Pest control companies: how to compare them on paper

Reviewed September 24, 2026. Facts on this page are linked to their public sources at the bottom.

Pest control companies near me: six things to compare

Price is the easiest number to compare and the least informative one, because two quotes rarely describe the same work. Put these six side by side first.

Ask every company the same questions in the same order. Differences show up quickly.
Compare	What to ask	A good answer sounds like
License	What is your license number, and which category covers this job?	A number you can check with the state today, in the category for this pest
Insurance	Can you send a certificate of insurance?	A document from the insurer, not a verbal yes
Inspection	What did you find, and where?	Specific places and evidence, written down
Treatment plan	What will you apply, where, and how often?	Product names, EPA registration numbers, placements
Agreement	What is covered, how long is the term, how do I cancel?	A written agreement you can read before signing
Callbacks	If they come back between visits, what happens?	A written rule for return visits and how soon they happen

A pest control company license has a category

Every state licenses pest control for hire, and most split the license into categories. California's Structural Pest Control Board uses three branches: fumigation, general pest and wood-destroying organisms. Texas separates pest control, termite control, lawn and ornamental, and fumigation. Florida separates general household pest and rodent control from termites and other wood-destroying organisms. North Carolina licenses household pests, wood-destroying organisms and fumigation as separate phases. A company can be fully licensed and still not be licensed for the job in front of you, so check the category, not just the name.

Then ask who will actually come. In Texas an apprentice may not work without a licensed technician or certified applicator present, and in Florida every employee who applies pesticide works under the company's full-time certified operator in charge. The pest control license lookup by state lists where each state publishes its records; some offer a name search, and Texas publishes downloadable lists of current licensees instead.

What the law already makes a pest control company show you

Several states put consumer protections into the paperwork itself. You do not have to ask for these; if they are missing, that alone tells you something.

Florida. Every technician carries a state identification card and must show it on demand. Business license numbers begin with JB, and service vehicles are marked with the company name on both sides. On request the company must name the pesticide, its active ingredient and the ID number of the person applying it.
Texas. Every contract, warranty and service agreement prints the company's license number and the line "Licensed and regulated by: Texas Department of Agriculture" with the department's phone number. For indoor work at an owner-occupied home, the state's consumer information sheet must be made available.
California. Before treatment, the owner and any tenant receive a written notice naming the pest, the pesticide and its active ingredients, with the statement "CAUTION—PESTICIDES ARE TOXIC CHEMICALS." For fumigation it is due at least 48 hours ahead.
Louisiana. Each technician must carry a state registration certificate and show it on reasonable request.

Insurance minimums, and who pays if something goes wrong

In 2005 the EPA's consumer guide warned that most states did not require pest control companies to carry insurance. That has changed in the states with the most pest work. Florida's statute requires bodily injury coverage of $250,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence. Texas requires at least $500,000 per occurrence with a $1,000,000 annual aggregate. California requires $500,000 per loss for injury and the same for property damage, plus a $12,500 bond. A license lookup does not show the policy, so ask for a certificate of insurance and call the insurer if anything looks off.

Know what the regulator can and cannot do. California's board has no authority over payment disputes, Texas's service cannot compel a company to pay damages, and Florida's department does not arbitrate damage claims. They act on license and law violations. Money comes back through the contract, which is one more reason to read it.

The service agreement, line by line

Covered pests. Named, not "common household pests" with no list.
Schedule. How often routine visits happen, and whether the inside is treated each time. California requires periodic contracts to state the frequency.
Return visits. Whether callbacks between scheduled visits are part of the plan price. No regulator sets this, so it has to be in writing.
Term and renewal. Minimum term, automatic renewal and notice for cancellation.
For termites. Whether the warranty covers retreatment only or repairs too. Florida makes companies state which on page one, in bold, and bars the words "full" or "unlimited" if there are exclusions.

Compare pest control companies on the treatment plan

The EPA's consumer guide says any company, including those advertising themselves as green, should inspect and then outline a program: the pests, the extent of the problem, the active ingredients, the method, non-chemical alternatives and what you can do to prevent a repeat. A company that inspects first describes where the pests live and why. A company that sprays first describes what it sprays. Ask for product names and EPA registration numbers in writing. An EPA registration number, in the agency's own words, is not a stamp of approval or a guarantee of effectiveness, but it lets you read the label, which is the legal instruction for that product.

Some companies handle insects, termites, rodents and wildlife under one roof; others do one of those. For wildlife, also ask whether the company holds the state permit that trapping requires, which the wildlife removal guide explains with state examples.

Pest control services that deserve a second look

The FTC's list of home-improvement scam tactics fits pest control closely: a knock on the door because they are "in the area," a story about materials left over from another job, pressure for an immediate decision, and a demand for payment up front or in cash. Extension services add their own: a vague contract that says only "termite treatment," a conclusion of "suspected" termite activity with no evidence, and any treatment offered without an inspection. Termite damage happens slowly, as Texas regulators point out, so a few days spent comparing costs nothing in wood.

Comparing companies: what homeowners ask

How many pest control companies should I compare?

Two or three. The EPA's consumer guide says wise consumers get bids from two or three companies and look at value more than price, and NC State Extension gives the same number. For drywood termites, UC IPM suggests getting at least three inspection reports before deciding.

Is a national chain or a local company the safer choice?

Neither is safer by default. Both hold the same state licenses and work under the same product labels. Compare the specific office that will serve you: its license record, the technician who will come, the agreement and how callbacks are handled.

Can I cancel if I signed with a salesperson at my door?

Often, yes. The FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives three business days to cancel most sales of $25 or more made at your home, and Saturday counts as a business day. Texas gives 72 hours to cancel pest control bought through a home solicitation. Visits you asked for to repair or maintain something are not covered.

Will the state make a company pay for damage?

Usually not. California's board, Texas's structural pest control service and Florida's department all say they cannot compel a company to pay damages or arbitrate money claims. They act on license and law violations. Money disputes go through the contract, small claims or court, which is why the written agreement matters.

What should the service ticket list after each visit?

The date, the technician, the areas treated, the product names and EPA registration numbers and the amounts or number of bait placements. The National Pesticide Information Center recommends keeping exactly that record, and it is what the next company will need if the problem comes back.

Sources