Mosquito Hunters Franchise Warning: Is it REALLY Perfect for Veterans & First Responders?

Mosquito Hunters franchise recruitment advertising claims it offers the PERFECT opportunity for military Veterans & first responders.  Yet the company’s current disclosure document indicates that Mosquito Hunters has the highest failure rate (62%) of its competitors.  From 2016-2023, it appears to have a disturbing franchisee turnover rate of 138% (!). 

The FDD also indicates that the company is suing former franchisee Anthony Hurman, a 100% disabled Iraq War combat Veterans with severe PTSD.

We are asking for clarification from executives & franchisee & former franchisees of Mosquito Hunters and its affiliates (Happinest Brands, Lawn Doctor, ecomaids, Elite, Sparkle Squad, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Kilwin’s Chocolate, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners):  is this a Veteran-friendly franchise?  Do you treat disabled combat Veterans with the respect that they’ve earned?   by Sean Kelly, Founder, Franchise Truth for Veterans

Also read:  Happinest Mosquito Hunters Franchisee is an Iraq War Combat Veteran

(UnhappyFranchisee.Com)  According to the Mosquito Hunters Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), “The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Mosquito Hunters/Humbug Holiday Lighting Business franchise is $140,845 to $170,743. This includes $107,000 that must be paid to the franchisor.”

Mosquito Hunters franchise marketing is clearly focused on convincing Veterans & first responders that its priority is to do all they can to help transition them into succesful business ownership. 

In Veteran-targeted web pages, ads & brochures, Mosquito Hunters claims:

Mosquito Hunters believes in helping veteran, first responder, and minority candidates become business owners — and through “VetFran,” “First Responder” and “MinorityFran” initiatives, we do just that!

“Veterans and first responders are a special breed of people who give selflessly and work for the safety and well-being of others.”

If they commit to its 10-year franchise agreement (which includes minimum flat-fee royalties whether franchisee is profitable or not), Mosquito Hunters promises to reward & empower Veteran & first responder franchisees with:

• Consistently high profit margins
• The lowest startup costs in the industry
• An exclusive and protected territory
• Recurring revenue streams
• Comprehensive training and support
• Sophisticated marketing strategies

Mosquito Hunters Has an Alarming Three-Year Franchisee Turnover Rate of 62%

Mosquito Hunters marketing paints a bright & rosy picture of franchise ownership.  Item 20 of the Mosquito Hunters 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) shows a more grim reality. 

Between 2021 and 2023, Mosquito Hunters discloses that it terminated 48 franchises.  Another 20 had their franchises transferred to new of exiting owners.

Many of these franchisees were just a few years into their 10-year agreement.

Mosquito Hunters Has the Highest Turnover (Failure) Rate of Mosquito Franchise Competitors

To put Mosquito Hunter’s turnover (failure) rate in perspective, I compared its numbers to those of the other four main Mosquito abatement franchisors.  Mosquito Hunter’s turnover rate was the highest.

Mosquito Joe, franchising since 2012, is part of the Neighborly family of franchise brands, & has the lowest franchisee turnover (16%).

Mosquito Authority, franchising since 2020, is owned by Main Line Brands, & has the next lowest (20%).

Mosquito Squad, franchising since 2009, is owned by AB Assetco LLC (also franchisor of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, One Hour Air Conditioning, Homewatch CareGivers, Monster Tree Service & others) had twice the turnover as Mosquito Authority (40%).

Mosquito Shield, franchising since 2013,  is associated with Princeton Equity Group (Pirtek USA, Stretch Zone,  IFPG International Franchise Professionals Group, Five Star Bath, Gotcha Covered, & more) has the 2nd worst franchisee turnover rate (56%)

The Mosquito Hunters franchise have been sold since 2015.

Failed Franchisees Are Expected to Go Away Quietly.  Combat Veteran Hurman Didn’t.

A review of past Mosquito Hunters FDDs tells a disturbing story.

From 2016-2023, Mosquito Hunters had an average of 62 franchises operating.

During the same period, 86 Mosquito Hunters franchisees exited the system prematurely.

If my math is correct, that’s a franchisee turnover rate of 138%.

The franchisor claims that no franchisees signed confidentiality agreements prohibiting them from sharing their experiences.

Yet these 86+ franchisees are uncharacteristically silent.

Other than a number of franchisee bankruptcies, Mosquito Hunters FDDs only disclose two legal disputes (arbitrations) – surprising for a company with 138% failure rate.

The current Mosquito Hunters FDD discloses this current litigation with a 100% disabled Iraq war combat Veteran in Jacksonville, FL named Anthony Hurman:

Anthony O. Hurman Jr. and Candace M. Hurman v. Mosquito Hunters, LLC, Scott D. Frith and Andy Fuller (American Arbitration Association, Case Number 1-22-005-2915, filed on 6 December 19, 2022). The claimants, a former Mosquito Hunters franchisee, allege that the respondents fraudulently induced them into signing a franchise agreement and then subsequently breached the agreement.

They seek compensatory damages of $150,000, punitive damages, arbitration costs, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

On March 14, 2024, MH filed a counter-demand against the claimants seeking damages of at least $100,000 for their abandonment of their franchise and breach of their covenant not to sue.

MH, Mr. Frith, and Mr. Fuller deny the claims made against them and intend to defend against them vigorously.

Hearings are scheduled for mid-September 2024.

Happinest & Mosquito Hunters Have the PERFECT Franchise for Veterans & First Responders…

Unless You Stand Up for Yourself.  Then You’ll Be VIGOROUSLY Pursued.

This seems to be a common theme against high-failure rate franchisors, especially those who target Veterans.

The message they send:  Go away quietly and no one gets hurt… or at least hurt worse.

Stand up to us and we’ll take what little you haven’t yet lost. 

Thank you for your service…

Franchise Truth & Franchise Truth for Veterans Initiative

The predatory JDog Junk Hauling franchise – which has resulted in over 300 Veteran franchise terminations – is just the tip of the iceberg.

There is currently no meaningful oversight or enforcement of franchise laws over the claims & representations franchise sellers tell trusting Veterans & other opportunity seekers.

Some of the most predatory franchise sellers are allowed to pass off high-failure rate  franchise investments as “Veteran-Friendly” franchises by virtue of their inclusion of deceptive “Best Franchises for Veterans” lists or endorsements by seemingly reputable organizations, like the International Franchise Association’s VetFran program.

Our initial analysis of more than 100 franchises currently promoted to Veterans through the VetFran program revealed that approximately 25% have 3-year franchisee turnover/attrition rates of more than 50%.

That indicates that a high percentage of Veterans being encouraged to invest in these “Veteran-Safe” franchise opportunities will not only lose their investments, savings, credit ratings, & perhaps their homes, some may lose the security clearances that gave them access to the good-paying government and contracting jobs they had prior to their franchise investment.

Contributions to the Franchise Truth & Franchise Truth for Veterans initiatives save countless Veterans from under-informed investment decisions. 

Contribute to:  Franchise Truth & Franchise Truth for Veterans Initiative

URL:  https://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/support-franchise-fairness/

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.

Documentation & More Information:

Franchise Warning: JDog Junk Hauling for Veterans (Index)

JDOG Franchise Dream Ends in Veteran Suicide, Double Homicide

JDog Franchise News & Discussion Newsletter Sign-Up

List of JDog Franchisees With Closed or Failed Franchises – UPDATED

OPEN INVITATION:  Unhappy Franchisee extends an open invitation to all those discussed to provide corrections, explanations, clarifications and/or rebuttals.  We will correct factual errors & alternative views fairly.  Anonymous or signed comments are welcome below or can be emailed in confidence to UnhappyFranchisee[at]Gmail[dot]com. 

Sean Kelly is an independent investigative journalist with 35 years of franchise industry experience.  Since founding UnhappyFranchisee.Com in 2006, his reporting has exposed & shut down several predatory franchise & investment schemes.  Sean Kelly is a franchise watchdog who prompted and aided the FBI investigation that shut down the 165-victim multi-million-dollar NY Bagel franchise scam and landed perpetrators Dennis Mason & Joseph Smith in federal prison.  Sean was featured in the ABC Four Corners expose of 7-Eleven wage theft in Australia and has served as an advisor to Dateline NBC.  He has withstood bullying, intimidation & frivolous lawsuits as high as $35M and never lost.  His crack editorial staff and fact checkers include Chick, Gem, Red, Pru & Joanie the Rescue Chicken.

Contact the author at UnhappyFranchisee[at]Gmail[dot]com

TAGS:  Mosquito Hunters, Mosquito Hunters Franchise, Happinest Brands, Hppinest franchises, Veterans franchise, franchises for veterans, Anthony Hurman, Scott Frith, Andy Fuller, The Entrepreneur’s Source, Susan Scotts, CNL Strategic Capital, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners , Lawn Doctor franchise, Tropical smoothie Cafe franchise, Kilwin’s Chocolate franchise, ecomaids franchise, DLA Piper, arbitration, franchise failure rates