Pest Control Route Valuation Calculator

Recurring Revenue Is King

The single biggest driver of route value is recurring revenue. A route with $5,000/month in recurring services on quarterly or monthly contracts is worth dramatically more than one generating the same revenue from one-time jobs. Buyers are paying for predictable, repeatable income — not a one-time windfall.

Most pest control routes sell for 1.0x to 2.5x annual revenue, with the multiplier almost entirely determined by the quality and predictability of that revenue. A route heavy on recurring residential general pest control with long-tenured customers will command a premium.

Customer Retention Matters

Average customer tenure is a critical signal to buyers. If your average customer has been with you for 3+ years, that tells a buyer the revenue is sticky — customers are satisfied, retention is high, and there's low churn risk after the sale.

Routes with short average tenure (under 1 year) often indicate a newer route or higher churn, both of which increase buyer risk and decrease the price a buyer is willing to pay.

Signed Agreements Reduce Risk

Having signed service agreements in place is one of the fastest ways to increase your route's value. Agreements don't guarantee customer retention, but they create a documented relationship and make the transition smoother for a buyer.

Routes where 75%+ of customers are under written agreements can see a meaningful valuation premium. If you're planning to sell in the next 12–18 months, getting agreements signed should be a top priority.

Geographic Density Drives Efficiency

A tightly clustered route where stops are 5–10 minutes apart is significantly more valuable than one where a technician drives 30+ minutes between customers. Dense routes mean more jobs per day, lower fuel costs, and better profitability for the buyer.

If your route is spread across a large metro area, consider whether you can consolidate by growing in your densest neighborhoods and gradually shedding outlier customers before a sale.

Service Mix Adds Value

Routes that include higher-margin services like termite treatment/monitoring and commercial accounts tend to command higher multipliers. A diversified service mix also signals a more resilient business — less dependent on any single service line or season. Specialty services like bed bug treatment, wildlife removal, and mosquito/tick programs can all add incremental value.