Solo Service or Bundled Up?

The majority of PMPs (74%) said they offer tick control services as an add-on, separate service or a one-time, as-needed service, but almost one in four (23%) bundles tick with either mosquito or flea services. Flea and tick can be a natural fit since they both pester pets, but they require different treatment approaches. Mosquito and tick can be a natural combo because they involve many of the same harborage places and respond to the same products — namely, broad-spectrum insecticides and certain essential oils.

Michael Carter of Natural State Pest & Lawn made the case for a bundled approach: “Bundling tick services with fleas and mosquitoes has worked well for us. There is a lot of overlap in timing and treatment areas, plus most people are not calling about just one issue. They want to be able to enjoy their yard without worrying about ticks, fleas or mosquitoes every time they step outside. Bundling those services lets us offer a more complete outdoor program while still addressing each one the right way.”

In contrast, Robert Frost of Mosquito Joe of Tallahassee (Fla.) likes to keep things separate, although he does capitalize on the cross-sell potential: “If someone calls with a tick issue, I want to address the ticks first and get them knocked out. Then I explain to the homeowner that my mosquito barrier has enough of a residual to prevent ticks from coming back into the yard; if they want us to put them on a recurring mosquito service, they won’t have to worry about ticks anymore. If they had been considering a mosquito service, this tends to push them over the top, and they sign up for the recurring service. Once they’re in, they love the service because they aren’t bothered by mosquitoes or ticks.”