Pestmaster

What Pestmaster does

PestMaster is a U.S. pest control franchise system founded in 1979 in Bishop, California and currently headquartered in Reno, Nevada. The company operates as the franchisor PestMaster Franchise Network, LLC, which has been part of the Threshold Brands portfolio of home services franchises since September 2020. PestMaster supports 61+ independently owned franchise territories across the United States, each covering a protected area of approximately 250,000 population. Its service menu spans pest management, rodent control and exclusion, wildlife exclusion, vegetation management, government/military contracts, and health-related vector control, all delivered through a science-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) framework that emphasizes inspection, monitoring, prevention, and exclusion over pesticide dependency.

The franchise system monetizes through a one-time franchise fee of $42,500 per territory (with a 20% veteran discount via the VetFran program and a 50% discount for converting existing pest control businesses), plus ongoing royalty payments as a percentage of franchisee revenue. Franchisees require a minimum of $50,000 in liquid capital, with total initial investment ranging from $92,850 to $208,600. End-customer pricing follows a recurring service model — quarterly and annual agreements for residential pest, termite, mosquito, and rodent services, with additional commercial contracts for restaurants, property management, hotels, warehouses, and healthcare facilities requiring regulatory compliance. The franchisor provides franchisees with protected territories, a 12-week onboarding plus 1-week hands-on technical training program, an online Learning Management System (LMS), access to best-in-class third-party field management software, SEO/GEO marketing tools, an on-staff Associate Entomologist and Ph.D., and a dedicated government contracts team that secures federal, state, and municipal work (VA hospitals, military bases, DoD facilities) on franchisees' behalf — a capability that distinguishes PestMaster from most competing pest control franchise brands.

The franchisor's corporate staff is small (36 employees), reflecting an asset-light model where service delivery is performed by independent franchisee operators from home-based mobile operations. PestMaster has been consistently ranked among the top 100 pest control companies by PCT Magazine for nearly two decades and has received Entrepreneur's Hottest Franchise and Top Under $100K recognition. The company operates in a U.S. pest control market valued at $29.7B (2026) growing at a 5.2% CAGR (2018–2023), competing against approximately 34,000 pest control firms nationally.

Name

Pestmaster

Legal name

PestMaster Franchise Network, LLC

Website

https://pestmasterfranchise.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PestMaster is a 45+ year old U.S. pest control franchisor (61+ territories) operating as PestMaster Franchise Network, LLC under Threshold Brands, selling franchise opportunities and supporting franchisees that deliver Integrated Pest Management residential, commercial, and government pest control services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pest Control Services

NAICS

Exterminating and Pest Control Services (561710), Exterminating and Pest Control Services (56171)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Pest Control (IMAIAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Facility Pest Management (IMAIAHAB), Pest Management Services (IMAIAAAH), Commercial General Pest Control (Non-Specialty) (HSAMAAAL)

Keywords

• Pest control services
• Franchise opportunities
• Integrated pest management
• Government pest contracts
• Residential commercial pest control

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fees from new franchise owners. Standard fee is $42,500 per territory (approximately 250,000 population). Discounted rates available for veterans (20% discount) and business conversion candidates (50% discount, $21,250).
2. Royalty Payments: Ongoing royalty fees from franchisees as percentage of franchise revenue, providing recurring revenue stream tied to network performance.
3. Residential Pest Control Services: Recurring service revenue from homeowners for general pest control, termite protection, mosquito treatments, bed bug services, and rodent control. Quarterly treatment plans and annual agreements create predictable recurring revenue.
4. Commercial Pest Control Services: Service revenue from restaurants, property management companies, hotels, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and other commercial establishments requiring ongoing pest management for regulatory compliance.
5. Government Contract Services: Federal, state, and municipal government pest control contracts providing large job sizes, reliable payment cycles, and long-term contract terms. Covers VA hospitals, military bases, DoD facilities, federal buildings, and government housing.
6. Specialized Services: Vegetation management, wildlife exclusion, health-related vector control, aquatic weed and pest management - specialized services with premium pricing particularly valuable for government and utility contracts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

PestMaster sells pest control franchise opportunities to entrepreneurs across the United States, with franchisees delivering pest management, rodent control and exclusion, wildlife exclusion, vegetation management, and vector control services to residential, commercial, and government customers. The company uses Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods and provides franchisees with comprehensive training, government contracts access, and on-staff entomological expertise.

