Travis Bottoms joins Jason and Jeremy for a wide-ranging conversation about building Nice Pest Control in Arizona, scaling it to nearly $2 million in recurring revenue, and creating a marketing engine built almost entirely on referrals, social content, and customer experience. They also dig into company culture, hiring, compensation, and Travis’s growing influence in the pest control industry through PestWorld. In this episode, Travis shares how he and his business partner Tyler split responsibilities, why he believes the integrator role is essential, and how their team structure lets the business run without Travis being in the day-to-day every minute. They also discuss the unusual tactics behind Nice Pest Control’s brand and the way Travis has turned community, content, and creativity into a real growth channel. You will learn: Nice Pest Control’s size, team, and growth to nearly $2M recurringVisionary vs integrator and why Tyler mattersTravis’s path from technician to COO to founderNo traditional ads - growth from social, referrals, and organic reachCustomer appreciation events as a marketing strategyUsing customer reviews to shape the brandSeasonal smiley face branding and family-first positioningCulture, “it’s cool to care,” and supporting technicians’ familiesTechnician social media requirements and daily postingSalary, commissions, and tips as upside on top of stable payUsing Pest AI and territory-based technician sellingTravis’s growing role as an industry influencerThe origin of PestWorld and how it became a live industry eventDrafting teams, charity competition, and PestWorld’s structureThe PestWorld itinerary: party, relay race, show floor, and Family FeudThe Nice Pest Control tattoo promotion and the free-for-life offerCapping the tattoo program and the spike in new customersViral technician content and millions of viewsPosting volume, consistency, and Instagram momentum over 90 daysThe monthly social bonus system for techniciansWhy technicians post about themselves, not just the company Notable quotes: “If we focus on being the best, we don’t have to focus on being the biggest.” “It’s cool to care.” “I’d rather spend money with you than with Google or Meta.” Action items Build a referral program into everyday operations, not just a campaign.Make technicians part of the marketing engine through simple, repeatable content expectations.Pay for cultural fit as seriously as skill, especially in customer-facing businesses.Use customer appreciation as retention and referral fuel, not just a feel-good gesture.Consider whether your brand could be more memorable, more personal, and more family-friendly. Ready for boardroom-level help with your own business? • Grow, sell, or exit your service company with Potomac: https://www.potomaccompany.com Connect with the hosts: • Blue Collar Twins – Jason & Jeremy Julio: https://bluecollartwins.com Connect with Paul: • Paul Giannamore – Managing Director & M&A advisor at Potomac: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore
