1901
Otto Orkin, a Latvian immigrant to the United States, starts peddling rodenticides door-to-door.
ABOUT ORKIN – FOR YOUR BUSINESS
We’ve been here from the beginning
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100+
Years in Business
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160
Hours of Training for Orkin Specialists
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8,000
Team Members
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400+
Locations Worldwide
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1.7M
Residential & Commercial Customers
For over a century, Orkin has drawn the inspiration for our approach from our founder Otto Orkin – to understand pest behavior and implement a plan to attack the problem at its source. Ever since 14-year-old Otto started his own pest control business, we’ve been committed to helping businesses like yours by using our expertise to stay one step ahead of pests. Free Pest Control Audit >
The Story of Orkin
1912
Otto Orkin, now known as “Otto the Rat Man,” opens his first office in Richmond, Va.
1926
Orkin opens the Atlanta office of Orkin Exterminating Company, Inc. and begins establishing operations in other major southeastern cities. The company introduces the Orkin diamond as its logo (newspaper advertisement pictured).
1930
After concentrating for years on rodents and eventually insects, Orkin begins to advertise termite service.
1936
Throughout the 1930s, Orkin coworkers build a strong foundation of exceptional customer service and grow the company with personal touches. Letters between business leaders demonstrate Orkin’s dedication to providing outstanding service.
1941-45
The U.S. War Manpower Commission declares pest control a “needed service;” Orkin provides pest control and fumigation for 150 military establishments (technicians rode bikes such as this one to deliver service, as gasoline was rationed).
1954
First Orkin television ad airs, featuring Otto the Orkin Man, a singing spray can, with one of the most recognized jingles in advertising history.
1964
Led by founder O. Wayne Rollins, Rollins Broadcasting, Inc. (later known as Rollins, Inc.) purchases Orkin Exterminating Company for $62 million, seven times more than Rollins revenues at the time.
1967
Gary Rollins, son of O. Wayne Rollins and current Orkin president, COO and chairman of the board, joins the company as an Atlanta pest and termite sales inspector.
1967
Orkin’s parent company, Rollins, Inc., moves its headquarters moves from Wilmington, Del., to Atlanta, Ga. (O. Wayne Rollins pictured in front of new Atlanta headquarters).
1968
Rollins, Inc (ROL) begins trading on the NYSE (pictured L to R: Randall Rollins; John Rollins; Robert Haack, president of NYSE; Wayne Rollins; Henry Tippie; Earl Geiger).
1977
Orkin launches its “Big Number One” advertising campaign calling attention to Orkin’s size and strength compared to the mom-and-pop companies that made up its competition.
1988
Forbes magazine recognizes Rollins, Inc. as the “Nation’s Number One Service Company,” due to the excellent reputation of Orkin and its sister companies (customer communication piece pictured).
1989
The Orkin Exterminator Robot advertising campaign makes its national debut.
1993
Orkin opens the O. Orkin Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
1998
The animated “Orkin Man” dethrones the Exterminator Robot as the face of Orkin in advertisements.
1999
The acquisition of PCO Services makes Orkin the largest pest management company in Canada.
2001
Award-winning state-of the-art training center opens in Atlanta. In 2003, it expands to include life-size models of commercial kitchens, hospital and hotel rooms, and other indoor and outdoor facilities typically treated by Orkin (termite training pavilion pictured).
2004
Orkin partners with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate the public about pest-borne diseases in and around the home.
2008
Orkin launches two key initiatives: 1) Fight the Bite, partnering with the United Nations Foundation’s global non-profit Nothing But Nets to fight malaria in Africa, and 2) Junior Pest Investigators – a series of K-6 lesson plans designed to teach children to think “green” about pests and pest management.
2008
New innovative domestic pest control offerings include Dry Zone (a moisture control service for crawl spaces), bird and wildlife services, and Orkin Heat (a more environmentally-friendly alternative to fumigation).
2009
Orkin now has international franchises in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dominican Republic, Honduras, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico (Costa Rica franchise team pictured).
Get Orkin Precision Protection™
Orkin delivers science-based service tailored to your particular needs with our Precision Protection programs. We’ll start with a comprehensive inspection to identify where you’re vulnerable and what solutions will strengthen you against pests. Then we’ll design an ongoing Integrated Pest Management plan customized for your business. When you choose Orkin, you get more than an exterminator. You get an expert.
At Orkin, We know our Stuff
We have invested millions of dollars to develop award-winning training programs for our people so you can count on your pest specialist to deliver exemplary service.
Technician Training
It’s our business to know how to protect your business. That includes training in specific protocols for your industry as well as federal, state and local regulatory requirements and the application of treatment techniques that conform to industry standards. That’s part of more than 160 hours of hands-on training.
Our Training Facility
Orkin’s training facility is a 30,000-square-foot learning center in Atlanta, GA. The state-of-the-art facility is one of a kind and contains several simulated customer environments including a dining area, commercial kitchen and hotel room, and houses Orkin TV, a virtual classroom for our 8,000 employees.
Training Certification
Every Orkin pest control specialist is trained using our award-winning certification program that includes credited class work from Purdue University, treatment techniques and, if necessary, various specialty pest and industry-specific training.
ORKIN COMMERCIAL SERVICES TRIPLE GUARANTEE
2X24 RESPONSE GUARANTEE
When you see a pest, you need service right away — 365 days a year. We’ll respond to your request within 2 hours and, if needed, have someone on site at your facility within 24 hours — guaranteed.
REIMBURSEMENT GUARANTEE
Should your company be fined by a regulatory agency due solely to pest infestation, Orkin will reimburse you for the amount of those fines that are paid.
360° SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
60 days’ complimentary service if you’re not satisfied with the way we begin our service.
60 days’ complimentary service if you’re not satisfied at any time thereafter.
60 days’ complimentary service by another provider if you’re still not satisfied.
Awards and Recognition
Orkin has an award-winning track record in the areas of top-notch technical training, customer service, and science-based solutions including:
Food Processing Readers’ Choice Awards (2004, 2007, 2009)
The Food Processing Readers’ Choice Awards recognize the top suppliers to the food processing industry, based on surveys of the publication’s readers.
PCT/Syngenta Best-In-Class Customer Service Award (2006)
Orkin’s excellent customer service beat out 73 other pest control companies in its category for this award from Pest Control Technology magazine and Syngenta Professional Products.
Today’s Facility Manager Readers’ Choice Award (2003)
The TFM Readers’ Choice Awards recognize companies that demonstrate the best products, services and technologies in the eyes of senior facility managers.
Training Magazine Top 125 (2003-2014, 2017)
Orkin has been consistently recognized on Training magazine’s prestigious Top 125 list and has been featured among the magazine’s Editor’s Choice honorees.
What our customers have to say
Our Service Tech has always been very respectful and gives us insight on what we may be dealing with during changes in the weather and critters we often see.