With their brightly branded vans and a catchy mission to “make outside fun again,” Mosquito Joe has become the leading outdoor pest control franchise in North America. The company was born from a simple, relatable problem: mosquitoes ruining outdoor gatherings. What started as a local service in Virginia has since grown into a powerhouse franchise system with hundreds of locations, fulfilling a growing need for residential mosquito, tick, and flea control.

For entrepreneurs interested in the booming home services industry, Mosquito Joe presents a compelling, seasonal business model with relatively low startup costs. But what’s really involved in owning one, and what does it take to succeed?

This deep-dive analysis covers the complete picture for a prospective franchisee: a full breakdown of the investment, ongoing fees, the operational model, franchisee support, keys to success, and how Mosquito Joe stacks up against the competition in the pest control space.

Expansion and Milestones

Mosquito Joe’s growth from a local solution to a national brand has been rapid and strategic.

2010: Founded by a group of four friends in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area who were tired of mosquitoes ruining their outdoor fun.
2012: After honing the business model for three years and experiencing what they called “wild success” locally, the company officially began franchising.
2018: A major turning point—Mosquito Joe was acquired by The Dwyer Group, now known as Neighborly, one of the world’s largest home services franchisors. This pivotal move gave franchisees access to immense resources, a vast professional network, and the cross-promotional power of sister brands like Mr. Rooter and Mr. Electric.
Present Day: The franchise has grown to over 400 locations across the United States and is ranked as the #1 outdoor pest control franchise. It has received numerous accolades, including consistent rankings on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, and recognition as a top franchise for military veterans.

What Does a Mosquito Joe Franchise Cost?

The initial investment to launch a Mosquito Joe franchise is estimated to be between $116,000 and $158,000. This makes it one of the more affordable opportunities in the home services sector, largely because no expensive retail storefront is required. Franchisees typically operate from a home office or a small, low-cost warehouse space.

Initial Investment Breakdown

Initial Franchise Fee: This fee is approximately $42,500. It grants you the license to operate under the Mosquito Joe brand name within an exclusive, protected territory, usually defined by a set of ZIP codes.
Vehicle & Equipment: A significant portion of the cost goes toward acquiring and outfitting a branded vehicle (usually a van or truck) with logos and contact information, turning it into a mobile billboard. This also covers the professional spraying equipment, safety gear, and initial supply of EPA-approved products needed to perform the services.
Other Costs: The remainder of the investment covers insurance, initial marketing campaigns to launch your business (often including a large direct mail campaign), business licenses, software, and several months of working capital to sustain operations and cover expenses during the initial ramp-up phase.

To be considered, candidates should have a minimum of $50,000 in liquid capital and a net worth of around $250,000. Mosquito Joe is part of the VetFran program and offers a discount of around $5,000-$6,000 off the franchise fee for qualified military veterans.

Ongoing Fees & Royalties

Unlike some franchises that use a flat-fee model, Mosquito Joe’s ongoing fees are based on a percentage of your revenue.

Royalty Fee: 10% of gross sales. The research notes that this rate is reduced to 7% for sales above a certain annual threshold, which rewards high-performing franchisees and incentivizes growth.
National Marketing Fund: 2% of gross sales. This contribution pools resources for national brand-building, website development, digital advertising campaigns, and other marketing initiatives that benefit the entire system.

The franchise agreement term and renewal conditions are detailed in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), which should be reviewed carefully with an attorney.

How Much Do Mosquito Joe Franchisees Make?

While Mosquito Joe’s FDD (Item 19) provides detailed financial performance representations, they are not broadly published in a single average revenue figure. However, the business model contains several strong indicators of profitability.

