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I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

onhand.pro

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Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#81

Post by anoojb »

tezclarke wrote: post #69
btown wrote: post #63

> That’s why selling SaaS or AI to this kind of company isn’t for me - I’d rather focus my energy on building a company from my own principles, and hire people who share them from the beginning. > When I told my manager I was leaving, he said I should start my own company and give him a call when I do. So that's what I'm doing. I love hearing stories like this, because it shows a way to be a builder without the "vent…

On "venture or nothing" - This will be my second company and this time round I have stripped right back to the problem, which is actually quite basic - pest control is a big, good business to be in and it's possible to build a very big, profitable business by doing the simple things right, consistently. It will compound over time if the basics are done right (which is harder to do than I thought before this experimen…

This is amazing. Thanks for sharing the story.

> ...and noticed companies have become less likely to offer their time for ride-alongs and research calls. They get too many requests, and vibe coding is drawing their attention to self-build.

Is this ACTUALLY happening? Are entrepreneurs who get into vibe-coders really eating up time a bunch of time for trades people?

Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#82

Post by alberth »

tezclarke wrote: post #6
MisterTea wrote: post #4

Interesting pivot. What I don't understand is how the SaaS software fits into it or helps grow a pest control company.

I don't believe SaaS is a good option in this sector - the incumbent VSaaS is decent, cheap, and ubiquitous. By "tech-enabling", I mean layering tech into the ops where it adds value and helps to scale the business. Obvious wins are upselling, hands-free data entry to the CRM, smart traps/stations. My choice is to compete as a tech-enabled operator, rather than sell AI/SaaS to incumbents.

I’m genuinely inspired by your journey.

One question for clarity: why don’t you see an opportunity to sell AI or other technology into this space again? Is it just because incumbents already have it locked up and it’s cheap?

The reason I ask is that this feels like one of those moments in history similar to mobile. PlanGrid succeeded because tradespeople suddenly had iPhones and iPads in the field, which made it possible to digitize blueprints and collaborate in real time.

Put differently, what could be the new “PlanGrid” for your industry - that AI makes possible now, the way mobile once did for construction?

Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#83

Post by downrightmike »

deweywsu wrote: post #47
dsalzman wrote: post #34

Doing something similar. Bought a business in the petroleum equipment service space. Building internal tools for ourselves. Pen and paper still dominates the industry.

Would you recommend buying a business over starting one from scratch when possible?

Buy then build

Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#85

Post by Antoniocl »

mememememememo wrote: post #66
gnarcoregrizz wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah. there absolutely are lots of very smart and capable people outside of tech. as someone who has seen the blue collar world "up close" (family businesses), its a different breed... the culture and attitude gap is enormous. shockingly so. most tech workers I know couldn't hang (don't hustle as hard, risk averse, liberal), but some skills may transfer, like problem solving and diagnosis, i.e. debugging.

Why is risk averse a thing. Blue collar jobs are just jobs unless you are going self employed and buying all the gear etc.

At least in the factory I worked in prior to becoming a software engineer, there was a significantly higher component of physical risk than in any of the software jobs I've worked in

Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#86

Post by tezclarke »

deweywsu wrote: post #79
tezclarke wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Getting data into the crm without physical input is a good quick win. Techs will often drive and type at the same time. Another good win is scheduling the right technician for a job when the customer call comes in. Lots of companies building these agents at the moment and a challenge for them is how to get into customers at scale.

How did you get such a good sense for business alongside implementing solutions with programming? Did you have experience doing this before?

I'm non-technical so I don't code, although I'm able to do a lot more myself than a year ago, with AI / claude cowork.

Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#88

Post by jofzar »

spenczar5 wrote: post #40
dsalzman wrote: post #34

Doing something similar. Bought a business in the petroleum equipment service space. Building internal tools for ourselves. Pen and paper still dominates the industry.

Does it matter that pen and paper dominate? How much of the business's expenses are overhead?

I worked in scheduling and timekeeping industry for a little bit, when pen and paper is mentioned you think "oh it's just notes written, and some other things" but in reality it's literally whole departments storing everything in daily/weekly sheets/binders and it's like 20 people's job to keep it all in order and keep the ship running for next week.

When someone asks what the plan is for next week, the answer is normally, it needs to be written out, or I'll have to find this for you etc.

Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#89

Post by seibelj »

tezclarke wrote: post #69
btown wrote: post #63

> That’s why selling SaaS or AI to this kind of company isn’t for me - I’d rather focus my energy on building a company from my own principles, and hire people who share them from the beginning. > When I told my manager I was leaving, he said I should start my own company and give him a call when I do. So that's what I'm doing. I love hearing stories like this, because it shows a way to be a builder without the "vent…

On "venture or nothing" - This will be my second company and this time round I have stripped right back to the problem, which is actually quite basic - pest control is a big, good business to be in and it's possible to build a very big, profitable business by doing the simple things right, consistently. It will compound over time if the basics are done right (which is harder to do than I thought before this experimen…

My neighbor is the best wallpaper guy in the city, which you’d think is extremely niche but wallpaper has come back in a big way. All sorts of businesses out there for those who identify needs and service wants. And the best way to know about a business is to work for an established one first

Re: I wanted to build vertical SaaS for pest control, so I took a technician job

#90

Post by DrewADesign »

mememememememo wrote: post #66
gnarcoregrizz wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yeah. there absolutely are lots of very smart and capable people outside of tech. as someone who has seen the blue collar world "up close" (family businesses), its a different breed... the culture and attitude gap is enormous. shockingly so. most tech workers I know couldn't hang (don't hustle as hard, risk averse, liberal), but some skills may transfer, like problem solving and diagnosis, i.e. debugging.

Why is risk averse a thing. Blue collar jobs are just jobs unless you are going self employed and buying all the gear etc.

This is a great example of the perspective disconnect.

In trades, the risk is usually not financial. I come home every day smelling of petrochemicals, with minor to moderate injuries, having been on my feet for 8 hours, sometimes up on ladders with greasy boots on, climbing on, into, and out of machines that could maul me without even making an unusual sound, and carrying 100lb sharp steel parts up stairs because it’s more efficient than waiting forces the shop hands to do it.

While the risks certainly have financial components, they’re more “get cancer, brain damage, lose a limb, or maybe even your life” risks. Risk averse is career death.

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