In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Danny Leibrandt sits down with Jeff Davenport, co-founder of Official Pest Prevention, who scaled the company to $20M+ in annual revenue and 170+ employees before exiting at a strong multiple. Jeff isn’t done—he’s back at it building Prize Pest Control, applying two decades of hard-won lessons to his next chapter.

We dig into the door-to-door years (including Jeff’s legendary 1,000 accounts in 4 months), the “three essentials” every pest company needs (finance, brains, and muscle), and the hiring engine that worked—licensing academy, promoting from within, and creating sticky comp for top reps. Jeff breaks down what finally unlocked termite sales, how he thinks about pricing (including raising legacy customer rates without churn), when acquisitions make sense, and what really happens during a fast-track sale—plus how leadership, culture, and personal growth have to level up at each stage.

We wrap with how Prize Pest Control is built today (marketing-led, call-center sales) and a unique year-round lead/sales program they run for other operators who want steady growth without a summer D2D surge. Connect with Jeff on Facebook or LinkedIn, or reach him at jeff@prizepest.com

if you want to talk shop—or explore the call-center program.

Jeff Davenport, Founder of Prize Pest Control:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-davenport-8b384713a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.davenport.3

Email: jeff@prizepest.com

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Jeff Davenport

08:34 The Art of Door-to-Door Sales

16:09 Founding Official Pest Prevention

19:54 Growth and Diversification Strategies

25:43 Hiring and Training Practices

30:42 Key Hires and Leadership Development

33:08 Building Key Partnerships and Expanding Services

35:02 Strategic Hiring and Team Management

37:45 The Three Pillars of a Successful Business

41:36 Personal Growth as an Entrepreneur

45:25 Navigating the Exit Process

51:36 Transitioning to a New Venture

58:52 Reflections on Success and Learning

01:00:55 Advice for Aspiring Business Owners

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #dannyleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast #jeffdavenport #prizepestcontrol #officialpestprevention

In this episode of pest Control Legends, Danny Leibrandt sits down with Kendall Hines. Kendall is a serial entrepreneur who grew his family’s lawn care company to seven figures, built and sold LawnBot, and then spent several years inside WorkWave—getting an operator’s-eye view of how the biggest players think about product, process, and scale. He explains why customer acquisition costs are soaring on Google and Facebook, how Clicki was born from a simple experiment paying customers instead of Big Tech, and why referral-driven growth restores margin, strengthens loyalty, and keeps dollars local.

Kendall breaks down exactly how Clicki works in pest control: lightweight CRM integrations, automated asks at the right moments, shareable referral links and QR codes, airtight tracking, and instant payouts—plus strategic partner plays like Realtor campaigns. He also introduces Bravo, an employee-incentive and post-service survey system that pairs with Clicki to drive reviews, upsells, and field referrals. Throughout, we compare paid CAC to a fixed referral bonus (often $50–$200), talk when to dial incentives up for promos, and outline the mindset for building a truly “referable” business.

We zoom out on AI’s impact—why software is being democratized, why taste and trust still separate winners, and how small operators can use these tools without losing their soul. Kendall closes with a message to owners: you’re the fabric of America—keep going, invest in relationships, and build systems that turn one happy customer into ten. If you’re ready to lower CAC and grow more profitably, connect with Kendall and the team at Clicki.

Kendall Hines, Founder of Clicki:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendallmhines/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khines1/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kendall.hines1/

Clicki: https://joinclicki.com/

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Kendall Hines

04:49 Kendall's Entrepreneurial Journey

11:40 The Birth of Clicki

18:30 How Clicki Works

25:45 The Future of Marketing

31:07 Streamlining Feedback Loops with AI

34:31 The Future of Vertical SaaS

39:06 The Role of Experts in an AI-Driven World

47:35 Final Message

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #referralmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #dannyleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast #referrals #kendallhines #clicki

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, host Danny Leibrandt sits down with Jonas Olson for a deep dive into how he built Pest Badger from $0 to $10M in under five years, with projections of $15M next year and $30M soon after. Jonas shares the strategies behind his rapid growth, from recruiting and developing top talent to instilling discipline, grit, and a winning culture across 15+ locations.

The conversation covers everything from the impact of Jonas’s five years of sobriety on his leadership, to the EOS framework and KPIs that keep his company running at scale, to the tough calls on hiring executives who can 10x capacity. We also explore the difference in mindset between seven-figure and eight-figure owners, the role of brand and media (including Pest Badger’s massive following of 150k on YouTube, 70k on TikTok, and 40k on Facebook), and the lessons Jonas has picked up from spending time with Patrick Bet-David and Alex Hormozi.

Recorded while Jonas and Danny were working on the Pest Control Millionaires program and their upcoming book Zip Code Kings (publishing October 20), this episode offers pest control owners a rare look at the systems, mindset, and execution required to scale from startup to industry leader.

Jonas Olson, CEO of Pest Badger:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonasaolson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonas.olson.18

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-olson-00b34b8b/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pestcontrolmillionaire

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #jonasolson #dannyleibrandt #pestcontrolmillionaires #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrollegends

On this episode of Pest Control Legends, Danny Leibrandt sits down in person with marketer-operator Jake Sheldon to unpack the fastest, real-world ways pest control companies scale. From day one tactics to long-term plays, they start with strategic partnerships—how to replace handshake referrals with written agreements, line up lawn care and moving companies as perfect complements, and stagger customer text blasts so your office isn’t swamped overnight.

Jake shares the standout offers that cut through $50/$100-off fatigue (like a low-cost initial tied to an annual plan) and the follow-through that makes them work: sharp copy, strong creative, speed-to-lead, and sales psychology on the phone. They dive into building million-dollar operations—aim bigger, hire A-players for culture and grit, and treat marketing as a core competency so leads are never the bottleneck. You’ll also hear when to use vested equity for key hires, how Jake structures his own equity deals, and why building to sell tightens systems even if you never exit.

