Mosquito and Tick Control Franchise vs. Starting Your Own
What five years costs on each path, counting every cost we can source on both sides. Change the revenue to see how royalties grow with your sales.
Preview: figures awaiting verification
Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.
At a glance
Franchise fee
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $25,000 – $54,500Pending verificationSourcesMosquito Joe 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Squad 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 29, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Authority 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued May 7, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Shield 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 8, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Range across 4 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $39,500 – $220,375Pending verificationSourcesMosquito Joe 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Squad 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 29, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Authority 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued May 7, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Shield 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 8, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 4 brands.
- Independent
- $2,413 – $8,223*Pending verificationSourcesSprayer Depot — Solo 451/466 motorized backpack mist blower(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Solutions Pest & Lawn — Maruyama MM91V mist blower(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Sprayer Depot — Kings SpaceSaver 100 gallon skid sprayer, model KS100(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California DPR — Licensing and Certification Program Fee Table, effective 8/5/2024(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California DPR — Pest Control Business License requirements (Rev. 7/24)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner — 2026 agricultural pest control business registration(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026San Bernardino County Agriculture/Weights & Measures — 2026 agricultural pest control business registration letter(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Secretary of State — LLC forms and fees(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — 2025 Instructions for Form FTB 3522 (LLC tax voucher)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Computed from 9 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
Ongoing royalties
- Franchise (4 brands)
- 8% – 10% of revenuePending verificationSourcesMosquito Joe 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Squad 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 29, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Authority 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued May 7, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Mosquito Shield 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 8, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 4 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $20,345 – $20,545Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — pest control business insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026California DPR — Licensing and Certification Program Fee Table, effective 8/5/2024(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner — 2026 agricultural pest control business registration(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026San Bernardino County Agriculture/Weights & Measures — 2026 agricultural pest control business registration letter(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — 2025 Instructions for Form FTB 3522 (LLC tax voucher)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $20,345 – $20,545
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (4 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (4 brands)
- $125,177 – $407,353
- Independent
- $22,758 – $28,768*
5-year totals assume $96,387–$180,180 in yearly revenue (our forecast presets at full volume), the same sourced operating costs (insurance, software, fees) on both paths, and both the lean and professional independent plans. Franchise investment figures come from each brand's disclosure (FDD Item 7) and already include the franchise fee. * Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
What franchisees report taking in
From each brand's own disclosure (FDD Item 19), copied exactly. These are gross sales before royalties and costs, not profit, and not a promise of what you will earn.
Mosquito Joe
Item 19 reports 2025 gross sales, customers and jobs for 407 franchised businesses open all year, split by age, plus customer retention and revenue per treatment.
- Average 2025 gross sales, 117 franchised businesses in their first 5 years (not profit)$208,341 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Joe 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties and expenses. 43 of 117 (36.7%) reached this average; range $15,737 to $931,009. Your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross sales, 117 franchised businesses in their first 5 years (not profit)$164,899 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Joe 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties and expenses. Excludes businesses that closed or did not report the full year.
- Average 2025 gross sales, 290 franchised businesses open 6+ years (not profit)$444,223 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Joe 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties and expenses. 105 of 290 (36%) reached this average. Your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross sales, 290 franchised businesses open 6+ years (not profit)$288,923 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Joe 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties and expenses.
Mosquito Squad
Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenue per territory by quartile for 217 territories open all year, plus close rates, renewal rates, revenue per visit and per customer, and a company-owned profit and loss.
- Average 2025 gross revenue per territory, 217 territories open all year (not profit)$493,200 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Squad 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 29, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross revenue before royalties and expenses. 77 of 217 (35%) exceeded it. Many franchisees own several territories. Your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross revenue, top-quartile territories (54 territories, not profit)$1,147,855 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Squad 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 29, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross revenue before royalties and expenses.
- Average 2025 gross revenue, bottom-quartile territories (55 territories, not profit)$101,689 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Squad 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 29, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross revenue before royalties and expenses. The lowest territory reported $19,138.
