Trent and Lauren Shirk have a quintessential love story: they were next-door neighbors growing up, they attended college together, then sealed the deal with a wedding at just 22 years old. Both originally from Southern California, they long dreamed of making a move to Middle Tennessee, where Lauren’s family roots run deep.
“We ended up in a part of town where her mother’s side of the family dates back to 1805,” Shirk shares. “They were giving us the whole history of all the different farms the family had owned. When we moved here, we thought, ‘This is really cool, all this happened just down the street.’”
They relocated with their young daughter in early 2020, and it didn’t take long for one specific culture shock to set in (something many West Coast transplants can likely relate to): bugs.
At the same time they were learning to swat mosquitos and avoid ticks, they were searching for a new business idea to launch together. They wanted something that not only offered a beneficial service, but also provided value to their new community. After a few years of research, networking, and defining their personal criteria, a friend’s podcast introduced them to MosquitoNix. The company, with its 20-year history and franchise model, aligned perfectly with their values of family, service, and quality.
“When Trent first mentioned MosquitoNix, I was tuning out,” Lauren admitted. But after a visit to Florida, where she learned about the product firsthand, her perspective changed. “For people moving here, bugs are a culture shock. It interrupted our outdoor time. When I found out it’s natural and non-toxic, safe for kids and pets, and wouldn’t hurt my plants or pollinators, I knew this met all of our criteria.”
Unlike traditional pest control companies that visit periodically to spray chemicals or use fogging, MosquitoNix has developed a proprietary, lab-tested, 100% nontoxic solution safe for pollinators, children, pets, and water sources. More than that, they’ve revolutionized the way pest control is applied with continuous application.
Instead of a technician coming to spray periodically, the MosquitoNix team runs a discreet, color-matched system around the yard that regularly mists to provide consistent and long-lasting insect control, much like the misting system for vegetables at the grocery store.
“Over two to three weeks, it drastically reduces the overall insect population in the treated area because it interrupts the breeding cycle,” Shirk says. “That includes mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, spiders, gnats—basically all flying and biting pests.”
Trent and Lauren had a system installed at their home, and they tested its effectiveness during backyard gatherings with friends and neighbors. “Kids were running in the grass, and our home backs up to a creek, so there are a lot of environmental factors that contribute to the bug issue in our yard,” Lauren says. “When we first got our system and had everyone over, only one person had one bite at the end of the night.”
Not only is the system designed to blend right into a client’s yard, but it’s powered by technology and is controllable by an app. It automatically sprays the solution three times a day, but in heavy rain, an outdoor event, or a particularly buggy season, homeowners can spray on demand through the app.
The MosquitoNix team also has access to the system and can monitor the status remotely—everything from accidental breaks to tank levels and other functions. “If a landscaper clips a line, I can dispatch a technician right away to service it,” Shirk said. “And those technicians are full-time employees, licensed, and covered by us.”
For many homeowners, aesthetics are everything, which is a primary motivator for the discreet tubing. But the mechanics are also designed to blend right in. The 55-gallon tank housing the solution, as well as the technology hub, is often installed right beside a home’s HVAC system or pool equipment, then concealed with a nice case.
Since launching their business, Trent and Lauren are proud to see their dream of supporting the community come to life. “Our top priority was having it be local,” Trent said. “We wanted to be in our community, not just own a business from afar. There were other great opportunities, but they weren’t right here. We wanted to make an impact.”
Their technicians visit clients’ homes on an as-needed basis, fostering relationships and truly getting to know each family they serve.
“It’s about building relationships,” he said. “We want MosquitoNix to be a household name, synonymous with service and excellence. When there’s a big charity event at a park, we want to be the company that gets called in to help.”
The team currently services the entire Middle Tennessee area, from the Kentucky border down to Tim’s Ford Lake and over to Waverly and Cookeville. MosquitoNix.com/pages/franchise-nashville