Jeremy Ecker, CEO of Rest Easy Pest Control, joins the podcast to discuss his experience doing 16 M&A deals over 13 years, mostly self-funded and structured with earn-outs. Jeremy shares how he started as a bed bug canine inspection company and eventually pivoted to full-service pest control, and he details the challenges and opportunities of both acquisitions and organic growth.   Guest: Jeremy Ecker, CEO of Rest Easy Pest ControlHosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services  

This week, Dan and Donnie dive into AI updates, including the debut of the Atlas brower and rise of ChatGPT's "agent mode." They demo several examples of what this new technology can do for pest and lawn companies, and they discuss how marketing strategies must adapt as consumers move away from standard Google searches toward AI research and task execution.   Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services    

This week, Dan and Donnie reflect on PestWorld 2025 and the podcast's 250th episode. They cover the buzz around the show in Orlando, including a rant about vendors who don't support the industry. They also reminisce about why they started the podcast and how it's evolved over five years — and thank their sponsors, guests and listeners for all the support.    Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

🎙️ Welcome to Insiders Rewind — Recapping September! Episodes from October: Ep. 245 - Building Business, Industry & Community with Audrey Hall ✅Ep. 246 - Empowering Pest Techs with Automated, Real-Time Data ✅Ep. 247 - Unlocking Profit with Tiered Pricing for Pest Control ✅Ep. 248 - Why M&A Isn't Just for the Big Guys ✅Ep. 249 - New Pest Control Industry Cost Study Data Revealed A HUGE shout to our sponsors! Coalmarch: Digital strategies and conversion-driven websites are waiting for you and it's time for a free month! Visit https://www.coalmarch.com/podcast to claim yours! PestSure: Providing pest industry specific insurance for your business and insuring the future of pest control. VoiceForPest: Designing and implementing unparalleled integrated voice solutions for home service companies of any size from coast to coast. https://www.voiceforpest.com/podcast/ We’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and connect with us on social media @PMPIndustryInsider.   🎧 Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts  

On this episode, Dan and Donnie review the new Pest Control Industry Cost Study, produced by PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists. They discuss what's changed since last time PCOB did the cost study; the PCOB Competitive Index, a new composite score to track; and the Big 3 expenses every pest firm must manage for profitability. Tune in for an overview of this comprehensive report.   Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services  

This week, Dan and Donnie talk to Pest Control Consultants President Chase Goodeill about his approach to M&A at his $11 million firm. He shares his vision for expansion, his financing strategies and his experience doing nine acquisitions since 2019. Tune in to hear about his "whatever it takes to grow" mindset.     Guest: Chase Goodeill, President of Pest Control ConsultantsHosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

This week, Dan and Donnie highlight the concept of tiered pricing and its psychological impact on customer decisions. They explain price anchoring, the decoy effect and how tiered pricing can help customers overcome analysis paralysis and guide them toward the most profitable option. Tune in to learn how to use these strategies in your pest or lawn business.    Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

Applause CEO Taylor Olson joins Dan and Donnie this week. They discuss how he came to found Applause, a platform that provides incentives for hourly service workers through features like customer feedback collection, performance measurement, instant cash rewards and a technician dashboard. Taylor also details the power of automating employee incentives, and he shares tips for implementation.   Guest: Taylor Olson, CEO of ApplauseHosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

🎙️ Welcome to Insiders Rewind — Recapping September! ✅ Episodes from August: Ep. 241 - Getting People Decisions Right Ep. 242 - Go Big & Simplify: Lessons From Big Blue Bug Ep. 243 - How to Build a Successful Sales Machine Ep. 244 - Budgeting Breakdown: What Pest & Lawn Pros Should Spend on What A HUGE shout to our sponsors! Coalmarch: Digital strategies and conversion-driven websites are waiting for you and it's time for a free month! Visit https://www.coalmarch.com/podcast to claim yours! PestSure: Providing pest industry specific insurance for your business and insuring the future of pest control. VoiceForPest: Designing and implementing unparalleled integrated voice solutions for home service companies of any size from coast to coast. https://www.voiceforpest.com/podcast/   We’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and connect with us on social media @PMPIndustryInsider.   🎧 Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts

This week Dan and Donnie host Audrey Hall, president of Eco Serve Pest in New York, who discussed her journey from growing up in the pest control industry to turning a small operation into a thriving company with 27 employees. She shares her development as an entrepreneur, the company's expansion plans and her philosophy for community giving.    Guest: Audrey Hall, President, Eco Serve Pest ServicesHosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

