The numbers side by side
The best-known pest franchises are outdoor mosquito and tick brands with a seasonal treatment program. Going solo in pest control starts with your state's applicator license, whichever route you take.
| Up-front fee | Total start-up | Share of sales (royalty) | Marketing or ad fee | Software or tech fee | Card processing | Term | Cash asked for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito Joe | $42,500 | $150,155 to $191,575 | 10% | 2% | $475 a month and up | Not in the summary; your processor's rate | 10 years | $50,000 |
| Mosquito Squad | $35,000 to $50,000 | $162,380 to $220,375 | 8% to 10% | $150 to $450 a month | $60 a month | Not in the summary; your processor's rate | 10 years | $50,000 |
| Going solo on Koira's Office plan | $0, no franchise fee | Your own vehicle and kit; see the tools list | 0%, you keep every sale | None required; you set your own budget | $0 on the Office plan | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe) plus 2% (Koira) on card payments only | None; month to month | None asked |
Franchise figures are from each brand's listing in Entrepreneur's franchise directory, which summarizes the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document, and match the franchisor's own franchise page where it states them. Where a fee is a range, the disclosure document sets which end applies to you. Koira's figures are from koira.ai/pricing.
What the ongoing fees take
The up-front fee is paid once. The share of sales is paid on every job for the length of the agreement, before you pay yourself. Here is the arithmetic on an example year of $250,000 in sales, using the low end of each published rate:
| Brand | Royalty | Marketing or ad fee | Software or tech fee | Fees for the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito Joe | $25,000 | $5,000 | $5,700 | $35,700 |
| Mosquito Squad | $20,000 | $1,800 | $720 | $22,520 |
| Going solo on Koira's Office plan | $0 | Your choice | $0 | $0, plus $5,000 if every sale were paid by card |
Mosquito Joe's tech fee is $475 a month; Mosquito Squad's ad fee is $150 a month at the low end and its tech fee $60 a month. Card processing is left out of the franchise rows because the summaries do not set it; you would pay a processor either way. On Koira's Office plan, Koira keeps 2% of card payments on top of Stripe's processing, and nothing on cash or check.
The example sales figure is an example, not a promise of what either path earns. Use the calculator above with your own numbers.
What the fees buy
Mosquito Joe has been franchising since 2012 and asks for $50,000 in cash and a $250,000 net worth. Mosquito Squad has franchised since 2005 and asks for $50,000 in cash and a $250,000 net worth. For that, a franchise sells a known name, a written system, training and a territory.
A pest franchise fits an owner who wants a seasonal outdoor program with marketing already built. It fits less well if you are already licensed and want year-round general pest work under your own name.
Going solo in pest control
A solo pest control business needs the state license first, then sprayers, baits and a truck that stores chemicals safely. General pest plans with quarterly visits are the backbone; mosquito, termite and rodent work add to it.
See the pest control tools list, the pest control license guide and pest control insurance.
Koira's free Office plan covers the office side a franchise system would: a website that books jobs, estimates with signing and deposits, invoices and card payments and your day plan. Paid plans add the phone and crew tools.
Before you sign anything
Federal rules require the franchisor to give you its disclosure document at least 14 calendar days before you sign or pay. Read the fee items and any sales claims with their footnotes, and call former pest control owners. Our handyman franchise guide walks through the document item by item.
Sources
- Entrepreneur franchise directory: Mosquito Joe, checked October 9, 2026
- Neighborly: Mosquito Joe franchise investment, checked October 9, 2026
- Entrepreneur franchise directory: Mosquito Squad, checked October 9, 2026
- eCFR: 16 CFR 436.2, when the disclosure document must be given, checked October 9, 2026
- Koira: Pricing (Office plan, card payments), checked October 9, 2026
- EPA: How to get certified as a pesticide applicator, checked October 8, 2026
- eCFR: 49 CFR 375.101, who must follow the household goods rules, checked October 8, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.