Add-On Biz: Mosquito control
1 Mar, 2006 By: Ron Hall Landscape ManagementFranchiser says mosquito control will fly as landscape service.
Homeowners embracing the concept of outdoor living spaces are asking landscape pros to provide services beyond those typically defining their profession. While some contractors are content to concentrate on what they do best, others seek new revenue opportunities. Sometimes the opportunity comes dressed as a franchise
Misting system
One such new service add-on is a company known as Mosquito Squad, a franchise operation headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Mosquito Squad is a sister company to Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, which was founded in 1995 and now numbers more than 70 landscape and outdoor lighting locations within the United States.
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"Consumers want to enjoy their outdoor living areas and the landscaping that surrounds it. This product allows them the ability to enjoy it all the time without getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, " says Scott Zide, vice president of Mosquito Squad.
Entering this spring, the company has 12 franchise locations in the United States and plans to have 10 more by the end of 2006 and an additional 15 in 2007.
The initial franchise fee is $34,000 and, typical of all franchise agreements, franchise owners pay a percentage of sales to the franchiser to support marketing.
"With that fee you get the exclusive right to use the Mosquito Squad name in an exclusive geographic area," explains Zide. "You also have access to all the marketing materials that have been created for the franchise system. You also receive preferred pricing and ongoing technical support from our approved manufacturer. There is a 4-day training school in Charlotte, NC, that covers all the installation, marketing and sales aspects of the business."
How it works
In the Mosquito Squad system, a trained technician places specially designed misting devices approximately 10-12 feet apart around a desired area. The misters operate two to four times each day for 45 seconds at a time, according to information on the company's Web site.
"The goal is to have 90% reduction (of mosquitoes) within a 1-week period," says Zide. "Comments from our customers thus far have been very encouraging. You can run the system anytime during the day you would like. Whether it's twice a day or four times a day would depend on the problem you have," he says.
"It is programmed at the time of installation and can be changed. You can also manually 'fog' your backyard before entertaining for the evening.
In addition to homeowners, this service could be attractive to restaurants with outdoor patios, day care centers, any commercial properties with outdoor seating areas and also to control flying insects during parties, receptions or other outdoor events.
Easy maintenance
On average, the tank holding the misting material will have to be filled twice each season, says Zide. In areas prone to freezing a technician would make a third visit to the property to winterize the system.
Be advised that since you are offering a pest control service, you would need to have the appropriate state licenses to install and operate this system.
For more information, call 704/752-3693 or visit www.mosquitosquad.com.
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