In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Jared LaJaunie, founder and CEO of LaJaunie's Pest Control, one of the most impressive regional pest control companies on the Gulf Coast doing over $12 million in annual revenue. Jared shares his remarkable journey from starting as a $10/hour termite technician at Orkin at age 19 to building a multi-location operation with dozens of trucks and a large team. He breaks down why it took him 9 years to reach $1 million in revenue, and how he then grew to over $12 million in just the next 7 years after joining a mastermind and completely transforming his mindset and systems.

Jared reveals the exact turning point that changed everything: joining a mastermind with Donnie Shelton and other successful operators who were doing far more revenue than him. He explains the systems he implemented that he wasn't doing before, including building an inside sales team, switching from monthly to quarterly auto-pay services, tracking KPIs and making data-driven decisions, and creating SOPs for every service. Jared also shares why most pest control owners face the same recurring problems (hint: it's almost always mindset), how to properly look at your numbers to make better decisions, why raising prices is essential for growth, and the truth about staying busy year-round even in cold climates.

Whether you're stuck at under $1 million and can't seem to break through, struggling to get out of the field and stop being a technician, or looking to scale past $5 million with better systems and leadership, this episode delivers hard-earned lessons from someone who's been in the trenches and built an 8-figure company. Connect with Jared on Facebook and check out his mastermind Eagles Nest at eaglesnest.com to learn more about his growth strategies and mindset coaching.

Jared LaJaunie, CEO of LaJaunie's Pest Control:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jared.lajaunie/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-lajaunie-3491306b/

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Pest Control Legends:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jared LaJaunie

04:35 Early Days of Building LeJaunie's Pest Control

08:58 The Impact of Mastermind Groups on Growth

11:29 Shifting Mindsets: From Technician to Business Owner

19:10 The Eagle's Nest Mastermind: Giving Back to Entrepreneurs

24:18 Mindset Matters: Believing in Success

29:20 Understanding Your Numbers: The Key to Growth

35:30 Lead Generation: Strategies for Success

39:27 Winter Strategies: Keeping Business Alive Year-Round

45:11 Words of Wisdom: Advice for Pest Control Owners

#pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #danleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Chase Goodeill, president of Goodall Holdings and CEO of Pest Control Consultants, the largest privately-held pest control company in Illinois doing over $11 million in annual revenue. Chase breaks down how he transformed his family's small pest control business into a multi-state operation through strategic acquisitions, inside sales mastery, and a relentless focus on recurring revenue. He shares his journey from working as a technician with his dad to taking full ownership in 2021 and doubling revenue year-over-year multiple times.

Chase reveals his complete playbook for sustainable growth, including how his inside sales team closed $3 million in recurring revenue in one year, why recurring contracts are the "holy grail" of the pest control industry, and the exact systems he uses to convert leads into quarterly customers. He walks through his 10 acquisitions since 2019, sharing hard-earned lessons from deals gone wrong, how to protect yourself with holdback clauses, and why maintaining acquired companies' digital assets can generate massive free leads. Chase also explains his approach to door-to-door sales, how to finance million-dollar acquisitions without PE backing, and why leveraging real estate equity has been key to his growth strategy.

Whether you're a solo operator looking to scale past $3 million, considering your first acquisition, or trying to build a high-performing inside sales team, this episode delivers actionable strategies from someone who's grown a pest control company to 8 figures while staying privately held. Connect with Chase on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn more about his acquisition strategies and growth systems.

Chase Goodeill, Founder of Pest Control Consultants:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-goodeill-89ba40b2/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chase.goodeill/

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Pest Control Legends:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Chase Goodeill

