F.A.Q.’s

What makes mold assessment (testing) preferable to other businesses?

Many things: There is a relatively quick learning curve, it requires a very low start-up cost of investment, you can make as much or more per hour than a lawyer, without the time or expense of going to law school and getting established in a good firm, so it is an extremely efficient way of using your time to make money. You can work 8 hours and make as much as what many people make working 40 hours. That gives you more free time for personal affairs such as family, errands, recreation or working on expanding sales. Also, it is an altruistic profession like being a doctor because you are helping people by protecting their health and property. Mold is not a fad or a trend. It will always being around making people sick, so this kind of business will not go out of fashion. It can also be interfaced with other services you already offer to bring you additional income.

How does it work?

Once you pay the consultation fee, we will email you information to get you started. This will include written material, videos, live online or telephone training, and will cover both the technical aspects of mold – what it is, how to test it, how it should be remediated, as well as how to rustle up business. We will tell you exactly what to say when a potential client calls you on the phone. You will also be given templates for developing a website, business cards, invoices and contracts, lab paperwork, treatment action plans, hand-outs for realtors and other sources of business, etc. Finally, you will be given links to the equipment you’ll need – the tools of the trade, which are only a few. You will be hitting the ground running with a “turn-key” type operation that will only improve as you gain experience and confidence.

I have no background in science or inspections. Will it be hard to learn?

Not at all. 95% of running a successful mold-testing business is sales. A good salesman or person with people skills will have a far easier time than any scientist who only has technical knowledge. It’s mostly about sales and following our business model. The technical knowledge about mold is only a small part of it which is easy to learn. I had no knowledge about mold and was able to start doing testing after a one day class, and learned more along the way as I was already making money. The best thing about our program is that we don’t overburden you with unnecessary information and technical blather. We give you just what you need to start a successful business. Priorities are important to establish and the key priority is making the most amount of profit in the least amount of time while doing a thorough, honest job you can be proud of.

What if I have questions or run into problems after I get started?

We will be available for consultation with our 20+ years of experience. The first 3 months come with free, unlimited consultation and after that, there will be paid consultation sessions available. This is only necessary because we do not collect any ongoing royalties like a franchise does – only the initial cost for the start-up knowledge.

What is the potential of this business?

Like any other business, you will get out of it what you put into it. It has been proven to be possible to do little to no advertising and still make a lot of money. I have done it, so it is indeed possible. Yet it is obvious that if one puts an effort to advertise and network with people and businesses, your success will improve exponentially. We will provide you with the directions you should pursue to make this happen, should you wish to pursue them. If this is meant to be an adjunct business to one you already have, for extra income, then you may not wish to devote extra time to promoting it. If you intend to make it your primary business and make as much money as possible, then a greater effort is obviously recommended. Where I operate, based in Westchester County, I typically earn $500-$1000 PER HOUR! I am in no way guaranteeing that you will be able to do the same, but although this is a very affluent area, I have no magical sales skills, and am not even particularly outgoing or ambitious. I just know how to run a profitable business; to make the most money in the least time with the least amount of effort. The goal is to focus on efficiency and to set your sights high. That is our business model.

Do I have to clean up or remediate mold?

No. That is the job of a mold remediator. All you need to do is take swabs of visible suspected mold and to set up a little mold air testing machine on a tripod and turn it on for 5 minutes for each sample. That, and a bit of paperwork. Mold remediators generally have to employ a crew of workers and a fleet of trucks and lots of equipment and chemicals and high insurance. An assessor only needs himself and a car and a few pieces of equipment, and the insurance is very minimal.

Do I need a special vehicle?

No. The only things you will be bringing to a job are a briefcase, tool bag the size of a carry-on suitcase, an air machine the size of a small toolbox, and a fold-up ladder that fits in most trunks. I drive an Audi A4 and the “Little Giant” ladder, which expands to 8ft fits in the trunk.

How long will it take for me to be earning an income?

Part of it depends on you – how quickly you can absorb the training and how much you hustle, however it is not unreasonable to expect business to begin coming in within days or weeks of completing the trainings. Eventually, referrals and repeat business should come in, so less marketing effort is required unless you intend to continually grow your business.

Do I need to be licensed to perform mold assessments?

Several states such as New York require licensing, however most do not. You can look online to find out information regarding your particular state. Since the NY law came into effect in 2016, the requirements to obtain a license were very minimal – a 3 day course in a local hotel and a simple test that everyone passed. Our program will prepare you to be over-qualified in meeting the requirements of this exam.

What are the terms associated with mold professions?

This business is strictly mold-testing. You are a mold tester or mold assessor. All you do is test and if a high enough level of mold is found, you write a treatment protocol, also known as an “action plan” for a mold remediator to follow. The people who clean up the mold as per your protocol or action plan are called mold remediators, also known as mold abatement contractors. Right after the remediation or abatement has been completed, you go in and test again, performing a post-abatement clearance test to certify that the mold has been successfully cleaned. You get paid again for this too.

What are the physical requirements of being a mold-tester?

While some jobs are very simple and only require walking around a finished house or office building that you could do in suit and tie, others require climbing on a ladder into a dirty attic or crawling under a house in a crawlspace. You will have protective clothing with you should the job require it, but one should not be under the illusion that there is no physical difficulty involved. You may need to balance yourself on attic beams or go into houses that have been boarded up for years with no heat or lights. Of course you never have to do anything you feel is unsafe and can just write in your report that you did not have access to those areas because of safety concerns. It’s simply common sense. But these are the exceptions. Most jobs require just walking around someone’s house and are quite easy and civilized.

Is there any health danger to my being around mold?

No, because if you suspect any serious mold presence, you will wear a respirator, and if need be, protective clothing. Mold can only affect you if you breathe it in. You will learn to take all the necessary precautions to protect yourself, and this can be done quite easily. In most cases, however, there is no obviously overwhelming amount of mold and you can just walk around wearing a polo shirt and jeans. In my experience, only about 10% of jobs require donning a respirator. Serious illness from mold requires long term exposure and you will only be in those types of areas for a few minutes.

What kind of person is best suited to be a mold assessor?

This is a job best suited for an individual who is friendly, very responsible and independent, self-motivated, and who doesn’t like going to the same repetitive job everyday with the same people in the same office. With this kind of profession, every job is different and requires analytic, problem-solving skills. Your mind gets plenty of exercise! You go to a different house or building each time, meet different people each time, size up each situation individually, and execute your plan to the best of your ability. You are driving around to different areas for each job so you are not cooped up inside, and do not get bored. Each job only takes 2 or 3 hours so you are in and out quickly and on to something else, and you have the ability to schedule jobs so as to avoid driving in rush hour traffic, and are free to decide how far you are willing to drive to do a job. Of course the farther you drive, the more you would charge.

What is involved in testing other environmental hazards?

In order to diversify and add other pollutants to the menu of things you can test for, we will include information about testing VOCS (volatile organic compounds), formaldehyde, radon, lead paint, asbestos, water quality and allergens. These are typically less frequently tested than mold but are easy to learn about and add more ways of making money. We will walk you through the process of working with the lab to acquire the necessary equipment, analysis, and even how to market these services. Please note that some of them, such as lead paint and asbestos are regulated by the EPA and will require obtaining licenses, but other things are not regulated at all.