What Is My Pest Control Business Worth?

Pest control is one of the most aggressively consolidated industries in the country. Rollins (Orkin), Rentokil (Terminix), Anticimex, and dozens of PE-backed platforms are all actively acquiring. If you own a pest control company, you're sitting on a highly sought-after asset.

Here's what it's worth.

Typical Valuation Ranges

Pest control companies are commonly valued as a multiple of annual revenue:

• Small operators (under $500K revenue): 1x to 1.5x revenue
• Mid-size companies ($500K–$3M revenue): 1.5x to 2.5x revenue
• Larger companies ($3M+ revenue): 2x to 3x+ revenue

In SDE terms, most pest control businesses sell for 3x to 5x SDE. PE-backed platforms acquiring larger companies can pay 6x to 10x EBITDA.

Factors that push toward the higher end:

• High percentage of recurring service agreements (monthly/quarterly)
• Customer retention above 85%
• Diversified service mix (general pest, termite, wildlife, mosquito, commercial)
• Revenue growth above 10% annually
• Route density in a concentrated geographic area
• Licensed and trained technician team

Factors that push toward the lower end:

• One-time treatment revenue (no contracts)
• Owner runs routes and handles sales
• Low customer retention
• Residential-only, no commercial accounts
• Scattered geography (high drive time between stops)

Why Pest Control Is So Attractive

Recurring revenue model. Monthly and quarterly service agreements create highly predictable cash flow. Well-run companies have 70–80%+ of revenue under contract.

Recession resistance. Pest problems don't pause for economic downturns. Termites don't care about interest rates.

Route density economics. Every new customer added to an existing route is incremental margin. Consolidators buy companies specifically for their routes.

Essential and regulated service. Pesticide application requires licensing. Customers can't DIY most pest problems. This creates a real competitive moat.

Key Metrics Buyers Evaluate

Recurring Revenue Percentage

This is the most important metric in pest control valuations. Companies with 70%+ recurring revenue from service agreements command significantly higher multiples than one-time treatment operators.

Customer Retention Rate

85%+ annual retention is the benchmark. Every percentage point above or below meaningfully impacts the revenue multiple buyers will pay.

Revenue Per Route

Strong pest control companies generate $300K–$500K+ per route annually. This measures both route density and pricing effectiveness.

Average Revenue Per Customer

Higher per-customer revenue indicates upsell effectiveness (bundling pest + termite + mosquito) and commercial accounts. Average revenue per customer above $600 annually is solid.

Geographic Concentration

Tight route density reduces drive time and increases technician productivity. Buyers pay more for companies with concentrated service areas than for those spread across a wide geography.

How to Increase Your Pest Control Business's Value

1. Convert to recurring contracts. Move one-time treatment customers to monthly or quarterly service agreements. This is the single highest-impact action for your valuation.
2. Bundle services. Offer pest + termite + mosquito + wildlife as a package. Higher revenue per customer and better retention.
3. Build route density. Focus marketing on specific zip codes where you already have customers. Density drives margin.
4. Add commercial accounts. Restaurants, food processing, property management, and healthcare all need pest control and typically sign annual contracts.
5. Retain technicians. Licensed pest control technicians are hard to replace. Competitive pay, company vehicles, and training budgets keep them.
6. Track your numbers. Retention rate, revenue per route, cost per stop, customer acquisition cost. Buyers want data.

Ready to Find Out What Your Pest Control Business Is Worth?

Browse the valuation multiples guide for current industry data, or schedule a free call for a confidential valuation.