01:56 Chase's Journey into Pest Control

05:11 Building an Inside Sales Team

07:14 Closing Leads and Subscription Services

09:31 The Importance of Recurring Revenue

10:54 Transitioning Leadership and Company Growth

19:20 Strategies for Rapid Growth and Acquisitions

22:49 Lessons Learned from Acquisitions

28:13 Strategic Acquisitions in Pest Control

30:08 Understanding Company Size and Value

31:46 Leveraging Real Estate for Business Growth

33:57 Lessons from Major Acquisitions

35:33 Forecasting Revenue and Growth Strategies

37:55 Launching New Branches: The Essentials

39:44 The Value of Door-to-Door Sales

44:28 Recommended Reads for Pest Control Owners

46:57 Extreme Ownership and Goal Alignment

#pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #danleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Breton Bess, a Golden Door Award winner, US veteran, and owner of four successful pest control branches who has built and sold multiple high-performing companies. Breton breaks down how he grew a pest control branch from zero to $5.5 million in just three years using door-to-door sales and strategic team building. He shares the military discipline and attention to detail that shaped his leadership style, plus his proven system for recruiting, training, and managing sales teams that can scale to 45+ reps.

Breton reveals his complete playbook for door-to-door success, including how to find and recruit top performers (hint: target college athletes), avoid the biggest mistakes sales reps make at the door, and close switchover customers who are already working with competitors. He explains why less is more when selling pest control, how to replicate yourself by delegating low-leverage tasks, and the exact training materials he uses to turn rookies into top producers. Breton also shares insights on maintaining high customer retention, cross-selling additional services like mosquito and termite treatments, and building a team culture that drives results.

Whether you're a solo operator looking to hire your first sales rep, a technician wanting to scale beyond doing the work yourself, or an established owner ready to build a recruiting machine, this episode delivers actionable strategies from someone who's done it multiple times. Connect with Breton on Instagram @breton_bess to learn more about his door-to-door systems and pest control expertise.

Breton Bess, Owner of Insight Pest Solutions:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breton_bess_/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/breton-bess-a1b3a7128/

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Pest Control Legends:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Breton Bess

02:41 Lessons from Military Discipline

04:52 Transitioning to Pest Control

09:14 The Golden Door Award and Sales Mastery

11:19 The Importance of Leadership and Self-Education

12:27 Replicating Yourself in Business

16:07 High Leverage Tasks for Growth

18:28 Scaling to $5.5 Million in Three Years

20:37 Recruiting Top Talent in Door-to-Door Sales

23:28 The Importance of Authenticity in Coaching

26:16 Traits of Successful Salespeople

27:22 Effective Training Strategies for Sales Teams

29:51 Common Mistakes in Door-to-Door Sales

33:04 Understanding Customer Needs and Expectations

40:06 The Role of Customer Care in Business Growth

#pestcontrolmarketing #doortodoor #doortodoorsales #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrollegends #danleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Dave Bradford, the CEO of Certus Pest, a $100 million pest control company operating across the US and Canada. With a background in finance and M&A, Dave has been involved in over 100 acquisitions throughout his career, including serving as CFO at Environmental Pest Service before joining Certus. Dave breaks down exactly what makes a pest control company valuable, the biggest red flags buyers look for, and the most common financial mistakes owners make when trying to scale or prepare for an exit.

They dive deep into the fundamentals that drive valuations, from customer retention rates and recurring revenue percentages to the importance of cultural fit in acquisitions. Dave shares specific metrics buyers care about, like ideal cancellation rates for pest control (1.5%) versus termite services (under 1%), and explains why high employee turnover is one of the biggest red flags in due diligence. He also reveals where pest control companies waste money, particularly in marketing and credit card processing fees, and how owners can improve cash flow regardless of their company size.

Dave's core message to pest control owners is simple: keep the end in mind. Whether you're planning to pass the business to your children or sell to a buyer like Certus, understanding what creates value from day one will help you make better decisions about hiring, systems, and growth strategies. This episode is packed with actionable insights for any pest control owner looking to build a more valuable, sellable business.

Dave Bradford, CEO of Certus:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbradford1/

Certus: https://www.certuspest.com/

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Pest Control Legends:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

#pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #dannyleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Chaz Estrada, regional sales and marketing manager at Nisus Corporation and the unofficial “bug guy” of the industry. Chaz has one of the most interesting combos you’ll find in pest control: he’s a technical sales and marketing leader and a macro insect photographer who spends his free time capturing insanely detailed shots of the very pests everyone else is trying to eliminate. From freezing bugs in cups as a kid to building serious industry credibility at companies like Terminix, True Heat Solutions, Viseris, and now Nisus, Chaz walks through how he turned a childhood obsession into a career, a brand, and a reputation.