Mosquito Authority
Item 19 shows a 2024–2025 profit and loss for one company-owned territory in Hickory, North Carolina, and 2025 gross revenue for 125 franchisees (507 territories) open both years.
- Average 2025 gross revenue per franchisee, 125 franchisees operating 507 territories (not profit)$463,228 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Authority 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued May 7, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Per franchisee, not per territory; many own several territories. Gross revenue before royalties and expenses. Your results may differ.
- 2025 total gross sales, one company-owned territory in Hickory, NC, open since 2009 (not profit)$389,156 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Authority 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued May 7, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Includes $35,545 of general pest service. A mature, staffed single territory; a new owner's first years are likely lower.
Mosquito Shield
Item 19 shows 2025 gross sales for 66 reporting franchisees with two or more full seasons, a company-owned business's 2025 income and costs, and system-wide customer and retention figures.
- Average 2025 gross sales per franchisee, 66 reporting franchisees with 2+ full seasons (not profit)$398,950.19 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Shield 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 8, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Per franchisee, not per territory: they average 5.38 territories each. Excludes 45 non-compliant units and units that opened, closed or did not report. 20 (30%) exceeded the average.
- Median 2025 gross sales per franchisee, same 66 franchisees (not profit)$235,812.18 a yearPending verificationSourceMosquito Shield 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 8, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross sales before royalties and expenses. Range $49,388.54 to $2,732,473.11. Your results may differ.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- National brand in mosquito, tick and flea control, part of the Neighborly group
- Required direct-marketing program run by the franchisor (direct mail, digital, social)
- Initial training and a set software system for scheduling and billing
- A large owner network: 407 franchised businesses at the end of 2025
- Long-running national mosquito and tick brand
- Truck outfitting package of tanks, pump and blowers installed for you (or buy your own)
- Initial training with printed operations and pesticide applicator manuals
- Option to work under an employee's or partner's pesticide license while you get your own
- Lowest-cost entry of the four through the smaller Hometown territory
- Opening inventory, vehicle outfitting and a first-year marketing package arranged by the franchisor
- Initial training, plus training courses while you obtain your pesticide license
- Part of Main Line Brands, with 521 franchised businesses at the end of 2025
- Starter package with a prepared laptop, three months of products, software, call-center and SEO services
- Customized service vehicle with a dual-tank refill system and two backpack blowers
- Initial training (hotel costs included in the starter package)
- A growing system: 407 franchised territories at the end of 2025
Going independent means
- You keep 100% of what you earn after costs — no royalties.
- You build your own brand, systems, and customer base.
- You need more self-reliance, especially in the first year.
Brand by brand
| Option | Initial investment | Royalties | Marketing fund | Fixed fees | Operating costs | 5-year total | vs. independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito Joe | $150,155 – $191,575 | $48,194 – $90,090 | $9,639 – $18,018 | $47,967 | $20,345 – $20,545 | $276,299 – $368,195 | +$253,541 – $344,708 |
| Mosquito Squad | $162,380 – $220,375 | $48,194 – $90,090 | $0 | $24,600 | $20,345 – $20,545 | $255,519 – $355,610 | +$232,761 – $332,123 |
| Mosquito Authority | $39,500 – $128,700 | $48,194 – $90,090 | $9,639 – $18,018 | $7,500 – $150,000 | $20,345 – $20,545 | $125,177 – $407,353 | +$102,419 – $383,866 |
| Mosquito Shield | $120,525 – $162,420 | $38,555 – $72,072 | $9,639 – $18,018 | $18,000 – $45,000 | $20,345 – $20,545 | $207,064 – $318,055 | +$184,306 – $294,568 |
| Independent (lean start) | $2,413 – $2,942* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $20,345 – $20,545 | $22,758 – $23,487 | — |
Low figures pair the low end of each cost with low revenue; high figures pair the high ends. Franchise initial investment is each brand's FDD Item 7 estimate and already includes the franchise fee. Marketing fund and fixed fees show $0 where we have no sourced figure for that brand.
* Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
Costs are only half the picture
A franchise's brand, training, and support can help some owners reach customers faster. Weigh what those are worth to you against the difference above.
Back to the Mosquito and Tick Control guide · Sources for these figures