Courtesy of Upstate Bug Busters
By Rod Bacon
It is never too early to embark on a career as an entrepreneur.
When he was 11 years old, Blake Mahieu started mowing lawns in his neighborhood, soon adding other yard maintenance tasks to his services. He built his client roster to 25 weekly clients, continuing to operate this business through his high school years at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany.
Never one to rest on his laurels, however, he added another business to his resume while still a student. A family friend in New Jersey had a company specializing in eliminating irritating insects from residential properties.
“He offered to show me the ropes and didn’t want any equity in the company, and I thought ‘when is an opportunity like this ever going to happen again’ so I jumped at it,” Mahieu said.
He established Upstate Bug Busters, a company that protects outdoor spaces from unwanted insects like ticks, mosquitoes, fleas, gnats, spiders, ants, stink bugs and chinch bugs. He uses an all-natural, environmentally friendly solution that is delivered via a high-pressure system mounted on a truck that ensures maximum coverage of a client’s property. The formula was devised by the family friend, who also manufactures and markets it nationwide. Mahieu purchases it from him.
He said the solution contains all natural essential oils rather than harsh chemicals. The high volume 300 psi delivery system allows him to fully saturate all the areas where bugs live, which include lawns, plants, tree trunks, most flower beds, retaining walls, and the bottom sides of leaves. To ensure full coverage he sprays 30 feet into any woods surrounding the property.
“For a while I was operating both businesses simultaneously but Bug Busters really took off so I gave up the lawn business last year to concentrate on it,” said Mahieu.
In the year since he started the business his client base has gone from eight monthly customers at the start of the season to 46 at the end. To date, he has 102 signed up for 2025. The season runs from April to October. He serves Niskayuna, Albany, Scotia Glenville, Clifton Park, Saratoga, and Queensbury.
Obviously, pricing depends upon the size of the yard, but Mahieu said the average is $150-$165 an application. He uses software that is integrated with Google Earth so when a potential customer contacts him he asks for their address, enters that into the program and can see an overhead view of the property. He then drags-and-drops the dimensions and can have a price quote within two to three minutes.
Mahieu self-financed the business by selling two dirt bikes he owned when he raced motocross when he was younger. He was also still running his lawn care business, which provided income while he built up Bug Busters.
Currently, he is operating the business himself but says if his customer base continues to grow he will be hiring employees, possibly this season.
In addition to working at his business Mahieu attends Hudson Valley Community College, majoring in Entrepreneurship.
Response to Upstate Bug Busters during its inaugural year has been extremely positive. For example, one customer said, “We just started using Upstate Bug Busters this past year for a monthly lawn treatments. Blake made our transition from our previous pest company to his very smooth and professionally. Blake was very informative with the types of treatment and what they treat. I highly recommend Upstate Bug Busters for all your bug needs.
Another said, “We have tons of mosquitoes where we live and I’m highly allergic, which makes it difficult to be outside. Blake did our first application and I haven’t seen a mosquito since. It’s nice to finally sit outside on our porch or be in our background playing with our son and not getting attacked.”
Mahieu has been a member of the Capital Region Chamber since he started the business, and they recently held a ribbon cutting to recognize his success in the first year. He attends networking mixers and the annual dinner, and has found the chamber to be a valuable resource in expanding his business.
He also believes in giving back to the community. He donates toy to Toys For Tots and supports K9s For Warriors, an organization that pairs veterans with service dogs.
For further information go to upstatebugbusters.com.