Critter Control Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Critter Control is a home-services franchise specializing in nuisance-wildlife removal and exclusion, plus pest control, for homes and businesses. Franchisees run a service operation handling inspections, trapping, and prevention in a territory.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Critter Control franchise requires a total initial investment of $94K – $250K, including a $75K – $112K franchise fee and an ongoing 9.0% royalty[2]. The 2025 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). SBA 7(a) loans show a 7.1% charge-off rate across 16 loans[1]. FranchiseVerdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $94K – $250K
- 29th pct Home Services
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Outlet subset
- Royalty
- 9.0%
- 52nd pct Home Services
- Units
- 123
- 63rd pct Home Services
- SBA charge-off
- 7.1%
- % of SBA 7(a) loans not repaid · median varies by category
Quick verdict · Home Services · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Home Services avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $94K – $250K including a $75K franchise fee, 9.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSItem 21 financial statements are those of the parent/guarantor Rollins, Inc. and Subsidiaries (consolidated), audited by Grant Thornton LLP for fiscal years ended Dec 31, 2022 / 2021 / 2020; figures originally stated in thousands and converted to dollars. Rollins guarantees Critter Control's obligations (Exhibit 9-B). Revenue line is "Customer services"; no separate other-revenue line.
- RISKVerdict A (Strongest tier), verdict score 80/100 (higher is better). SBA loan charge-off rate of 7.1% across 16 loans (near or below the 16% franchise average, based on all SBA 7(a) franchise lending, 2010–2025).
- DATAItem 19 reports revenue and expenses rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable. Ask franchisees directly for full unit-level revenue.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Critter Control, Inc.
- Parent company
- Rollins Wildlife Services, Inc.
- Ultimate parent
- Rollins, Inc.
- Predecessor
- K.D. Clark Services, Inc.
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- President
- Jeffrey B. Campbell
- Incorporated in
- MI
- HQ
- 2170 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30324
- Auditor
- Grant Thornton LLP
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $2.7B
- vs $2.4B prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Jeffrey B. Campbell
- Headquarters
- GA
- Founded
- 1987
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 30
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 24% below the typical home services franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2025 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $75K | $75K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $3K | $5K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $16K | $171K |
| Total initial investment | $94K | $250K |
Source: Critter Control 2025 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $94K – $250K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $3K – $5K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $75K – $112K
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Royalty
- 9.0%
- percentage · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 1.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 10.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 9.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 1.0% of gross sales |
| Training fee | $5K |
| Transfer fee | $15 |
| Renewal fee | $20 |
| Inventory (initial) | $8K – $29K |
| Total fee load | 10.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Critter Control did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Critter Control unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
38%
Within the 30–60% "attractive franchise" band
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2025 FDD
Financial Performance
Item 21 financial statements are those of the parent/guarantor Rollins, Inc. and Subsidiaries (consolidated), audited by Grant Thornton LLP for fiscal years ended Dec 31, 2022 / 2021 / 2020; figures originally stated in thousands and converted to dollars. Rollins guarantees Critter Control's obligations (Exhibit 9-B). Revenue line is "Customer services"; no separate other-revenue line.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 10.0% (near the Home Services average).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports revenue and expenses rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
Operator retention
System expanding at 12.7% CAGR over 3 years across 123 units — operators are staying and new ones are joining.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Home Services averages
How Critter Control Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 123
- Opened
- 24
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 4
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 1
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 1.1%
- Company-owned
- 34
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 72%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +12.7%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +12.7%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 8
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 1
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 1
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 4
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 30 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
30
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
- Total loans
- 16
- Loan volume
- $6.1M
- Median loan
- $302K
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- 7.1%
- rates vary by category · see methodology
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- 91.7%
- 5-yr charge-off
- N/A
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 7
- Defaults
- 1
- Typical loan rate
- 5.9%
- avg rate to borrowers
- Franchised industry avg
- 13.8%
- brand beats franchise avg ↓
- Jobs supported
- 93
- 1.6 per loan
- Lender concentration
- 15%
- top lender's share
Borrower mix: 0% went to startups / new businesses, 100% to established operators
Franchise vs independent — in exterminating and pest control services, franchised businesses charge off at 13.8% vs 12.0% for independents — franchising is associated with 15% higher SBA default risk in this category.
