Bug Bux Podcast
Bug Bux Podcast is designed to help pest control owners start and rapidly scale their company. The hosts, Eric Bassett and Jake Claus, are experts in the pest industry, and they are committed to providing the best guests and resources to help entrepreneurs. Their goal is to help you become a bug money millionaire.
Eric Bassett started out as a door-to-door sales representative in 2008. Then he quickly worked his way into upper management and a sales director role before joining Natura as an owner and Vice President. His areas of expertise are inside sales and customer service training, organizational leadership development, and business strategy. He's also an Associate Certified Entomologist. You can follow his journey on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @iamericbassett
Jake Claus started his journey in the pest control world in 2005, selling door-to-door for brands across Idaho, California, and Texas until he and his wife, Jana, started Natura Pest Control in the Portland, Or/Vancouver, Wa area in 2013. Jake loves the science and service side of pest control, as well as developing innovative ways to grow and expand his business. Personal development and pursuing his vision for his business and family achievements are his number one endeavor. Aside from being the President and Founder of Natura Pest Control, Jake is also an Associate Certified Entomologist, Structural Pest Inspector, and holds licenses in every major category of structural pest control. Jake is also a part-time paid Firefighter/EMT with his local fire department.
Bug Bux Podcast
Episode 190: Mayor, Firefighter, Pest Pro: The Wild First Year of Matt Alexander
What do you get when you combine a firefighter, a small-town mayor, and a first-time pest control business owner? You get Matt Alexander—a man who's literally putting out fires on and off the job.
In this high-energy episode of the Bug Bucks Podcast, Eric and Jake sit down with Matt to talk about his whirlwind first year as the founder of Aero Pest Management. From walking away from an embezzlement-ridden partnership to launching his own company with just $26K and a ton of grit, Matt has built a thriving pest control business while juggling politics, public safety, and parenthood.
You’ll hear:
- How Matt grew to 322 customers in 12 months
- Why he puts customer callbacks above new sales
- His “cult following” on Facebook and the power of local reputation
- The moment he put out a fire using his pest control backpack
- How he trains his team for customer retention from day one
- And why caring about people—really caring—pays off in business and in life
Whether you’re in year one or scaling past seven figures, this episode will remind you what passion, community, and a ridiculous work ethic can really do.