PMPs anticipate a good run for bed bug services in the year ahead.
According to the 2024 PCT State of the Bed Bug Control Market survey, 53 percent expected the percentage of revenue generated from these services to remain steady in the next 12 months.
Others had a more positive outlook: 45 percent projected this revenue to increase (though a reduction from the 64 percent who expected an increase in 2017). More than half (55 percent) anticipated more bed bug calls and jobs in the year ahead.
Modern Pest Control saw the frequency of bed bug calls increase after the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s when it began offering bed bug services to hospitality clients in addition to medical clinics. Residential work also picked up.
“We’ve done more residential bed bug work this year than we have probably in the last three years,” said Del Lawson. Though the number of these jobs is low, he expected the growth to continue.
Growing this business segment is not without challenges. In fact, 76 percent of PMPs indicated at least one issue was holding back growth of bed bug services.
Topping the list: fewer bed bug infestations, reported 25 percent of PMPs. One in five (20 percent) cited lower customer demand for bed bug services, and 21 percent said marketing the service was difficult.
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