Profitability Factors

Recurring Revenue: The core of the business is a seasonal subscription model where customers sign up for treatments every few weeks. This creates a predictable, recurring revenue stream throughout the warmer months. The brand reports a high customer retention rate of around 75% season-over-season, forming a stable customer base year after year.
High Margins: The services are considered a “low investment, high-margin opportunity.” Because the main costs are labor, fuel, and product, efficient route management and customer density can lead to strong profitability on each job.
No Required Contracts: A key part of the model is a customer-friendly, no-contract policy. The company relies on its service quality and a satisfaction guarantee to keep customers, which builds tremendous trust and loyalty.
Seasonal Cash Flow: This is the most significant financial factor to manage. Franchisees earn the vast majority of their revenue during the mosquito season (spring through fall). Successful owners must manage their cash flow diligently to cover expenses during the winter off-season and prepare for the next season’s launch.

An owner’s potential income depends heavily on their ability to market locally, build dense service routes to maximize efficiency, and manage a seasonal workforce effectively. Top performers often scale their business by adding more trucks and technicians as their customer base grows.

The Business Model: A Day in the Life

Mosquito Joe is a mobile, home-based service business. This keeps overhead low by eliminating the need for expensive commercial real estate.

A typical peak-season workflow looks like this:

Morning Prep: Technicians review the day’s schedule, often optimized by routing software. They load their trucks with the necessary EPA-approved products and equipment and head out.
Service Calls: Technicians travel to customer homes to apply the signature barrier spray. A key convenience factor is that the customer does not need to be home for the service to be performed. After treatment, a notice is left at the door and a report is often emailed to the customer.
Customer Management: The franchise owner or an office manager handles incoming calls, scheduling, and billing. Mosquito Joe provides an integrated software suite for this, and franchisees have the option to use a corporate centralized call center to answer inbound calls and book jobs, ensuring no lead is missed.
Admin & Marketing: In between field work, the owner focuses on local marketing efforts, bookkeeping, and managing the team.

Training & Support

The franchise is known for its world-class support, which is designed to help owners succeed even with no prior pest control experience.

Initial Training: New franchisees attend “MoJo University,” an extensive multi-week training program at the headquarters in Virginia Beach. This covers everything from entomology and safe application procedures to local marketing, sales techniques, and using the proprietary business management software.
Ongoing Support: Support is a cornerstone of the model. Franchisees have access to an on-staff entomologist for technical questions, a dedicated business coach for one-on-one guidance, and a vast library of professionally-designed marketing materials. Being part of the Neighborly family provides additional benefits, including a large annual conference (“Neighborly United”) and potential for cross-promotional marketing with other Neighborly brands. The corporate team also pilots new products and services, passing on proven innovations to franchisees.

Products and Services

While the name says “Mosquito,” the services go beyond that, positioning franchisees as comprehensive outdoor pest control experts.

Core Services: The primary offering is barrier spray services that control mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Treatment Options: The franchise offers both synthetic EPA-approved treatments and all-natural options (using essential oils) for customers seeking an alternative. This commitment to responsible pest control has earned the brand recognition from the EPA’s Pest Environmental Stewardship Program.
Service Expansion: Many franchisees expand their offerings to include control for other outdoor pests like spiders or stinging insects, meeting broader customer needs and creating additional revenue streams.
Satisfaction Guarantee: Mosquito Joe famously offers a satisfaction guarantee. If a customer is not happy, a technician will return to re-treat the property at no extra cost, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to quality service.

Keys to Success as a Mosquito Joe Franchisee

Based on the performance of top franchisees, several key success factors have emerged. This isn’t just a business you buy; it’s one you must actively build.

Mastering Local Marketing: While corporate handles national branding, the most successful owners are deeply engaged in their local community. They sponsor local sports teams, set up booths at community events, and are active on local social media groups. They see their branded van as a key marketing tool and leverage it effectively.
A Focus on Customer Service: This is a relationship business. Top performers train their technicians to be friendly, professional, and communicative. Excellent service leads to high retention rates and, most importantly, powerful word-of-mouth referrals, which many owners cite as their #1 source of new business.
Strong Operational Management: Efficiency is key. Successful owners master their scheduling and routing software to create dense, profitable routes. They are also adept at managing a seasonal workforce—hiring, training, and retaining good technicians year after year is a critical skill that ensures smooth operations.
Willingness to Follow the System: Mosquito Joe provides a proven playbook. Franchisees who are coachable and execute the marketing plans, pricing strategies, and operational procedures provided by corporate tend to ramp up faster and perform better.
Strategic Use of the Off-Season: The seasonal nature of the business can be a pro or a con. Top operators use the winter months wisely. Instead of completely shutting down, they strategize for the next season, analyze customer data, service equipment, and conduct pre-season marketing campaigns to get a head start on spring bookings.

