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Hiring · 2 rolesTakes apprentices

Pest control in Manchester, UK

Vanguard Pest Control

Since 2017 · owner Marcus Doyle

vanguardpestcontrol.example.com
$650,130Revenue, last 12 months
+15%vs last year
$00Kept from every $100
$54,178Average month
11Employees

12 months to Sep 2026Verified via XeroUpdated today

About this business

Vanguard Pest Control is a pest control business in Manchester, founded in 2017 and run by Marcus Doyle. It has 11 staff.

“Restaurants pay monthly whether they see a mouse or not. Contracts are the whole business.” — Marcus Doyle

Part 1How Marcus built it

Part 2The numbers behind it

Over the last 12 months Vanguard Pest Control took $650,130, 15% more than the year before. Its best month was Aug 2026 at $69,910 and its quietest was Jan 2026 at $43,344, a swing that matches the trade's pattern: busiest july–october.

How much it keeps from every $100 in sales is for members — sign up to see it. Average monthly revenue is higher than 95% of the 58 verified pest control businesses in the UK. Every revenue figure comes from Xero.

Financial snapshot

How it compares

Average month vs 58 verified pest control businesses in the UK. It earned more than 95% of them.

Bottom 10% $5.2kTypical $14.5kTop 10% $40.6k
Middle halfMiddle 80%Typical

Part 3How Vanguard Pest Control wins new customers

  1. 1

    The owner explains

    “The owner explains what the first year looked like and what changed once regular customers came back.”

    About 5 in 10 pest control businesses do this

  2. 2

    Most of the

    “Most of the work came from a few dependable sources, and the owner says which ones paid off and which did not.”

    About 5 in 10 pest control businesses do this

  3. 3

    Prices were set

    “Prices were set early and checked again each season against what similar businesses charged nearby.”

    About 5 in 10 pest control businesses do this

Part 4Starting a pest control business? Watch for these

Warning signHow to avoid itCheck before you commit
Warning sign

Only one-off call-outs

How to avoid it

Sign monthly contracts with restaurants, landlords and warehouses.

Check before you commit

What share of revenue is on contract?

Warning sign

Certification left for later

How to avoid it

Get certified in the first three months.

Check before you commit

Could you legally take a commercial contract today?

Warning sign

Owner does every job

How to avoid it

Train a second technician before you reach 40 contracts.

Check before you commit

Who covers when you're ill?

Part 5Why pest control businesses fail, and how often

Still trading after 3 years
78%
About 8 in 10
Still trading after 5 years
66%
About 7 in 10
Most common reason for closing
Couldn't win contract work
Given by 31% of owners who closed

The survivors share a few habits: signed monthly contracts with restaurants and landlords; got certified in the first three months; bought retiring operators' routes.

Check your own oddsSurvival and income for pest control, by your budgetRead the pest control guideEarnings, start-up costs and what owners keep

Main reason for closing, pest control businesses

Couldn't win contract work31%
Licensing & compliance costs22%
Staff certification gaps18%
Owner burnout16%
Other13%

Open roles at Vanguard Pest Control

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Vanguard Pest Control

Pest control technician

This job is inManchester, UK

Full-time$38k–45k a yearPosted 3 days ago

View full postingHide posting

Visit restaurants, shops and rental homes on contract, deal with call-outs and write up each visit. Training is paid for if you are new to the trade.

Experience
1+ years, or willing to train
Education
Pest control certificate, or work towards one
Openings
1 person
Apply by
Oct 28, 2026

What you'll do

  • Routine contract visits to restaurants and landlords
  • Call-outs, reports and proofing work

What you'll need

  • Certification or willingness to train
  • Full driving licence

Hours

  • Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
  • Emergency call-outs on a shared rota

What you get

  • Van and kit provided
  • Certification paid for
  • Paid holiday
  • Pension

Skills you'll use

Inspection and reportingProofing workDriving

You'd be joining a pest control business with $650k in verified revenue over the last 12 months, +15% on the year before.

Open for 27 more days

Vanguard Pest Control

Trainee pest control technician

This job is inManchester, UK

Apprenticeship · 18 months$15–18 an hourPosted 12 days ago

View full postingHide posting
Experience
None needed
Education
None needed
Openings
1 person
Apply by
Oct 19, 2026

What you'll learn · 18 months

  • Pest identification and safe treatments
  • Restaurant inspections and visit reports
  • The licence exam: we pay for it

What you'll do

  • Shadow a senior technician on contract visits
  • Lead your own visits after the licence

What you'll need

  • Calm with customers
  • A driving licence

Hours

  • Hours agreed with the owner

What you get

  • Paid holiday

You'd be joining a pest control business with $650k in verified revenue over the last 12 months, +15% on the year before.

Open for 18 more days

Book Marcus for advice

Marcus’s booking page: book, pay and get your video link in one place. Reminders by email and WhatsApp; an AI summary after.

Things Marcus can help with

  • Pricing and profit
  • Finding and keeping staff
  • Busy and quiet months
  • Starting a pest control business
  • Pricing and your first hires

What to expect

  • 15 minutes is enough for three or more focused questions.
  • Share your numbers first. Marcus sees your notes before the call.
  • Video call in your browser. No app to install. The link comes by email, WhatsApp and a calendar invite.
  • Recorded, if you both agree. You get an AI summary and your action items after.
  • Nothing is charged unless Marcus confirms within 48 hours.
  • If plans change, cancel 24 hours or more ahead for a full refund.
4.851 reviews of calls with Marcus
EllieSep 2026
Really useful for anyone buying their first business. Clear on what to check in the accounts.
LiamAug 2026
Exactly what I needed before signing a lease. Marcus asked questions I had not thought of.

Marcus replied

Glad it helped. The pricing change is the one most people put off, so well done for doing it.

ChloeJul 2026
Exactly what I needed before signing a lease. Marcus asked questions I had not thought of.
JoshMay 2026
Really useful for anyone buying their first business. Clear on what to check in the accounts.
  1. Pick a timeChoose a length and a slot that suits you.
  2. Your card is heldYou're only charged once Marcus confirms.
  3. Join the video callAsk your questions, get specific answers.

Part 6Ask Marcus a question

No questions yet. Be the first to ask Marcus.

Free for everyone who signs in. Questions about all pest control businesses →

More on pest control businesses

Earnings guideWhat pest control businesses make in the UKStart-up roadmapStart one in the US, step by stepYour oddsHow many last 3 and 5 years, for your budgetPost-mortems1 closed home services business, and why

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Its real numbers.
Every Sunday.

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