Product overview

PestMaster is a franchise-based pest control company offering four core service areas: Pest Management, Rodent Control & Exclusion, Wildlife Exclusion, and Vegetation Management. The company also provides access to Government Contracts and Vector Control services. The business model is structured around residential, commercial, and government clientele, with a focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques. Franchisees gain access to the full suite of services as part of the operating system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pest Management Core pest control service covering insects, spiders, ants, cockroaches, and general household pests for residential and commercial properties, using Integrated Pest Management techniques.
• Rodent Control & Exclusion Removal and exclusion services for mice, rats, voles, squirrels, and other rodents from residential and commercial structures.
• Wildlife Exclusion Humane removal and deterrence services for nuisance wildlife including birds and other animals causing property damage.
• Vegetation Management Specialized vegetation and bare ground management service particularly valuable for government and utility contracts, including aquatic weeds and pest vegetation control.
• Government Contracts Service Access to federal, state, and local government pest control contracts through a dedicated contracts team that identifies and secures opportunities for franchisees.
• Vector Control Health-related pest management targeting mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease-carrying insects for municipal and federal clients.
• PestMaster Franchise Ownership Pest control franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs with minimum liquid capital of $50,000. Includes protected territories, comprehensive training, marketing support, government contracts access, and ongoing operational support. Standard franchise fee is $42,500 with veteran (20%) and business conversion (50%) discounts available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 100 pest control companies ranking by PCT Magazine for nearly two decades
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Threshold BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020PestMaster was acquired by Threshold Brands in September 2020, joining a portfolio of home services offerings under the Threshold Brands umbrella. This partnership provides franchisees with shared services and expertise across multiple complementary franchise brands, enhancing support infrastructure through shared services teams.
• Insects Limited, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry training partner that sponsored PestMaster's in-person workshop, providing technical training support and expertise during the franchise network's collaborative training events.
• VetFran (International Franchise Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerVetFran is the IFA's program supporting veteran franchise ownership. PestMaster offers 20% discount on initial franchise fees for all honorably discharged U.S. military veterans through this partnership.
• Kaigan, LLCminorOthersSite ownership entity noted in Terms of Use as owner of the online interfaces and properties for PestMaster.
• National Pest Management AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership ensuring PestMaster stays connected with industry best practices and franchising standards.
• Granite Garage FloorsminorOthersPartner/vendor with logo displayed in Our Partners section of website.
• Field Management Software VendorscoreTechnology or IntegrationBest-in-class vendor partnerships for field management software supporting franchisee scheduling, dispatch, and customer relationship management operations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Orkin: Orkin, owned by Rollins, is a leading pest control company serving residential and commercial customers nationwide. Comparable in core pest management offering (residential, commercial, termite, wildlife) but is a much larger, company-owned operation rather than a franchise system.
• Authority Brands: Authority Brands is a multi-brand franchisor of home services including Mosquito Joe, Authority Pest Control, and The Grounds Guys. Comparable to Threshold Brands (PestMaster's parent) as a home services franchisor portfolio operator.
• Massey Services: Massey Services is a large pest management and lawn care company serving Florida and the southern U.S. Comparable in offering integrated pest management and termite/pest control to residential and commercial customers.
• Terminix: Terminix is one of the largest pest control service providers in North America, offering residential and commercial pest management. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping residential, commercial, and government-adjacent service capabilities, but operates at vastly greater scale than PestMaster.
• Arrow Exterminators: Arrow Exterminators is a large regional pest control provider in the southeastern U.S. offering residential and commercial pest services. Comparable in service offering but is a privately held, company-operated operator rather than a franchise system.

Direct peers

• Truly Nolen: Truly Nolen is a national pest control company offering residential and commercial pest management with a franchise-like branch system. Comparable service mix (termite, rodent, general pest) and government/military contract exposure.
• Aptive Environmental: Aptive Environmental is a fast-growing pest control company offering residential pest management with recurring service plans. Comparable in targeting residential customers with subscription pest control and aggressive local marketing, though it is company-routed rather than franchised.
• Mosquito Joe: Mosquito Joe is a franchise-based pest control brand specializing in mosquito and outdoor pest control services. It is a direct franchise-system peer to PestMaster, sharing the franchise sales, territory protection, and recurring service model.
• The Pest Rangers: The Pest Rangers is a pest control franchise offering residential and commercial pest management services with protected territories. Comparable as a franchise-system peer with similar recurring revenue and territory model.

Emerging players

• GreenSky Pests: GreenSky Pests is an emerging regional pest control operator focused on eco-friendly residential pest management. Comparable in IPM-oriented, environmentally responsible approach and residential recurring service model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PestmasterServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pestmaster-franchise

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Pestmaster