If you own a pest control business—or you're planning to start one—one of the most important decisions you'll make is how much to charge for pest control services.
Pricing too high could scare away potential clients. Pricing too low? You risk hurting your profit margins and undervaluing your expertise.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how much to charge for pest control to set competitive, profitable pest control pricing that reflects your service quality, region, and overhead.
Before we dive into numbers, understand that your pricing will vary based on:
A successful pricing strategy considers all these variables, while also leaving room for profit.
Most pest control companies offer:
While prices vary, here’s a general benchmark range:
| Service Type | Average Cost (Residential) |
|---|---|
| One-time general treatment | $150 – $300 |
| Monthly treatment plan | $40 – $70/month |
| Quarterly plan | $90 – $130/quarter |
| Initial visit (for contracts) | $100 – $200 |
| Bed bug treatment | $500 – $1,500 |
| Termite inspection/treatment | $300 – $1,000+ |
| Rodent removal | $150 – $500+ |
**Note: These prices can go up for large commercial accounts, severe infestations, or hard-to-reach areas.**
The scope of service that you provide deeply influences how you'll set prices for various jobs.
For instance, you wouldn't want to set the same price for a one-time treatment versus a recurring preventive maintenance because recurring preventative services are faster and less labor intensive.
Likewise, a treatment holds a lot more unknowns than a typical preventative maintenance contract. By including the service scope as a consideration in your pricing strategy, you'll be able to maximize profits.
Did you know routine ant or spider spray typically range between $150-$350 for a one-time treatment? However, bed bug treatments usually range between $1,500-$5,000 for whole-home treatments.
The type of pest you're treating matters because it influences the necessary chemicals, equipment, labor, and repeat treatments involved in tackling the service effectively.
Never underestimate the property type and size associated with a pest control service. Remember, equal square footage doesn't always equate to the same prices.
For example, a 2,000 sq. ft. home would take longer to treat than a 2,000 sq. ft. condo because the home would require additional exterior treatments.
The type of chemical you use matters. If clients prefer eco-friendly options, these products are sometimes less potent and require additional time, chemicals, and applications.
Always consider the type of chemicals you're using when determining how much to charge for pest control services.
Since you're likely paying your technicians by the hour, it's important to track how long it takes to finish jobs in order to maximize your team's efficiency.
When your company is more efficient, you can:
Plus, clients are thrilled when jobs are finished on time (or even early).
It takes money to operate your business, and you should account for that in pest control pricing.
Typical operational costs include things like:
To properly charge for these costs, it's important to track them and create quarterly reports on them.
By the way, did you know you can create your expense reports using Service Autopilot?
Here’s the thing: You shouldn’t base prices on your competition. However, that doesn't discount the important of knowing market rates.
You should always be aware of what the local competition is charging so that you don’t price yourself out of the market. Consider what sets them apart. Is it their service, reputation, or both?
Then, get to know the clients in the area to find out the services they want as well as what they’re willing to pay. This gives you a good idea of what your profits should be.
Reinvesting back into your business allows you to scale for long-term success and profitability. By properly pricing pest control services with enough profit, you’re providing yourself a cushion.
In turn, this cushion grows the business by giving you the money needed to:
When pest control businesses properly price their services, these actions have helped countless businesses successfully grow.
Here’s a basic formula:
(Materials + Labor + Overhead) + Profit Margin = Your Price
Let’s break that down:
Example:
So your charge for that service would be around $150–$160.
Yes—offering quarterly plans or yearly bundles helps with:
You can give a small discount for ongoing services, but make sure it still supports your bottom line.
As your business grows, your costs will change. Make it a habit to review your pricing every 6–12 months based on:
Remember, it's important to always test price increases on your least profitable clients first (before rolling it out into your remaining client base).
Much of the competition doesn't have their pest control pricing right. Oftentimes, they count their operational costs and add 5-10% based on how they feel—undercutting themselves.
Don't make the same mistake as your competitors.
Test out your prices, look at the data, get feedback from clients, evaluate prices on a monthly or quarterly basis, and keep value at the top of your priority list.
Pricing should be an integral part of your company culture.
Instant invoicing
Better scheduling
Manage your clients and employees all in one system
Use this simple, proven strategies to discover how much to charge for pest control services so you can maximize the long-term success of your business.
Now, you can:
Start using these effective strategy to find out how much to charge for pest control services in your business today!
Related: How Much to Pay Pest Control Employees
Originally published Aug 13, 2019 7:00 AM, updated June 12, 2025 4:47 PM CT
Tags: Business Operation
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