“Keep good records. Be sure to save warranty information, keep a good inventory, have solid equipment agreements with your employees so they become good stewards of your assets, and have plenty of notes,mental or otherwise, on spending
mistakes so you can try to not make them twice.
“We also try to stick to the old philosophy of expecting the best, but preparing for the worst. That’s not to say we exist in a state of fear, but we certainly try to keep expenses at a tolerable level. This includes keeping a tight inventory of chemicals, materials and supplies. Buying in bulk to take advantage of discounts is great, but if those products are not moving because they are not needed, then that is potential rent, truck payments, equipment upgrades, or principal loan payments that could be made to keep the ship sailing during slower times. Just like a small family should not live beyond their means by spending money before they make it, a smaller business should not worry about having a flashy space that eats away at a chunk of their profits each month.
This goes for trucks, too. We have purchased quality, used trucks that other companies have retired, are in excellent condition, and are already equipped for pest control. We have purchased used equipment from other firms as well. Be frugal, but then again, don’t hold up a dollar to save a dime.”
— Buddy Herring, Owner, Summit Pest Solutions, Mills River, N.C.