Page 33 - May/June 2019 W.C.T. Magazine

These are two big differences from when I was part-time. I have gained a lot of experience in actual nuisance wildlife control work and still attend seminars when I can, though I am no longer a member of the state association (I should be). I advertise that I am on call, 24/7/365. That sure makes me full- time. However, in actuality, I am still only part-time. I could not make a living in the area where I operate. There just isn’t enough work here to make it. Even if I got every bat job and all of the ground calls, it couldn’t be done. The economy of the area and the size of the client base will not support it. The entire month of November 2018, I had no calls at all. That didn’t bother me at all, because I went deer hunting, a fringe benefit of having had a prior career. I’ve no economic worries as long as I’m careful.
There are and have been a few part-time operators and at least one bug cross over working the area I now cover, as well as a new person trying his luck at making a living full-time. I have cleaned up a few messes made by some of them. The big thing in today’s world is insurance. Anybody in business needs to have it. Many of the part- timers do not have it and that is a thing that separates a nuisance wildlife control business from the part-time hobby. Is there a place for them? Sure, but they should have an idea of what they are getting into before they get there.
Speaking of insurance, we all know that there are business insurances for NWCOs available at reasonable rates. How many know that, at least in New York State, your standard vehicle insurance may not cover your work vehicle? My truck has advertising on the cap making it a commercial vehicle. Accordingly, it has to have a commercial registration and commercial insurance on it. It is worth looking into the rules about
this in your state as well, because you don’t want to find out after an accident that you are not covered.
Another difference between part- timers and full-timers is advertising. It can make you or break you. I even attended a seminar on it a year or so ago. I have been approached by Google and many others trying to get their hand into my pocket. I did try one company who promised big web coverage and a nice page for a monthly fee. The page didn’t meet expectations and looked like a grade-schooler had done it. I dropped them after three months after fighting with them over page construction. Another company wanted to boost the coverage of a page that I maintain. They do a come-on by saying, “Look what we can do for you.” You’ve had three inquires since we boosted your page just to show you. I did have three3 inquires that month. One was for bugs that I don’t do and the other two looked to be competition checking me out. Had I taken that company up on their offer, those three calls would have cost me money.
A professional business card, good contacts, advertising on your vehicles, and word-of-mouth all help your business. A web page is a must, but know your financial limitations and budget yourself accordingly. It’s common for web page companies to do referrals and charge by the call referred. That’s OK if they know what calls you are actually looking for and not just charging you for an inquiry. Back a few years ago another NWCO in the area had a fancy website that allowed a potential client to bring up the animal they thought they had and the number of potential animals they thought might be caught. The site would give them an immediate quote. It would be a great site in the proper area. He’s no longer in business here because $400.00 for two skunks won’t fly in this area.
MAY - JUNEn31 I really shouldn’t get on the
soapbox, but call me old fashion. I believe in honesty and do not condone hard sell or scare tactics. Everybody loves add-ons to a job. I do myself and when warranted, I will make the client aware of the need for more work as I find it. That said, it is their choice to allow me to do it or not. Just present the facts with no embellishment. It pays in the long run.
Horror stories abound from clients about both hard sell and scare tactics. The people using them will never be hired again by those clients or recommended by them. They are hurting their own client base for a fast buck.
A recent call for a home inspection proved interesting. The house was fairly new and was built right and tight. I found a couple loose
Continued on page 32
don’t
MiSS an
iSSue!
checK your SuBScription expiration date.
it’S located aBove your naMe on the Mailing
laBel and will looK SiMilar to the exaMpleS Shown Below
wctg44274 07/18 or wctnySwMa 07/18
www.wctmagazine.com