Episode 257
- Jan 15
- 2 min read
1/15/26
Topic: I Sold My Business, Now What?
Guest: Jeff Davenport, Owner, Prize Pest Control
In this episode we discuss:
Our sponsors Coalmarch by Workwave, PestSure & Voice for Pest
PMP Industry Insiders Peer Groups
How Jeff started in door-to-door sales for Eclipse Marketing in 1994, selling pest control for companies like Orkin and Dewey selling in six different cities
How Jeff and his brother Jamie started Official Pest Prevention in Sacramento in 2000
History of door-to-door pest control marketing companies
Why they chose the Sacramento market, mistakes they made early one and what it took to achieve success
How Jeff and his brothers never intended to sell in 2021 when they connected with Dan and PCOB; they were initially seeking a valuation
The size of the company at the time: $20 million in top-line revenue with 170 employees and approximately 33,000 customers
How Anticimex showed quick interest, and the deal was closed within two months after an offer higher than their target was accepted
The post-sale process at Anticimex and what their roles were to achieve their earn-out agreement
How Jeff joined his younger brother, John, a minority partner in Official, to run Prize Pest Control in Texas, just outside Fort Worth
Despite initial challenges, the company is growing well, with about 3,000 customers and projecting $2.4 million in revenue this year
How Prize Pest Control relies on a call center model rather than door-to-door; they purchase leads and calls from sources like Angie's List and convert them into customers
Jeff's advice for owners looking to sell, including being emotionally prepared for the toll of separating from his "life's work"
Prize's lead generation service for pest control companies in other markets and how their "drip method" works
Resources mentioned:
Contact Jeff Davenport at Jeff@prizepest.com or via LinkedIn
Notable: "I went from a business, 23 years, almost my every waking thought, to it's just gone. It was this giant part of my life that disappeared. It's not an easy thing."" —Jeff Davenport
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