Just like any other business, it takes more than hard work to maintain a good return on sales. Hence, it’s important to reduce avoidable costs throughout the process.
But what if I tell you that even a small bug in a soup can dramatically affect your business as a whole?
Especially in the food industry, poor pest control can take its toll on not just your health but also the value of your business. Fortunately, this problem can be remedied.
So, before you take this situation lightly, it’s important to understand how pest control improves the overall health of your business, even to the point of saving it from future financial woes.
How Bad Can it Be?
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Compromised Customer Satisfaction
In this modern age, as much as it is easy to build up a good image for your business considering the convenience of promoting your products and services online through social media, bad reviews on your business could compromise your sales. As they say, “A good reputation is hard-won and easily lost.”
On the other hand, pest infestation reflects your business’ attitude towards cleanliness and sanitation, let alone awful customer complaints online.
Especially in restaurants, implementing proper food safety procedures can easily translate to your business being thoughtful of your customers’ overall experience and health.
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Damaged Inventory
Least-visited places like rooms filled with stacks of storage boxes are easily overlooked, but that doesn’t mean it’s not considered a perfect breeding ground for rodents and pests.
As per a research study on environmental and economic costs associated with non-indigenous species in the United States, the cost of rat damage is more than $19 billion per year.
At the end of the day, proper food handling and storage will go a long way in protecting your inventory against pest infestation. Even better, availing yourself of credible pest control services will even save you from further property and equipment damage.
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Decreased Revenue
It’s important to know to what extent pest infestation could harm your business financially. After all, it’s necessary to have a good cash flow for your business to operate properly.
A research study commissioned by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) found that the operating costs of U.S. businesses increased by US$6.8 billion in 2014 due to pest infestations and lost US$13.2 billion worth of revenue.
Now that’s a lot of money to lose. The good news is that this potential threat can easily be avoided along with professional help from pest control experts.
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Poor Employee Morale
It’s not only your business that’s affected by the troubles caused by pest infestation but also your employees’ health, motivation, and reputation.
When restaurants are linked to outbreaks of food poisoning, it’s easy to blame the restaurant staff for carelessness when in fact, it could have stemmed from the business owner’s lack of initiative to impose strict food safety protocols.
Aside from your customers, your employees are also the heart of your business. To keep them, you need to take care of their needs. And sometimes, all it takes is a call to your local pest control experts.
Pest Control Solutions
You might be surprised how vulnerable your business is to pest infestations. Even if you’re not in the food industry, common pests like cockroaches and termites can easily penetrate buildings, leading to devastating structural damage in the long run.
So, are pest control services worth the investment? The answer is a resounding yes! That’s if you fancy lower operating costs and satisfied customers and employees.
With that said, here are two common yet helpful pest control services you should consider for your business:
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Termite Control
Termites are almost hard to notice, especially if you’re too busy running your business. Seriously, who reminds themselves every day to check the walls? But when taken lightly, these little creatures can bring down your business—literally.
It’s important to know the common signs of termite infestation. Ironically enough, DIY pest control projects will cost you even more as commercial insecticides sold in the general market today are not that long-lasting and effective compared with those used by professional termite control experts.
b. Cockroach Control
Cockroaches carry allergens that can easily trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
As per the National Pest Management Association, 63% of US homes contain cockroach allergens. How much more if you’re in the food industry? Since cockroach infestation is that common, it’s just as well you include cockroach control in your business priority list.
As much as you don’t want these creatures to fly, letting them breed freely is just as bad.
Ensure Your Business!
As a practical business owner, you’d always want what’s best for your business. And what better way to do that than by pest-proofing your business.
You may not realize it but doing so will all the more benefit everybody including your high-performing employees and loyal customers. Protect your business not just from pests but also from future avoidable expenses.