Stick around for updates on their co-authored book Zip Code Kings (pre-order link in the description) and how the Pest Control Millionaires program turns these playbooks into repeatable growth.

Jake Sheldon, Co-Founder of Pest Control Millionaires:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-sheldon-6a0981a9/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jake.sheldon.7

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakesheldon25/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jakesheldonPCM

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #jakesheldon #dannyleibrandt #pestcontromillionaires #pestcontrollegends #pestcontrolowner

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Danny Leibrandt welcomes back Eric Bassett, co-owner of Natura Pest Control and an Associate Certified Entomologist with nearly two decades of experience. Eric explains how his company made the shift from being owner-operated to building a leadership team with a general manager at the helm, allowing him to step into an advisor role and focus on long-term strategy.

We dive into the systems and cadences that drive Natura’s growth, including weekly accountability meetings, call quality scorecards, and development plans that track both performance metrics and behaviors. Eric shares when and how to bring in managers, why promoting from within strengthens company culture, and what qualities he looks for in leaders.

The conversation also explores the rise of AI in pest control. Eric discusses how tools for lead handling, training, and quality assurance are reshaping operations while stressing the importance of keeping customer interactions human-first.

To wrap up, Eric offers a message to the industry: growth is a matter of consistent improvement, measuring the right things, and remembering that the real competition is always you versus you.

Eric Bassett, Co-Owner of Natura Pest Control:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-bassett-ace-1459b280/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eric.bassett.129

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamericbassett/

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #ericbassett #dannyleibrandt #naturapestcontrol #bugbux

In this powerful sequel episode of Pest Control Legends, Danny Leibrandt sits down in person with Matt Rogers, CEO of Lizard Marketing, live from Charlotte. Matt isn’t just another agency owner—he helped grow his family’s company, Killingsworth Pest Control, from $8 million to $28 million before selling to Anticimex. Now, he’s leading the charge on the second renaissance of digital marketing—this time driven by AI.

This conversation dives deep into how AI is leveling the playing field for small and medium-sized pest control companies, what E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) actually means in 2025, how to structure your SEO and PPC campaigns for real results, and how to build trust with customers and search engines. Matt and Danny also break down what’s changed in branding, how to turn reviews into revenue, and why most pest control companies are still stuck in the past.

If you’re a PCO who wants to stop playing small and start swinging up at the big guys, this episode is your blueprint.

Mat Rogers, Founder Of Lizard Marketing:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mat-rogers-mktg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathew.rogers.77

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mat.rogers/

Lizard Marketing: https://lizardmarketing.co/

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #matrogers #lizardmarketing #ai #seo #digitalmarketing #businessgrowth #marketingstrategy #leadgeneration #marketingtips

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Danny Leibrandt is joined by Chris Anderson, co-founder and VP of Sales at Applause—the powerful platform helping pest control companies turn their technicians into five-star review machines. With a background in HR and operations, Chris shares how Applause is changing the game by incentivizing frontline techs, boosting customer satisfaction, and building high-performance company cultures.

We dive deep into how Applause works behind the scenes, from automating spiffs to AI-driven review generation, and why it's far more than just another review tool. Chris reveals how companies like Certus and White Knight Pest Control are seeing massive results—not just in reviews, but also in employee retention, customer loyalty, and revenue. We also talk about how to create a five-star culture, why technician behavior is the biggest driver of growth, and what pest control owners can do today to start rewarding their teams the right way.

If you're a pest control or home service business owner looking to get more reviews, retain more techs, and create a culture your team is proud of, this episode is a must-listen.

Chris Anderson, Co-Founder of Applause:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christodanderson/

Applause: https://applausehq.com/

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Chris Anderson

03:08 Incentivizing Technicians For Reviews

12:00 Building a Five-Star Culture

18:08 How Applause Generates Reviews

23:10 Dynamic Customer Engagement and Upselling

31:52 The Impact of Incentives on Technician Satisfaction

40:48 The Ideal Customer Profile for Applause

46:02 Final Thoughts

#pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads #chrisanderson #applause #reviews #podcast #chrisanderson #applause #saas

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Danny Leibrandt sits down with Jonas Olson—CEO of Pest Badger and one of the most down-to-earth operators in the industry. We talk about the mistake that kept him stuck for years: fighting the wrong market. Jonas shares how shifting his geography and mindset helped him break past the ceiling and scale into eight figures.

We dive into why most owners stay small, the power of affirmations (yes, even shaking a Magic 8-Ball), and the importance of guarding your time and energy. His message? Think bigger. Surround yourself with winners. Eliminate distractions.

If you're a pest control operator trying to grow but feel stuck, this one’s a must-listen. Jonas also shares where to find him, how to join his community, and why he gives away as much as he can—no matter if you’re across the country or right next door.

Follow Jonas on YouTube and all major social platforms to keep learning from one of the industry's best.

Jonas Olson, CEO of Pest Badger:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonasaolson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonas.olson.18

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonas-olson-00b34b8b/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pestcontrolmillionaire

Website: https://pestcontrolmillionaires.com/

Danny Leibrandt, Founder of Pest Control SEO:

Facebook: https://facebook.com/DannyLeibrandt

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dannyleibrandt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyLeibrandt

Website: https://dannyleibrandt.com

Pest Control SEO: https://pestcontrolseo.com/

Pest Control Legends Platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends

Audible: https://www.audible.com/podcast/Pest-Control-Legends/B0DGWL3119?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

#jonasolson #pestbadger #turfbadger #pestcontrol #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolads