Pests like fleas, bedbugs, and rodents are more than a nuisance. Left unchecked, pests can take over your property and harm your business in significant and irreversible ways. This means something as seemingly small as a mouse can undo the years of work you have put into your business. But what really can pests do that makes them so loathed and feared by business owners across the globe? Here is a look at five dangers these tiny animals pose to your enterprise.
Health and Safety Risks
One of the reasons commercial pest control services are a business necessity and not a luxury is that pests can endanger the health and safety of the people on a property. This includes you, your customers, partners, vendors, and employees. In addition to causing illnesses directly, such as through bites, many pests harbor and transmit pathogens that can cause diseases like West Nile, Hantavirus, Lyme disease, and malaria. Pest droppings can also create slipping hazards, and rodents and termites can damage structures, leading to risky structural failures.
Ruined Reputation
We all know that a pest sighting can often ruin a business, especially one where hygiene is vital, such as a hospital or restaurant. If patrons walk onto your property and encounter scurrying rats or bedbug-infested furniture, they are unlikely to return. And in the internet and social media age, they may even share their experiences online, further deterring customers from your business and affecting your bottom line and reputation.
Stock and Property Damage
When pests get into your storage areas and pantries, they can damage your stock. Rats and mice can chew through wire, plastic, or fabric, and termites can destroy wooden items in minutes. Pest droppings and urine can also contaminate and lower the quality of your products. Similarly, mice, rats, termites, and carpenter ants can chew through the architectural structures of your business building, compromising the structural integrity. Termite damage, for instance, is very costly to repair.
Repair, Legal, and Insurance Costs
All the damage pests cause your business will be costly to repair or reverse. Over time, they can tank your bottom line and endanger the future of your business. Beyond repair and infestation removal costs, however, pests can be associated with legal and insurance expenses. Customers or employees injured by pests on your property can sue you for damages. And because pest damage is so common, it rarely meets the threshold insurers require to cover your expenses, leaving you to repair all damages yourself.
Reduced Productivity
If you and your employees live in fear of encountering pests, you will be less eager to work. The presence of pests on a business premise, in fact, can significantly lower morale and productivity, further tanking your bottom line.
Eliminate Pests Through Professional Commercial Pest Control
Pests can spell disaster for your business, whether they discourage customers, lower staff morale, or damage your stock and property. DIY treatments often work for a while, helping reduce the number of pests on your property. However, hiring professional pest control experts is a more effective and durable solution. If you have or suspect you may have pests in or around your business, contact the experienced Anti-Pest team to get ahead of the problem before your business suffers.
