Do your clients sign a pest control contract when hiring your services? If they don’t, you’re passing up a unique opportunity to brand—and protect—your company.
Drafting a pest control agreement sounds complicated. But it’s simpler than you’d think. Plus, the upsides are well worth the extra paperwork.
Here’s why a pest control contract is a must-have for every job. And don’t worry—we’ll give you a ready-to-download pest control contract template to make things easy.
A pest control contract, or a pest control service agreement, is a formal document outlining the relationship between a pest control operator (PCO) and the customer. The service agreement makes everything crystal clear. This helps the customer understand what to expect when hiring pest control services.
A comprehensive pest control contract contains the following details:
The agreement outlines the details of the job, explaining what needs to be done, when, where, and how. It’s important to agree on:
The customer may also request certain pest control methods, service schedules, and PCO discretion. Any such concerns go into the contract.
Pest control services might not be a one-and-done job. Keeping pests away can require regular site visits and treatments throughout the year.
A pest control agreement defines these follow-up appointments and service dates. The services might be performed monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the customer’s goals and the pest situation.
The pest control service agreement outlines the price, payment plan, and billing structure. Pricing depends on the scope of work and quality of service.
A section of the pest control contract defines the do’s and don’ts of the PCO’s methods.
This section explains your service limitations to the customer, based on:
A pest control agreement features service renewal and termination clauses.
In most cases, service renewal is pretty straightforward. But premature cancellation may involve fees and waived guarantees on the customer’s part.
A pest control agreement binds you to your promises. This can be anything from guaranteeing safety standards to meeting customer expectations.
Service guarantees also go hand in hand with the customer’s due diligence. So, it’s important to ensure your customer understands their responsibilities as well.
Every pest control contract closes with the signatures, contact information, and role of those involved.
A pest control agreement shows professionalism. It sets your brand apart from the other 31,500 U.S. pest control businesses. It also formalizes your work model and helps build lasting customer relationships.
Here are five ways a pest control service agreement benefits your business.
Transparency is important in any industry. It’s particularly useful in creating meaningful and lasting customer relationships.
Providing customers with pest control services is a partnership. The service agreement communicates the nature and terms of the partnership. That is, each party’s responsibilities and expectations.
Most people don’t realize that pest control is a continuous effort. Without a contract, most customers will likely pay for a one-time service that’s only a temporary solution to their pest problem.
A pest control agreement encourages customers to sign up for a more efficient, ongoing pest control plan.
According to industry stats, you are 60%–70% more likely to sell to an existing customer than a new prospect. Also, retaining an existing customer costs 5 times less than acquiring a new customer.
A simple contract can convert one-time customers into fully committed, long-term clients.
The repeat business a pest control contract establishes is vital. Namely, it stabilizes your cash flow by creating predictable revenue streams.
Signing a new client using a pest control agreement is like selling subscription services. You’re assured a certain amount of business income every month, quarter, or year with every new customer. Predictable income makes it easier to make financial decisions and business growth plans.
Contractual pest control is beneficial to both your business and the customer. Most notably, ongoing pest control is way more effective than one-off treatments at removing pests.
And because it’s proactive, recurring pest control is also more efficient. This means less workload for the PCO and better results for the client.
With contractual pest control, it’s easy to maintain a high success rate. This will allow customers to see value in your services.
A pest control agreement puts both parties on the same page. This prevents future surprises or disagreements on payments, success metrics, and service delivery.
A pest control service agreement protects your business from various pitfalls. By not binding your pest control jobs with a formal contract, you risk:
Using a pest control contract is an easy and effective way to boost customer loyalty. It also gives you repeat business and builds your brand reputation.
It also streamlines customer engagements and sales. And (best of all!), it won’t cost you anything to print and file a pest control contract form.
Start reaping the benefits of contractual pest control today. Click the button below or follow this link to download your free pest control contract template.
