Dave Bradford: What Makes a Pest Control Company Worth Millions ($100M CEO of Certus)

In this episode of Pest Control Legends, Dan Leibrandt interviews Dave Bradford, the CEO of Certus Pest, a $100 million pest control company operating across the US and Canada. With a background in finance and M&A, Dave has been involved in over 100 acquisitions throughout his career, including serving as CFO at Environmental Pest Service before joining Certus. Dave breaks down exactly what makes a pest control company valuable, the biggest red flags buyers look for, and the most common financial mistakes owners make when trying to scale or prepare for an exit.They dive deep into the fundamentals that drive valuations, from customer retention rates and recurring revenue percentages to the importance of cultural fit in acquisitions. Dave shares specific metrics buyers care about, like ideal cancellation rates for pest control (1.5%) versus termite services (under 1%), and explains why high employee turnover is one of the biggest red flags in due diligence. He also reveals where pest control companies waste money, particularly in marketing and credit card processing fees, and how owners can improve cash flow regardless of their company size.Dave's core message to pest control owners is simple: keep the end in mind. Whether you're planning to pass the business to your children or sell to a buyer like Certus, understanding what creates value from day one will help you make better decisions about hiring, systems, and growth strategies. This episode is packed with actionable insights for any pest control owner looking to build a more valuable, sellable business.Dave Bradford, CEO of Certus:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbradford1/Certus: https://www.certuspest.com/Dan Leibrandt, Host of Pest Control Legends:Facebook: https://facebook.com/DanLeibrandtOfficial  LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danleibrandt/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanLeibrandt   Website: https://danleibrandt.comPest Control Legends Platforms:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PestControlLegends Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/46XRaco5nPWcqHWIoQ2eZ5Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pest-control-legends/id1768175212Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b060991d-e5d5-4683-b83f-8db469714ba7/pest-control-legends #pestcontrolbusiness #pestcontrolmarketing #pestcontroladvertising #pestcontrolleads #pestcontrolads #pestcontrollegends #dannyleibrandt #pestcontrolowner #pestcontrolpodcast