Pest control searches spike 300% overnight when someone finds roaches or mice. At $7.85 per click, capturing these panic-mode searchers requires 24/7 ad coverage and immediate response—but most pest control ads go dark at 5pm.
5 min
Audit time
6
Areas analyzed
Read-only
Account access
We've audited hundreds of pest control company accounts. Here are the most common budget leaks we find:
Pests are discovered after work hours—when people come home, before bed, in the middle of the night. Someone who finds a mouse at 10pm is Googling frantically. But most pest control ads stop running at 5pm. You're missing 40-50% of high-intent emergency searches because your campaigns have business hours only scheduling.
Someone searching 'bed bugs in my room' has VERY different intent than 'quarterly pest control service'. Emergency pest callers will hire whoever answers first, while ongoing service shoppers compare options. Mixing them means generic messaging that doesn't capture the urgency of infestations or the value proposition of preventive plans.
Pest control has huge DIY search volume: 'how to get rid of ants', 'mouse trap placement', 'DIY roach killer'. These searchers want Home Depot solutions, not professional service. At $7.85 per click, each DIY click is expensive—and they add up to 20-30% of unfiltered budgets.
Real data from WordStream 2025 (Home Services). See how your metrics compare to average pest control company advertisers.
$7.85
Average CPC
+49% vs $5.26 average
6.37%
Click-Through Rate
Clicks per impression
7.33%
Conversion Rate
Clicks to leads
$90.92
Cost Per Lead
+30% vs $70.11 average
Not all keywords are created equal. Here's which ones to target and which to avoid for pest control company Google Ads.
'Near me' signals immediate need and hiring intent. Core service keyword with strong conversion rates.
Specific pest indicates active infestation. 'Exterminator' signals professional service, not DIY.
Panic-mode searchers who will hire whoever can come fastest. Premium CPC but highest conversion rates.
Cost research indicates serious consideration. Bed bugs can't be DIY'd, so these are guaranteed service seekers.
Lower CPC, captures proactive homeowners seeking ongoing protection. Recurring revenue customers.
DIYers looking for home remedies, not professional treatment.
Hardware store shoppers who'll try DIY before calling professionals.
DIY-oriented searchers looking for chemical-free home solutions.
Job seekers looking for employment, not pest services.
People buying retail products to treat themselves.
Timing matters. Here's when pest control company demand peaks and how to allocate your budget throughout the year.
April, May, June, September, October
Increase budget 40-50% during peak demand
December, January, February
Reduce spend or focus on maintenance services
Evening (6-10pm) when people come home and discover pests. Weekends when homeowners are home to notice issues.
Spring warmth brings ants and termite swarms. Summer heat drives rodents seeking cool indoor spaces. Fall sends pests indoors before winter. Heavy rain floods nests, pushing pests into homes.
Budget recommendations based on real WordStream 2025 (Home Services) data and typical pest control company ROI.
Minimum Monthly Budget
$2,000
~22 leads/month
Recommended Range
$2,500-$5,000/month
Best ROI for most pest control company businesses
Cost Per Customer
$303
At 30% close rate
At $90.92 CPL and 30% close rate, each customer costs $303 to acquire. Single treatment = $150-400, ongoing service = $40-60/month ($480-720/year). The math works best for converting emergency callers into ongoing service subscribers—one emergency call that converts to annual service is worth $600+ in first-year revenue.
Our AI audit checks every aspect of your Google Ads account against pest control company-specific best practices.
We check if you're separating emergency services (active infestations) from ongoing prevention (quarterly service) and specialty treatments (termite, bed bugs).
We identify if you're paying for 'how to get rid of ants' or 'mouse trap' searches that attract DIYers with no intent to hire.
We audit if your ads run during evening and weekend hours when most pest discoveries occur—not just 9am-5pm business hours.
We check if phone calls are tracked—95%+ of pest control leads come via phone. Without call tracking, optimization is impossible.
We audit if targeting matches your service area. Pest control is hyperlocal—paying for leads 30+ miles away wastes budget.
We score pages for pest control trust signals: licensing, insurance, treatment guarantees, eco-friendly options, and same-day service promises.
Understanding your competition helps you find your edge. Here's what pest control company advertisers are up against.
Competition Level
high
110,000+ monthly searches for 'pest control near me' in the US
Main competitors: National chains (Orkin, Terminix, Rentokil), regional operators, local family businesses, and general home service companies adding pest control
How to Win
Your Differentiator
Win with speed (same-day service guarantee), specialization (termite experts, bed bug heat treatment), safety positioning (pet-safe, eco-friendly), or bundled home service packages.
"Our ads were only running 9-5 when nobody discovers pests. The audit showed 60% of emergency searches happened after 6pm. We extended ad hours and added an emergency campaign—lead volume jumped 45% without increasing budget."
— Pest Control Business Owner
Pay per audit. Use when you need it.
“$19.99 to find $1,400/mo in waste? Best ROI I've ever gotten.” — Elite Electric, San Diego CA
$19.99 per audit
“Paid for itself in 1 day”
— J.M., Plumber
$17.00 per audit
“Perfect for my 3 locations”
— T.K., Dentist
$15.00 per audit
“Use it monthly, always finds something”
— R.S., HVAC
$10.00 per audit
“Run it for all my clients now”
— M.L., Agency
Common questions about Google Ads for pest control company businesses
Most pest control companies invest $2,000-$5,000 per month on Google Ads, with the range depending on market size, competition, and whether you offer commercial services. The pest control industry has moderate advertising costs ($90.92 average cost per lead) with good conversion rates (7.33%). Start with $2,000/month minimum to generate 20+ leads and build optimization data. The key to profitability is converting emergency callers into ongoing service subscribers. A single panicked call about roaches can become a $600+/year recurring customer on quarterly service. Focus budget on emergency keywords during peak discovery hours (evenings and weekends) and prevention keywords during shoulder seasons. Reserve 20% of budget for seasonal surges—spring pest emergence and fall invasion periods can require 40-50% budget increases.
CPC Benchmarks
Average cost per click for pest control companies
Common Mistakes
7 mistakes costing pest control companies money
Best Keywords
High-converting keywords to target
Budget Guide
How much to spend on Google Ads
ROI Calculator
Expected return on ad spend
2025 Benchmarks
Full benchmark comparison data