Chaz opens up about being an introvert in a people-heavy business, why he never felt “born” for sales, and how sheer hunger, responsibility to his family, and outworking everyone around him changed his life. He breaks down what he learned doing termite inspections, heat treatments, and insulation work, why most techs are leaving piles of money on the table by not educating and upselling their existing customers, and how he used association meetings, note-taking, and content creation to become known in the industry. Chaz shares his philosophy on using AI as a force multiplier (not a replacement for your personality), his approach to networking at events like PestWorld and Academy, and why he believes the biggest problem in pest control right now isn’t tools or training—it’s lack of hunger.

Toward the end, Chaz leaves a clear message for techs, owners, and manufacturers alike: get hungry, stop coasting, lean into education, and chase the part of the industry you’re actually passionate about—whether that’s wildlife, heat, insulation, or something else entirely. If you’re in pest control and feel like you’re capable of more but haven’t quite broken through yet, this conversation is a blueprint for how to do it without being the stereotypical “hard closer,” and instead by becoming the most prepared, most genuine, and most reliable person in the room.

Chaz Estrada, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager of Nisus Corporation:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chazestrada/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chaz.estrada

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaz_estrada/

Nisus Corporation: https://nisuscorp.com/

Dan Leibrandt, Co-Founder of Pest Control Millionaires:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Chaz Estrada

02:49 Chas's Journey into Pest Control

11:15 Overcoming Introversion in Business

19:44 The Turning Point: Family and Career Motivation

26:35 Lessons from Industry Meetings and Networking

28:20 Understanding the Pest Control Industry

30:20 Motivation and Professional Growth

32:48 The Importance of Continuous Learning

34:43 Sales Techniques and Customer Relationships

39:32 The Art of Selling in Pest Control

46:32 Networking and Building Relationships

55:29 Building Genuine Relationships in Business

58:18 Maximizing Networking Opportunities at Pestworld

01:07:12 The Role of AI in the Pest Control Industry

01:13:06 Pursuing Passion and Growth in Pest Control

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrollegends #danleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast #chazestrada #nisus

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Josh Schiffman, the owner of Sage Pest Control, an eight-figure company built on culture, strategy, and world-class leadership. From “Most Creative Salesman” and “Top Manager of the Year” to his self-proclaimed “Best Dad Award” and even “Closest to Beating the State Champions,” Josh’s life is a string of stories that all point to the same theme: resilience, grit, and choosing to keep going when most people would quit.

Josh walks through his journey from selling alarms door to door with $200 in the bank and a skeptical father-in-law, to making $35,000 his first summer, $100,000 the next, and eventually transitioning into pest control where he sold over 400 accounts in just a couple of months. He breaks down how he rewrote the “proven script” to sound like himself, why rejection tolerance beats talent in door-to-door, and how tiny tweaks in approach, follow-ups, and long-term thinking turned struggling reps into top performers. His stories about training over 3,000 salespeople, building confidence through small wins, and treating contact info like “the new oil” are a masterclass in how to build a real sales machine.

From there, the episode zooms out into leadership, culture, and what it truly means to build people first. Josh unpacks the “Sage Shield” values behind Sage Pest Control—build, serve, character, courage—and explains how achievement journals, book incentives, service-focused stories, and President’s Club trips have created a culture where technicians aren’t just killing bugs, they’re saving dogs, helping neighbors, and becoming better humans. He closes with a powerful message to owners, reps, and even his own kids: stay off the comparison trap of social media, compete only against who you were yesterday, commit to finishing what you start, and remember you’re probably only a couple of steps away from the breakthrough you can’t yet see.

