How to start a pest control business
Pest control has steady, repeat demand from homes, restaurants, factories and farms. It also involves poisons, so the law decides who may apply them. Here is how to get registered and build the business.
Register as a pest control operator
Anyone who applies pesticides for payment must be registered as a pest control operator (PCO) with the Registrar under Act 36 of 1947, administered by the national Department of Agriculture. You register for the category of work you do, for example household and structural pests, fumigation, or garden and weed control, after completing the required training.
Use only registered products
Only use pesticides that are registered under Act 36 for the pest and the place you are treating, and follow the label exactly. Label instructions are a legal requirement, not a suggestion. Store chemicals locked away, in their original containers, away from food.
Safety for you, clients and staff
- Protective equipment for every operator, and training in how to use it
- Clear instructions to clients about people, pets and food before and after treatment
- Records of every treatment: product, amount, place and date
- Public liability insurance and COIDA for your staff
Where the regular income is
Once-off callouts are useful, but service contracts pay the bills: restaurants and food factories that must show pest control for their own food safety compliance, schools, offices, complexes, warehouses and farms. Monthly or quarterly visits with proper service reports are what they want.
Get found
Clients are learning to ask for PCO registration. Our client guide how to choose a pest control company tells them to. Put your registration on your quotes and get a free verified BizBoost listing.
Common questions
Do I need to be registered to do pest control in South Africa?
Yes. Anyone applying pesticides for payment must be registered as a pest control operator with the Registrar under Act 36 of 1947, in the category of work they do.
What are the pest control registration categories?
Registration is per type of work, such as household and structural pests, fumigation, and garden or weed control. Register for each category you will work in.
Does a garden service need PCO registration to spray weedkiller?
If it applies herbicides or other pesticides for payment, yes: it needs pest control operator registration in the relevant category.