Mosquito Squad Announces Four New Territories

Editor’s note: PCT’s Brad Harbison caught up with Tom Swift, president of Mosquito Squad and executive vice president of Authority Brands, to learn more about Mosquito Squad.

PCT: When and how did Mosquito Squad get started?

Tom Swift: Mosquito Squad first started in 2005 when we invented the Barrier Treatment in 2005 to help outdoor lighting installers fight the bite while working—and we’ve been leading the industry ever since! With countless imitators, we are the original mosquito control business, and we have protected more than 300,000 backyards. We’ve received thousands of thank you notes and rave reviews from our clients for allowing them to use their backyards freely again without having to worry about mosquito bites.

PCT: Who were the original owners and what did they do prior to launching Mosquito Squad?

TS: Mosquito Squad started in 2005 after our founders realized there was a better way to help people escape the itchy bites and diseases associated with mosquitoes.

PCT: Tell us about you and other key executives.

TS: Authority Brands is the current owner of Mosquito Squad. Craig Donaldson is the current CEO of Authority Brands. Craig has an MBA from Brigham Young University and has served in a leadership role for many years with various home service and franchise organizations. I serve as president of Mosquito Squad and executive vice president of Authority Brands. Previously, I served as chief operating officer from May 2021 to April 2022. I was COO of our predecessor from November 2019 to May 2021. From January 2009 to November 2019, I served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of our affiliate, ASP Franchising, in Macon, Georgia. I earned my law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, a masters of tax law from the Leven College of Law at the University of Florida and is a Certified Financial Planner.

PCT: How did the company perform in 2022 and how many franchise locations does it have?

TS: Our yearly revenues (e.g., 2022 year-end revenues) break down as follows: System-wide Sales - $114,525,713 / Aggregate Territory Gross Revenue for Group - $93,944,964. We currently have 208 franchise locations.

PCT: Why has the Mosquito Squad franchise model been successful? 

TS: Mosquito Squad’s franchise model is as successful as it is for many reasons, but one that stands out is the support we provide our franchise owners. We prepare them for the realities of business ownership and provide them the skills, knowledge, and tools to make their business a success. Mosquito Squad is uniquely able to offer such extensive support thanks to our large franchise owner network. In addition, as a part of Authority Brands’ family of brands, there are many other entrepreneurs from our sister brands that our franchise owners can collaborate with. We also provide ongoing training programs and coaching, so they never feel alone no matter where they are along their journey. With decades of pest control and franchise support experience at the corporate level, we’re confident that we can support our franchise owners with anything they may encounter.

PCT: What all does Mosquito Squad provide to franchisees in terms of training, support, marketing, etc?

TS: Every Mosquito Squad location has access to our online Marketing Shoppe. Using this platform, you’ll be able to customize and order a variety of tools that help you find new customers. Whether you need coupons, brochures, post cards, door hangers or lawn signs, the Marketing Shoppe will make sure they look great! In addition to online resources, our marketing team is always available and looking for ways to help our franchise owners generate more customers. Since every region has its own mosquito and pest control needs, we make sure that each franchise owner’s business website is localized to their area. Our team creates unique identities for their businesses that appeals to their customer base. Franchise owners have an optimized local homepage on MosquitoSquad.com, multiple social media channels, and a Mosquito Squad blog to make sure customers have plenty of ways to discover their business. In terms of training, we provide each franchise owner with a training program called “Squad School.” This will teach business owners how to run a pest control business effectively and efficiently. No prior pest or mosquito management experience is required, as our training will cover everything that our franchise owners need to know. Additionally, we provide each franchise owner with business advisors and coaches. They conduct annual field visits to get hands on with our franchise owners and make sure their territory is running smoothly. While the coaches and advisors are available whenever franchise owners have questions, field visits are the perfect time to get specific support.

PCT: How does Mosquito Squad stand out from its competitors?

TS: Mosquito Squad is the pioneer in the industry and has continually innovated new and exciting ways to grow a pest control company. Our experienced staff has decades of experience working with franchise owners in both the early stages of business ownership and those far along their entrepreneurial journeys. A unique benefit of Mosquito Squad are our large territories. Our franchise owners benefit from territories that are 3-4x larger than those of the competition. This means our franchise owners can earn more from their investment from the beginning. We also waive 12 months of royalty fees for new franchise owners to better help them realize a quick return on their investment. Additionally, we have a state-of-the-art training facility in Macon, GA that provides our franchise owners an edge. Our brand recognition is highly respected in the industry and leads to more customers seeking out Mosquito Squad franchise owners to work with over other options.

PCT: Do Mosquito Squad franchisees operate as independent businesses...or can existing pest control companies add Mosquito Squad services to their suite of offerings? If so, can you provide me with an example of a pest control company that has also become a Mosquito Squad franchisee?

TS: Each Mosquito Squad location is independently owned and operated, meaning our franchise owners are free to lead their businesses to success in a way that works best for them. We love to work with people who are new to the industry and people who have existing pest control companies and are seeking to convert to a Mosquito Squad franchise. Those with existing pest control experience can make excellent franchise owners as they already have the skills and industry knowledge to be successful. Feedback we tend to hear from conversions specifically is the quality of the franchise owner network. Many appreciate the systems and operational support we bring to their business, but the cohesiveness of the other franchise owners always blows them away. We truly are a team, and together with Mosquito Squad’s support, our franchise owners can go on to be more successful than they ever thought possible.

PCT: What are Mosquito Squad's future plans? Will the company expand its offerings to services like general pest control (e.g., cockroaches, rodents, bed bugs)

TS: Mosquito Squad is currently focused on protecting the exterior of the home – primarily from mosquitos and ticks. However, in certain climates our franchise owners have been able to adapt to the pests local to them and their customers. Some of our most resourceful owners have offered similar services for other insects like scorpions. As we grow, our mission is to continue serving our franchise owners and helping them to support their local communities. We strive to be the best franchisor possible and enable our franchise owners to own the businesses of their dreams. With Authority Brands, and its family of brands by our side, we know that we’ll be able to achieve this mission. — Brad Harbison