Josh Schiffman, Owner of Sage Pest Control:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-schiffman-3486a89/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshua.a.schiffman

Email: josh@mytribos.com

Dan Leibrandt, Co-Founder of Pest Control Millionaires:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Josh Schiffman

01:59 Josh's Journey into Pest Control

13:03 Transitioning to Sage Pest Control

17:57 Insights on Door-to-Door Sales

28:51 Resilience in Sales and Life

39:15 Growth of Sage Pest Control

41:12 Building a Sales Team and Company Culture

48:37 Learning from Mistakes and Celebrating Milestones

54:50 Creating a Strong Company Culture

01:01:05 Community Engagement and Service

01:08:27 The Importance of Personal Growth and Development

01:17:12 Final Thoughts and Advice for Business Owners

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #danleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast #joshschiffman #sagepestcontrol

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Josh Fleenor, the CEO and founder of Pest Pros Pest Solutions in Sacramento, to unpack a people-first growth playbook. Josh shares the origin story that pushed him to launch his company, how purpose became the operating system for his team, and why culture, standards, and leadership development moved the needle faster than door to door ever could.

You’ll hear how Josh turned early LinkedIn outreach and property-management relationships into momentum, then layered on review velocity, Google demand capture, and a professionalized sales engine targeting schools and third-party-audited accounts. He breaks down the core values that guide hiring and performance, the company-wide leadership curriculum they built from scratch, and the practical ways they protect five-star service while avoiding one-star blowups. Josh also gets personal about divorce, fatherhood, and learning to “get out of the way” so great people can lead.

If you are a pest or home-service owner, this conversation is a masterclass in building an organization that wins because it serves. Stick around to the end for Josh’s message to founders on betting on yourself, plus a spotlight on All About Hope, a nonprofit bringing creativity and comfort to kids in the hospital.

Josh Fleenor, Founder of Pest Pros Pest Solutions:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshfleenorpestpros

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josh.fleenor.3

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zekeflee/

Website: https://www.pestprosps.com/

Dan Leibrandt, Co-Founder of Pest Control Millionaires:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Josh Fleenor

06:14 The Catalyst for Starting His Own Company

12:25 Marketing Strategies and Building Relationships

18:48 Core Values and Company Culture

24:43 Building a Purpose-Driven Team

32:43 Overcoming Personal Struggles

40:17 Embracing Risks and Self-Belief

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #danleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast #joshfleenor #pestpros #pestprospestsolutions #sacramento #sacramentoca

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt sits down with Jeff Davenport, co-founder of Official Pest Prevention, who scaled the company to $20M+ in annual revenue and 170+ employees before exiting at a strong multiple. Jeff isn’t done—he’s back at it building Prize Pest Control, applying two decades of hard-won lessons to his next chapter.

We dig into the door-to-door years (including Jeff’s legendary 1,000 accounts in 4 months), the “three essentials” every pest company needs (finance, brains, and muscle), and the hiring engine that worked—licensing academy, promoting from within, and creating sticky comp for top reps. Jeff breaks down what finally unlocked termite sales, how he thinks about pricing (including raising legacy customer rates without churn), when acquisitions make sense, and what really happens during a fast-track sale—plus how leadership, culture, and personal growth have to level up at each stage.

We wrap with how Prize Pest Control is built today (marketing-led, call-center sales) and a unique year-round lead/sales program they run for other operators who want steady growth without a summer D2D surge. Connect with Jeff on Facebook or LinkedIn, or reach him at jeff@prizepest.com

if you want to talk shop—or explore the call-center program.

Jeff Davenport, Founder of Prize Pest Control:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-davenport-8b384713a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.davenport.3

Email: jeff@prizepest.com

Dan Leibrandt, Host of Pest Control Legends:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt

Website: https://danleibrandt.com

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jeff Davenport

08:34 The Art of Door-to-Door Sales

16:09 Founding Official Pest Prevention

19:54 Growth and Diversification Strategies

25:43 Hiring and Training Practices

30:42 Key Hires and Leadership Development

33:08 Building Key Partnerships and Expanding Services

35:02 Strategic Hiring and Team Management

37:45 The Three Pillars of a Successful Business

41:36 Personal Growth as an Entrepreneur

45:25 Navigating the Exit Process

51:36 Transitioning to a New Venture

58:52 Reflections on Success and Learning

01:00:55 Advice for Aspiring Business Owners

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #danleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast #jeffdavenport #prizepestcontrol #officialpestprevention