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Bill Dowd

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control has been the industry leader in humane wildlife control of urban wildlife since 1989, with corporate locations and franchises across Canada and the US. More importantly, our home protection services exclude wildlife from regaining entry, and we offer homeowners a lifetime guarantee. Skedaddle also provides environmentally friendly pest control services, which prevents spiders, ants, wasps, and other insects from gaining access to homes. Skedaddle also removes contaminated insulation caused by wildlife and rodents and re-insulation services with environmentally friendly cellulose insulation. Lastly, Skedaddle franchises offer professional holiday decorating services to create stunning light displays and lifelong holiday memories. Many great franchise territories are still available in Canada and the US.

Tell us about yourself?

I played Major Jr. A hockey with the Ottawa 67s and was drafted in the early 1980s to the New York Islanders in their formative four-year Stanley Cup Champions run. I played for a few years in their farm system before retiring from professional hockey.

I then attended and graduated with honours from Brock University while playing varsity hockey. After graduating, I saw a need for humane wildlife control and started Skedaddle in the bedroom of my childhood home. The company has now grown to over 40 locations servicing over 200 homes a day.

When I started Skedaddle, I saw an opportunity to provide a unique service that focused on hands-on removal of animals from attics, chimneys, decks, etc. and animal-proofing homes versus traditional inhumane live trapping. Trapping and relocating of animals is not a long-term or ethical solution. Studies have shown that 70 per cent of relocated animals do not survive.

If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

To be more aggressive in our marketing to bring more new Skedaddle franchise owners into our system. Our business model works in any city or suburb across Canada and the US, as our services are in high demand with minimal competition.

Skedaddle

What problem does your business solve?

Humanely removing wildlife from homes and other buildings, which in turn stops further damage and destruction to homeowners’ biggest assets… their homes.

This gives property owners great peace of mind, especially with our lifetime guarantees on our home protection services. Our pest control services stop bugs and insects from invading homes and protect families from the diseases pests can carry. We also provide healthier homes with better insulation, which results in homes being more energy efficient.

Finally, our great, feel-good business line is our Christmas Lights by Skedaddle decorating services. This service takes the stress out of holiday decorating with our turn-key, stunning holiday displays. Our holiday decorating services include the design, installation, take down and storage of our Christmas decorations.

What is the inspiration behind your business?

It’s an essential service not affected by recessions, COVID-19, etc. In fact, during and after COVID-19, we have seen an increase in sales as hybrid working allows more people to work from home. Therefore, homeowners are more likely to hear squirrels or mice running in their ceilings or walls.

What is your magic sauce?

First and foremost is exceptional customer service. We also have great marketing and a very recognizable brand. We like to say we are a marketing company that just happens to remove wildlife, control bugs, and hang Christmas lights! Most competitors are what we call “Chuck in a truck” (one or two-man operations) that are trappers versus our hands-on removal techniques and home protection services that come with a lifetime protection/guarantee.

Skedaddle

What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?

Skedaddle would like to award franchises in the five or so territories still available in Ontario. We also see a huge opportunity to
award franchises or a master franchise for Quebec. Our only franchise in Quebec is in Montreal. There are also franchise opportunities in the major cities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta. Further goals include additional franchises on the west coast. There are a number of available territories in Vancouver to complement the three franchises that we currently have in Coquitlam, Victoria, and Okanagan, British Columbia.

Finally, we are excited about the opportunity to award 100s of franchises in the US. Currently, we have Skedaddle franchises in Milwaukee, Maryland, and opening soon in Minnesota.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

Understanding the world of franchising, such as how to navigate formalizing our systems, procedures, training, and marketing. Also, how to bring franchise leads through our awarding process and clarify how high demand our services are along with the minimal competition. Skedaddle can be a highly profitable and rewarding business to own, but like all successful people or businesses, it requires hard work and for franchises to follow our proven methods and systems.

How can people get involved?

We want to reach individuals looking for a career change or business opportunity who would like to “be in business for yourself but not by yourself.”

No experience is necessary as we provide all the training and support to assist our franchise owners in being successful financially and enjoying a better work/life balance.

To learn more about owning a Skedaddle franchise, please visit skedaddlefranchise.com.

Of course, if you are having a problem with wildlife or bugs or want your house to look stunning for the holidays, please visit our consumer site: www.Skedaddlewildlife.com.

Finally, to better understand our four revenue streams that are available to our franchise owners, visit our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@SkedaddleWildlife?si=TOXo3mjyLzhRbJS6.