Pest Control Quote & Profit Calculator

Understanding Your Pest Control Job Profitability

Pricing a pest control job feels like a balancing act. Price too high, and you lose the bid. Price too low, and you're working for free. This calculator is designed to end the guesswork by giving you a clear, data-driven look at the financial health of every job you quote.

Here's a quick breakdown of the key terms and why they are critical for running a profitable pest control business.

Key Metrics Explained

What is a "Break-even Price"?

This is your absolute floor. It's the minimum amount you must charge to cover all direct costs for a specific job, including technician pay, chemical costs, vehicle mileage, and your general business overhead. If you charge your break-even price, you haven't made a single dollar of profit, but you haven't lost money either. Knowing this number is the first step to ensuring every job is a win.

Markup vs. Profit Margin: The Critical Difference

This is the single most misunderstood concept in service business pricing, and getting it right is a game-changer.

• Markup is the profit you add on top of your cost. You use it to build your price. If a job costs you $100 and you apply a 50% markup, you add $50 to get a final price of $150.
• Profit Margin is the percentage of the final price that is actual profit. It's used to analyze your profitability. In that same example, your $50 profit from a $150 price gives you a profit margin of 33.3%, not 50%.

Many businesses underprice because they confuse a high markup with a high margin. This tool shows you both, so you can price with confidence.

Why "Profit Per Labour Hour" is Your Most Important Number

Total profit on a job is great, but it doesn't tell the whole story. "Profit Per Labour Hour" reveals how efficiently you are making money.

A large, complex job might have a high total profit, but if it ties up your best technician for a full day, your Profit Per Labour Hour might be low. A series of smaller, high-margin jobs could be a much better use of your team's time. Focusing on this metric helps you identify and prioritize your most truly profitable services.