On this episode, Dan and Donnie discuss the budgeting process from both a strategic and practical standpoint. They discuss how to get started if you're not already following a budget and which key performance indicators are most important to strong financial performance.   Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

Pest-End COO Courtney Carace joins Dan and Donnie this week to share her company's experience growing from $6.5 million in 2020 to around $15 million today. Courtney shares the structure and philosophy she and her team are employing in pursuit of reaching $30 million by 2030.   Guest: Courtney Carace, COO, Pest-EndHosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

Big Blue Bug Solutions CEO Brian Goldman joins Dan and Donnie to share insights on building a unique brand by being bold, proactive and unafraid to stand out and embrace change. He also discusses the benefits of simplifying operations by focusing on core competencies versus diversifying into other service lines.    Guest: Brian Goldman, CEO, Big Blue Bug Solutions Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

Effectively managing people is essential when scaling a pest or lawn business. In this episode, Dan and Donnie discuss how to align values, instill accountability and evaluate employees' understanding, motivation and capacity to perform their roles.   Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

🎙️ Welcome to Insiders Rewind — Recapping August! ✅ Episodes from August: Ep. 237 - Turnaround Tactics: Fix Your Team's Deadline Problems for Good Ep. 238 - INsider Look: A PMP Shares His Journey to $3M & Peer Group Takeaways Ep. 239 - Culture, Legacy & Leadership at Sherrill Pest Control Ep. 240 - Return on Motivation (Just When You Thought You Had Enough MBA Buzzwords) A HUGE shout to our sponsors! Coalmarch: Digital strategies and conversion-driven websites are waiting for you and it's time for a free month! Visit https://www.coalmarch.com/podcast to claim yours! PestSure: Providing pest industry specific insurance for your business and insuring the future of pest control. VoiceForPest: Designing and implementing unparalleled integrated voice solutions for home service companies of any size from coast to coast. https://www.voiceforpest.com/podcast/ We’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and connect with us on social media @PMPIndustryInsider.   🎧 Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts

This week, Dan and Donnie explore the concept of "Return on Motivation" and its importance in business, discussing how leadership and team commitment impact employee performance and company culture. They share personal experiences and insights about creating motivated teams, measuring the impact of motivational efforts and the role of clear communication and recognition in employee engagement.   Hosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services  

This week, Dan and Donnie interview Sherrill Pest Control's Kevin and Patrick Sherrill, who shared their company's transformation from a small operation to a successful enterprise, including being recognized in PCT Magazine’s 2025 Best Places to Work rankings. They cover their approach to leadership, culture and core values, and they share the resources that have helped their business get ahead.    Guests: Kevin Sherrill & Patrick Sherrill, Sherrill Pest ControlHosts:Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A SpecialistsDonnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

Justice Pest Control Owner Caleb Cunningham shares his 13-year journey from working in a cubical to buying a one-man pest control route to building a $3 million company. He talks with Dan and Donnie about what held him back for his first decade in business and how he has scaled since with help from outside resources, including peer groups.    Guest: Caleb Cunningham, Owner, Justice Pest Services   Hosts:  Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists Donnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

If your team isn't executing as well as you'd like, this episode is for you. Dan and Donnie dissect reasons your people may be blowing deadlines and share strategies for improving communications and turning things around.    Hosts:  Dan Gordon, PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists Donnie Shelton, Triangle Home Services

🎙️ Welcome to Insiders Rewind — Recapping July!   ✅ Episodes from July: Ep. 233 - Opportunities & Challenges for Pest Control Firms Today Ep. 234 - OBBBA: Operational & Tax Impacts for PMPs Ep. 235 - How to Establish a Legal, Effective AI Policy Ep. 236 - How to Grow a Pest Company Through Fintech   A HUGE shout to our sponsors! Coalmarch: Digital strategies and conversion-driven websites are waiting for you and it's time for a free month! Visit https://www.coalmarch.com/podcast to claim yours! PestSure: Providing pest industry specific insurance for your business and insuring the future of pest control. VoiceForPest: Designing and implementing unparalleled integrated voice solutions for home service companies of any size from coast to coast. https://www.voiceforpest.com/podcast/   We’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and connect with us on social media @PMPIndustryInsider.   🎧 Listen On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Podcasts