Mulrooney Sees Strong Future for Pest Control Industry

Tim Mulrooney, managing director with investment banking and financial services firm William Blair, opened the PCT Top 100 Awards Ceremony & Executive Summit last week in Chicago by sharing an optimistic long-term outlook for the structural pest control industry while acknowledging the near-term economic challenges facing PCOs.

During his presentation, "2026 State of the Pest Control Industry," Mulrooney said the U.S. structural pest control market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, growing about 5% annually outside of major economic downturns. He noted the industry rebounded quickly following the Great Recession and accelerated to roughly 6% annual growth after the pandemic before settling into what he expects will be a sustainable pace between those levels.

Unlike many mature industries that generally track U.S. gross domestic product, Mulrooney said pest control has consistently outperformed the broader economy thanks to favorable long-term trends.

Among the key drivers are warming temperatures that increase insect activity and reproduction, an aging U.S. housing stock that creates more opportunities for pest intrusion, continued population migration to the Sun Belt, and changing consumer preferences. Millennials and younger homeowners, Mulrooney said, are more willing than previous generations to hire professionals for home services rather than take on projects themselves.

Mulrooney also pointed to the nation's aging population as another growth catalyst, noting more seniors are choosing to age in place, increasing demand for recurring home services such as pest management. He added that some Medicare Advantage plans now include pest control benefits, reflecting growing recognition of pest management as a health-related service.

Mulrooney said that while the industry's long-term fundamentals remain strong, he said “elevated interest rates, higher housing costs and softer consumer sentiment have created modest headwinds during the first half of 2026.”

Despite these challenges, Mulrooney said homeowner balance sheets remain healthy, employment trends continue to support consumer spending and pest control companies remain well-positioned for long-term growth.

"If we see household penetration rise from 13% today to 16% over the next decade," Mulrooney said, "this will continue to be one of the strongest growth industries in home services."

PCT will provide additional coverage from this event in the coming days.