Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their very own.
Jose Rodriguez wished to observe in his father’s footsteps and construct a profession within the pest management trade, so it was a dream come true when his brother, Michael, teamed up with him to start out Pest Brothers. Their robust bond set the tone for a thriving enterprise centered on constructing lasting relationships with clients.
“I do not assume there are numerous choices the place you get to work together with your finest good friend and your largest cheerleader,” Michael says. “For me, that was actually an important factor.”
It seems, going into enterprise together with your finest good friend might be your key differentiator. The 2 exhibit glorious teamwork, which is mirrored of their buyer interactions and lots of five-star critiques — securing their spot on Yelp’s Prime 100 Native Companies of 2025.
“[Customers] discover us well-tempered, well-mannered,” Michael says. “And the explanation for it’s we’re having fun with what we do and who we do it with. I believe that is actually the idea for all of it. After which from there, good issues come.”
Joined by their brother-in-law, John, every member of the Pest Brothers brings one thing completely different to the desk, together with recruiting, advertising and trade expertise.
Previous-school relationship-building was key to their early progress. The group sponsors golf tournaments for native faculties and attends group occasions to not solely create visibility for Pest Brothers but additionally to honor their roots.
“We have been sponsors on the golf match for [my son’s] highschool, the place we get numerous leads,” Jose says. “We promote wherever we will as a result of these are the parents who’ve fed us after we weren’t essentially attending to Yelp’s Prime 100.”
Associated: This Is What the CEO of Kickstarter Needs Aspiring Entrepreneurs Knew
Nonetheless, the brothers knew there was extra they might do to spice up on-line visibility. They noticed Yelp as a chance to draw extra leads, and the funding paid off rapidly. “We tried out the free trial [of Yelp Ads], and it was an absolute success — nearly like we flipped a lightweight swap, and [leads] tremendously began flowing in,” Michael says.
They acquired such an inflow of consideration from owners that they determined to cease sending out snail mail ads, which may have a low success fee.
“Every time we obtain a lead on Yelp, it is about velocity to guide,” Michael says. “The extra rapidly we will attain out, the extra rapidly we will get to that home, service it and win that lead.”
Its Yelp presence does greater than lead era, nevertheless. It additionally builds belief and helps flip potential clients into loyal, long-term regulars. Particularly within the pest management and residence service trade, a brand new buyer does not at all times imply one job. Each new lead is an opportunity to create a recurring buyer — and the alternatives are rolling in for Pest Brothers.
“These are people that in the event you do a great job, they’re gonna reward you for a protracted time period,” Michael says. “By way of the Yelp leads I noticed on our dashboard, views on our web page have elevated by 576% over the previous 30 days [since winning Yelp’s Top 100]. You discuss market consciousness — that is great. That is viral if I’ve ever seen it, so it has been superior for us.”
After getting your viewers’s consideration, Jose emphasised how essential it’s to set clear expectations, comparable to how lengthy a therapy will take or when the shopper will see outcomes. It is the sort of transparency that builds credibility, prevents confusion and earns five-star critiques.
When errors inevitably occur, the brothers acknowledge them with grace, reaching out personally to clients to make issues proper. “If someone calls you, you may positively rectify their challenge as quickly as you may,” Jose says. “That is actually the entire level of being a small enterprise, [being] ready to try this.”
Associated: She Created the Dance Studio She Was Wanting For. Now, It is a Nationwide Model.
After constructing Pest Brothers from a two-man operation into probably the most trusted pest management corporations within the Miami space, co-founders Michael and Jose share what’s helped them succeed within the aggressive residence service trade:
- Lead with belief. Prospects prolong belief once they allow you to into their properties and workplaces. Be dependable, present up if you say you’ll and deal with each house with respect.
- Put money into relationships. Repeat clients and referrals are the lifeblood of a service enterprise. Be taught individuals’s names, bear in mind their considerations and deal with each job as a chance to strengthen the connection.
- Use instruments to work smarter. From routing software program to on-line critiques, expertise can save time, enhance effectivity and assist you higher serve clients. Leverage completely different platforms and instruments to remain organized, reply quicker and construct your repute.
- Keep adaptable. Each job is completely different. Be prepared to regulate your method and continue learning new strategies to remain aggressive and environment friendly.
- Construct a repute that lasts. Dwelling companies are about greater than fixing a particular drawback. They’re about creating peace of thoughts. When individuals know you genuinely care about their residence or enterprise, they will belief you for years to return.
Watch the episode above to listen to straight from Michael and Jose Rodriguez, and subscribe to Behind the Overview for extra from new enterprise homeowners and reviewers each Wednesday.
Editorial contributions by Jiah Choe and Kristi Lindahl
