What Can Cockroaches Do to Your Business?

The reputation of a business is everything. Consumers and clients expect the businesses they deal with to be professional, clean, and sanitary. Seeing cockroaches crawling on the floor or countertops, or in the bathroom, is a surefire way to turn away current and potential customers. Customers are quick to leave bad reviews online, especially with social media and review sites.

For restaurants, bars, and hotels, a cockroach infestation can be the end of a business. One customer coming across cockroaches, especially if he or she photographs the evidence, is all it takes to undo years of work and loyal customer relationships.

Cockroaches carry with them an array of pathogens and dangerous bacteria. Scientific studies have found that cockroaches spread food poisoning bacteria Salmonella and E. coli. Both of these can lead to serious cases of gastrointestinal illness. Additionally, cockroach droppings, shed skin, and saliva contribute to indoor allergens. Cockroach allergens have been linked to asthma and allergy attacks.

This is an obvious and serious threat to food-related businesses. A cockroach problem can make a health department shut down a business and pile on fines.

Cockroach problems don’t just affect restaurants and food businesses. A roach problem can easily develop in the office breakroom, warehouses, and even electrical rooms. Cockroaches can chew through packaging and contaminate supplies and storage areas. They also can damage wiring by nesting in electrical panels.

Any disruption in normal operations is bad for business. Getting cockroaches under control often means business owners have to shut down work and operations, leading to loss of productivity and profits. Small businesses with tighter margins are especially affected by such problems.

In addition to being a business disaster, cockroaches can also get you in legal trouble. A lot of industries, including food service, healthcare, hospitality, and even real estate, have to comply with sanitation and safety laws and regulations. Not managing cockroach infestations could lead to citations, fines, and even lawsuits from patrons or employees who are affected by the pests.

The bad news is, in the modern world, there are few businesses that can really afford to get cockroaches on the wrong side of the law.

Employee satisfaction is a key aspect in running a business. When cockroaches enter the picture, employee morale can plummet. No one wants to work where cockroaches are crawling around and contaminating work and living spaces. This leads to a lot of unnecessary stress. In the long term, it can lead to high employee turnover and decreased productivity, which costs the business even more money.

The negative financial impact of cockroaches on a business goes way beyond the fees to hire an exterminator. You also have to consider:

• The cost of replacing contaminated foods or products
• Repairs to any structural damage caused by nesting and chewing
• Loss of customers and revenue as a result of bad press
• Legal costs from citations and non-compliance or lawsuits

Taken together, the costs from any cockroach problem can take a huge toll on any business’s bottom line. For small and medium-sized businesses, one serious infestation can have long-term implications on your business’s survival.

Schedule regular inspections of any potential areas for cockroaches to breed and feed. These include the kitchen and other food preparation areas, break rooms, storage areas, and utility spaces. By keeping an eye out for the early warning signs of cockroaches, like droppings, egg cases, and musty odors, you can take quick action before the problem becomes unmanageable.

Cockroaches are drawn to places where they can find food scraps and grease, and areas of high moisture. Businesses should:

• Keep all food in sealed containers or packaging.
• Take the trash out daily, and keep it in sealed garbage cans or bins.
• Vacuum and sweep under appliances and shelving units.
• Fix leaks and remove all sources of standing water.

Keeping the workplace as clean and sanitary as possible will help to prevent a cockroach problem. It also helps to keep the business a more pleasant, professional place.

Cockroaches can get through the smallest cracks and gaps. Regularly inspect your property and seal all entry points, especially around doors, windows, pipes, and vents. Door sweeps and weatherstripping are also great ways to keep pests out.

At some point, a professional pest management company is the best defense against roaches and other pests. DIY methods are at best a temporary solution and can be more trouble than they’re worth. The experienced team at Steel City Pest can protect your commercial property with a treatment plan specifically designed to stop cockroaches. We know which treatments are safe and most effective, and we care about keeping your employees, customers, and property safe while meeting all compliance and regulation standards.

The bottom line is, when it comes to pests in the workplace, you cannot afford to take any chances. Steel City Pest has the solutions your business needs with:

• Complete inspections customized for your specific industry.
• Tailored treatments to address your pest control needs.
• Ongoing monitoring and prevention to keep roaches at bay.
• Services that are both discreet and non-disruptive.

Our goal is simple: we want to keep your business safe, clean, sanitary, and pest-free so you can focus on what matters.

Cockroaches are a lot more than just gross, and they’re certainly more than an unsightly nuisance in your workplace. The problems these pests can cause, including everything from lost business to legal action, are real and can destroy your company if left unchecked. Don’t let cockroaches put your business at risk. By taking these preventive measures and getting the right pest management service, you can protect your business, your property, and your investment. Call Steel City Pest today for a consultation and take your first steps toward a cockroach-free business.