Mosquito Joe vs. The Competition

The outdoor pest control market is competitive. Mosquito Joe’s primary rivals are other specialized franchise systems and traditional pest control companies.

Brand	Franchise Model	Initial Investment	Ongoing Fees	Units (U.S.)	Key Differentiators
Mosquito Joe	Home-based, seasonal. Part of Neighborly.	$116K–$158K	10% royalty (tiered), 2% marketing.	~400+	Backed by Neighborly; huge brand recognition; corporate call center; strong systems.
Mosquito Squad	Founded 2005. Part of Authority Brands.	$109K–$167K	8-10% royalty, 2% ad fund.	~250+	Pioneer of the barrier spray concept. Strong marketing; part of a large franchise group.
Mosquito Hunters	Newer player. Part of Happinest Brands.	$89K–$112K	8% royalty, 2% ad fund.	~100+	Lower investment entry point. “Happiness Promise” guarantee; focus on franchisee culture.
Trugreen	Diversified lawn care and pest control.	Varies (large corp.)	Varies	Corporate	Diversified services (lawn care, etc.). Mosquitoes are an add-on, not the main focus.
Local Pest Companies	Independent “mom-and-pop” businesses.	Low / Varies	N/A	Thousands	Deep local roots but often lack the branding, systems, and marketing power of a franchise.

Competitive Analysis

Mosquito Joe stands out due to its scale and backing from Neighborly. This provides a level of stability, buying power, and brand trust that is difficult for smaller competitors to match. While Mosquito Squad is also a strong legacy brand, Mosquito Joe’s integration into the Neighborly ecosystem is a significant advantage. A Mosquito Joe franchisee is listed in the Neighborly app and can benefit from cross-referrals from customers of other Neighborly brands, creating a built-in lead generation channel.

Its percentage-based royalty is higher than some competitors, which is a key consideration. However, that fee supports a robust infrastructure, including technology and the optional call center, which can be a game-changer for a small business owner. The primary competition on the ground will always be local companies, but Mosquito Joe’s professional branding, satisfaction guarantee, and proven marketing playbook provide franchisees with a powerful edge.

Final Verdict: Is a Mosquito Joe Franchise a Good Investment?

Mosquito Joe offers a compelling opportunity to enter the resilient home services industry with a market-leading brand. The business model is proven, straightforward, and supported by a world-class franchise organization. The combination of recurring revenue, high customer retention, and strong brand recognition creates a solid foundation for success.

The main challenges are the seasonality of the business, which requires careful financial management, and the need for consistent local marketing to build and retain a customer base. The royalty is a significant percentage of revenue, so prospective owners must be confident in their ability to drive sales volume to make the model work.

The ideal candidate for a Mosquito Joe franchise is an energetic, community-minded leader who enjoys customer service and is willing to roll up their sleeves to execute a local marketing plan. For entrepreneurs who fit this profile and are prepared for the seasonal nature of the work, Mosquito Joe offers a powerful vehicle for building a profitable and scalable business that truly improves the quality of life in their community.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this analysis is based on research conducted from publicly available sources as of July 2025. While we strive for accuracy, LeadTruffle does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of the data. This article is for informational purposes only, and potential franchisees should conduct their own thorough due diligence, including a detailed review of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), before making any investment decisions.

Mosquito Joe Franchise Review 2025: Costs, Fees & Is It Worth It?