ohDEER Tick and Mosquito Control Franchise

ohDEER began with the Massachusetts business Kurt Upham established in 2007. Upham, who holds an associate degree in horticulture from MassBay Community College, built the operating business that became oh DEER, Inc. on May 6, 2009. OH DEER Development Corporation began offering franchises in June 2012. Based in Wayland, Massachusetts, the franchise system provides deer control, rabbit control and tick and mosquito control services and products.

The original operating affiliate continues to contribute training assistance and optional call center services. Colleen Upham became president of the franchisor on December 16, 2021, after serving as a director, treasurer and secretary since January 2012. The May 4, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document reports 16 franchised outlets and two affiliate-operated outlets at December 31, 2025. Four of the franchised outlets were owned and operated by the company’s principals under franchise agreements; the two affiliate outlets are reported separately.

The 2026 FDD estimates an initial investment of $115,750–$239,150 for an owner-operated business, excluding real estate costs. This includes the $49,500 initial franchise fee and a separate $5,000 In-Territory Marketing Management fee, along with vehicle, equipment, products, launch marketing, technology and additional funds. The work truck is a major source of variation: the estimate covers a lower initial leasing or financing outlay through a possible outright purchase of up to $95,000. The model anticipates a home office and a garage or rented storage facility, subject to territory and local requirements.

Preparation and initial training. ohDEER provides specifications and vendor guidance for the service vehicle, equipment and supplies, an electronic Operations Manual before training, and assistance with an In-Territory Marketing plan. The separate $5,000 marketing management fee includes preparation of the website, marketing materials and plan, plus a starter kit of branded apparel, service and referral door hangers and yard signs. Owners execute the local marketing plan and arrange the purchases needed to open. At least 30 days’ notice of the planned opening is required for pre-opening assistance.

The initial training schedule combines virtual instruction and homework with in-person field work. Its four-week outline covers the service model, sales and customer service, customer relationship management, business planning, operations and capacity, marketing, and onboarding e-learning, followed by three days of field training totaling 18 hours. Field instruction takes place at an ohDEER location in Massachusetts or another location designated by the franchisor. Training is scheduled to finish two to four weeks before opening and must be completed satisfactorily before services begin. Initial training for the first two participants has no additional tuition; owners pay travel, lodging and other attendance expenses. Additional participants are charged $3,425 each plus their expenses. The franchise agreement also requires a separate 12-hour Pollinator Steward Certification Program before opening, at a stated $200 cost to the owner.

Launch and operating tools. During the initial operating period, ohDEER provides three days of on-site field guidance at a mutually agreed time. Its technology package supplies routing, invoicing, scheduling and customer communication software, a business phone number and IP phone application, Google Workspace access and a local information page on the brand website. The disclosed technology fee is $500 per month, subject to adjustments for third-party costs; usage-based texting, messaging, mailing and additional email charges are extra. The franchisor supplies a professional bookkeeping service at its expense for the first year. Afterward, owners pay for professional bookkeeping and may retain that provider or select another.

Continuing support and owner responsibilities. Support includes Operations Manual updates, assistance with local marketing plans, and available advertising materials and training aids at cost. Individual or group guidance by visits, calls or electronic communications is provided when the franchisor considers it necessary or advisable, covering sales, customer service, hiring and training, vendors and equipment maintenance. Additional or refresher programs may be introduced; required programs generally carry no tuition apart from the annual conference, while travel and related costs remain the owner’s responsibility. Optional training and conferences may carry additional fees. Extra on-site training requested by an owner depends on staff availability and franchisor approval and carries additional charges.

Owners remain responsible for daily supervision, staffing, required licenses and certifications, vehicle and equipment upkeep, approved purchasing and local marketing execution. An individual franchisee must supervise the business directly and continue participating in daily operations even after assigning the franchise to a wholly owned entity. General managers for entity-owned or multiple franchises require approval and two years of relevant experience. Managers and other designated participants must complete the required training.

ohDEER offers a clear specialty for an owner who wants to build a local service business around customers’ outdoor properties. Deer and rabbit control and tick and mosquito services bring several related customer needs into one operation, while a mobile truck-based format allows service delivery at the customer’s property. A home office, where permitted, gives the business an operating base without requiring a customer-facing storefront.

The ownership appeal is practical: develop local customer relationships, organize routes and service capacity, and lead a trained field team using the brand’s operating standards. Initial virtual and field instruction, three days of launch guidance, a dedicated software package and first-year bookkeeping support provide concrete resources for putting that operation in place. The Massachusetts operating affiliate adds experience from a business established in 2007.

This model suits an owner who wants an active role in customer service, team leadership and local business development. Its spring, summer and fall service peaks make planning staff, equipment and customer schedules central to the work. For buyers drawn to an outdoor property service specialty, the combination of a defined service offering and a mobile operating format provides a specific business to build.

For further reading, explore ohDEER Franchise: Services, Training and Owner Responsibilities.