Top lenders financing Critter Control franchisees
Showing 3 of 7 lenders. The full breakdown — every lender, state distribution, interest rates & risk ratings — is in the SBA Lending Report below.
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
Premium insight
SBA Lending Report
Deep-dive into Critter Control's SBA lending history: lender network, geographic footprint, interest rates, and more.
SBA Lending Report
- Principal loss rate and NAICS industry benchmark
- 7 lenders with concentration factor
- Per-state charge-off rates across 7 states
- Startup risk premium and job creation velocity
- 11-year lending trend
- SBA 504 real estate/equipment data
Instant access. No subscription.
What could kill this investment?
SBA loans charge off at 7.1% — 56% below the 16.0% national norm, i.e. lower lender-observed risk.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Critter Control presents high risk due to a shrinking franchise network (-6.6% YoY), undisclosed financial performance (no Item 19), multiple litigation/regulatory actions, and a high fee structure relative to system trajectory.
Litigation (Item 3)
1) Galt Strategies LLC v. Critter Control et al. — breach of contract / trade secret / unfair competition; settled for $215,000 (Aug 2017). 2) Virginia Settlement Order — franchise registration violations; $23,500 penalty (Jan 2018). 3) SEC Settlement Order (Rollins/Northen) — accounting reserve manipulation; $8M civil penalty against Rollins (Apr 2022).
Largest disclosed settlement: $215,000
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Grant Thornton LLP
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
ⓘ These are the parent company's consolidated financials (the parent guarantees the franchisor), not this brand's standalone results — the figure reflects the whole corporate group, not this brand alone.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 80 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORSystem declining 6.6% YoY with only 124 units—indicates contracting franchise network and potential market saturation or performance issues
- 02MINORNo Item 19 financial performance disclosure—cannot verify average revenues or net income, making ROI projections impossible to validate
- 03HIGHMultiple litigation/settlements including trade secret misappropriation, state regulatory violations, and parent company SEC accounting order—suggests governance and compliance weaknesses
- 04MINORHigh initial investment ($93,850-$250,275) paired with 9% royalty and declining unit count creates elevated risk of negative ROI
- 05MINORGoing Concern = False status not explicitly confirmed—ambiguous disclosure raises questions about franchisor financial stability
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 10.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 7 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | exclusive |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | Yes |
| Territory radius | 30 mi |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Granted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 30 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Jury trial waiver | No |
| Governing law | GA |
| Litigation count | 3 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
1) Galt Strategies LLC v. Critter Control et al. — breach of contract / trade secret / unfair competition; settled for $215,000 (Aug 2017). 2) Virginia Settlement Order — franchise registration violations; $23,500 penalty (Jan 2018). 3) SEC Settlement Order (Rollins/Northen) — accounting reserve manipulation; $8M civil penalty against Rollins (Apr 2022).
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 44 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 16 hrs
- Training location
- Atlanta, Georgia and/or virtual
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 1 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee
- Franchisor financing
- Offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- GPS Insight
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: GPS Insight
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
16 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Critter Control · FDD (2025) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Critter Control franchise?
The total investment to open a Critter Control franchise ranges from $94K – $250K, with an initial franchise fee of $75K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Critter Control franchise owners earn?
Critter Control does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Critter Control FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Critter Control FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Critter Control's franchise failure rate?
Based on SBA 7(a) loan data, Critter Control has a charge-off rate of 7.1% across 16 loans, meaning 7.1% of franchise loans were charged off. Charge-off rates are one proxy for franchise risk, though they do not capture all closures. This data comes from FOIA-sourced SBA lending records.
How many Critter Control franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Critter Control has 123 total units in the United States, including 89 franchised units and 34 company-owned units. 24 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Critter Control a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Critter Control as a A-grade franchise with a verdict score of 80 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
Are you the franchisor?
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.