What does it take to grow a pest control business from a one-man operation in a small Ohio town to a multi-state franchise? In this powerful episode, we dive into the grit, resilience, and vision required to scale beyond borders, and why your “setback” might just be your greatest setup.

This week on the Pest Empire Builder Podcast, host Matt Williams sits down with Anthony from Complete Pest Solutions, a pest control powerhouse born in Youngstown, Ohio. Anthony shares his raw and inspiring journey, from managing a large team, surviving a devastating fire that wiped out his equipment and vehicles, to rebooting his business with a clear, hard-earned blueprint. But the real gem? How he turned adversity into opportunity by launching a franchise model that now empowers others to build their own pest empires, without repeating the same mistakes.

If you’ve ever wondered whether franchising could be your next big move, or how to grow while staying rooted in family and community, this episode is for you.

Takeaways:

Why a catastrophic fire became the unexpected turning point in Anthony’s business journey

The power of referrals and grassroots marketing in early-stage business growth

How franchising creates opportunity while preserving family and community values

The real costs, and rewards, of building a franchise from scratch

Why being coachable and having grit matter more than financial know-how

"You either bow down to it, or you go into the storm and say, ‘We’re going to come out stronger.’”

If this episode sparked something in you, subscribe now and share it with a fellow entrepreneur. Then take 10 minutes to journal: What storm in your business might actually be the setup for your next season of growth?

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below.

Email: support@pestempirebuilder.com

Website: www.pestempirebuilder.com

Are you throwing money at marketing and seeing nothing in return?In this episode of the Pest Empire Builder Podcast, we tackle a problem every pest control business owner faces: marketing that drains your wallet but doesn’t deliver. Host Matt Williams sits down with Aaron Shishilla from WolfPack Advising to talk straight about what it really takes to grow your business through marketing that actually works.

Aaron brings years of experience in digital marketing for pest control and home inspection companies, and he’s not afraid to call out the hard truths. Together, Matt and Aaron unpack why cookie-cutter marketing fails, why most agencies get it wrong, and how you can finally build a customized, holistic strategy that scales your business.

Whether you’re a solopreneur juggling calls or an established company ready for growth, this episode will help you stop guessing and start winning.

Key Takeaways:

You must build your marketing strategy on your business’s actual strengths, not what’s trending.

No one marketing tool (like SEO or PPC) is a silver bullet, you need a tailored, full-picture approach.

Communication between you and your marketing team is non-negotiable for success.

Social media requires consistency and authenticity, don’t aim for perfection, just be real.

Tracking, feedback, and optimizing based on actual data is the key to ROI.

“There’s no magic pill. There’s no ad agency that will save your business without you doing the work too.” - Aaron Shishilla

Next step?Take a hard look at your current marketing. Are you guessing? Or building with purpose? Share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur, then journal your top 3 marketing strengths, and weaknesses. Oh, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode that helps you grow your pest control empire.

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below.

Email: support@pestempirebuilder.com

In this episode of the Pest Empire Builder Podcast, host Matt welcomes SEO and digital marketing strategist Danny Leibrandt to break down how pest control businesses can dominate online. From building a powerful Google Business Profile to leveraging Local Service Ads (LSAs), Danny shares actionable steps that home service business owners; especially pest control pros; can take to stand out in a highly competitive market. Danny’s journey from freelance copywriter to industry expert in pest control SEO is both inspiring and practical. He pulls back the curtain on the digital strategies that are actually working today and why many companies are overpaying for mediocre results.

This conversation is loaded with wisdom for owners trying to get out of the technician mindset and grow into scalable entrepreneurs. Whether you’re just starting your pest control company or looking to expand, this episode walks through the foundation you need to build, how to avoid common scams, and what marketing investments really produce ROI. If you’ve ever wondered where to start with digital marketing; or if what you’re currently doing is worth it; this episode will give you clarity and direction.

Key Takeaways:

1. Start with Strategy – Define what success means to you before investing in marketing.
   

2. Google Business Profile Is Your Foundation – Optimize name, categories, location, and reviews.
   

3. Local Service Ads (LSAs) Are a Must – Easy to set up, high-quality leads, and only pay per qualified call.
   

4. Watch Out for Overpriced Agencies – Many businesses overpay for vague SEO services with no ROI.
   

5. Play the Long Game – Think in terms of lifetime customer value, not just initial acquisition cost.

"If you’re not ranking well and your business name doesn’t include keywords, that’s going to hurt your visibility; simple as that." – Danny Leibrandt

Want to learn more about PEB? Check out the links below.

Want to learn more about Matt Williams? Check out the links below.

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Email: matt@dciabq.com