Bulwark Exterminating vs. The Bug Master
Bulwark Exterminating ranks #1 of 164 and The Bug Master ranks #6 of 164 in the West, with Handshake Scores of 9.3 and 8.8 out of 10. Both have locations on file in Texas. Bulwark Exterminating also has locations in Washington, Arizona, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah.
This comparison sets their verified records side by side: the five scored factors, review platforms, BBB, contract terms, licensing and legal record. It draws no conclusion beyond the scores. The small numbers link to each fact’s source, and each company’s full review has the rest.
At a glance
| Bulwark Exterminating | The Bug Master | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1 of 164 in the West | #6 of 164 in the West |
| Confidence | Medium | High |
| Provisional score | No | No |
| Door-to-door sales | Partial8, 9, 10, 11 | N/A6, 7, 8 |
| Ownership | Independent3, 5, 6, 7 | Independent2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Headquarters | Mesa, Arizona2, 3, 4 | Austin, Texas2, 3 |
| States on file | Washington, Arizona, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah27 locations | Texas10 locations |
| Record verified | October 27, 2026 | October 27, 2026 |
Our research
How they score
The Handshake Score is a weighted average of five factors, each scored from 0 to 10 from verified records. The percentage beside each factor is its weight. Each score links to the deductions behind it on the company’s review.
| Bulwark Exterminating | The Bug Master | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer satisfaction 35% | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Tied on customer satisfaction (9.6 each). | ||
| Complaint record 10% | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Tied on complaint record (10.0 each). | ||
| Sales and contract fairness 15% | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| Tied on sales and contract fairness (8.5 each). | ||
| Licensing and compliance 15% | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Tied on licensing and compliance (10.0 each). | ||
| Legal and regulatory record 15% | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Tied on legal and regulatory record (10.0 each). | ||
| Handshake Score | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Bulwark Exterminating has the higher Handshake Score (9.3 vs. 8.8). | ||
Workplace
We rate how companies treat employees from employee-review sites and wage-and-hour records. A workplace score is computed and carries 10% of the Handshake Score when there are at least 20 employee reviews on file (otherwise excluded and remaining weights renormalized).
| Bulwark Exterminating | The Bug Master | |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace score | 6.5 | N/A |
| Bulwark Exterminating has a workplace score of 6.5; The Bug Master isn’t rated. | ||
Review platforms
Google figures cover each company’s western US listings; the average is weighted by each listing’s review count. Ratings and counts are as each site showed them on the date retrieved.
| Bulwark Exterminating | The Bug Master | |
|---|---|---|
| Google listings in the West | 21 | 10 |
| Google reviews | 31,753 | 6,516 |
| Google average | 4.9 | 4.9 |
Bulwark Exterminating 34 review profiles
| Platform and scope | Rating | Reviews | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoogleHouston, Texas | 4.9/5 | 5,048 | View |
| GoogleSchertz, Texas | 4.9/5 | 4,723 | View |
| GoogleAustin, Texas | 4.9/5 | 3,853 | View |
| GoogleCorpus Christi, Texas | 4.8/5 | 412 | View |
| GoogleRound Rock, Texas | 4.8/5 | 275 | View |
| GooglePeoria, Arizona | 4.9/5 | 2,398 | View |
| GoogleMesa, Arizona | 4.9/5 | 2,142 | View |
| GoogleMesa, Arizona | 4.9/5 | 1,187 | View |
| GoogleArizona | 4.9/5 | 1,099 | View |
| GooglePrescott, Arizona | 4.6/5 | 147 | View |
| GoogleArizona | 5.0/5 | 144 | View |
| GoogleSalt Lake City, Utah | 4.9/5 | 2,504 | View |
| GoogleSt. George, Utah | 4.9/5 | 632 | View |
| GoogleLas Vegas, Nevada | 4.9/5 | 1,444 | View |
| GoogleNorth Las Vegas, Nevada | 5.0/5 | 1,337 | View |
| GoogleMesquite, Nevada | 5.0/5 | 469 | View |
| BBBcompany-wide | 4.94/5 | 1,135 | View |
| Trustpilotcompany-wide | 2.9/5 | 18 | View |
| HomeAdvisorMesa, Arizona | 4.9/5 | 2,303 | View |
| HomeAdvisorSalt Lake City, Utah | 4.9/5 | 1,699 | View |
| AngiSt. George, Utah | 4.9/5 | 739 | View |
| AngiDallas, Texas | 4.8/5 | 852 | View |
| AngiShow Low, Arizona | 4.9/5 | 1,230 | View |
| AngiAustin, Texas | 4.6/5 | 414 | View |
| OtherConsumerAffairs, company-wide | 4.9/5 | 3,261 | View |
| Facebookcompany-wide | — | 113 | View |
| NextdoorHouston, Texas | — | — | View |
| GoogleTacoma, Washington | 4.8/5 | 1,899 | View |
| GoogleWashington | — | 0 | View |
| GoogleKansas City, Missouri | 4.9/5 | 650 | View |
| GoogleAlbuquerque, New Mexico | 4.9/5 | 589 | View |
| GoogleTulsa, Oklahoma | 4.9/5 | 746 | View |
| GoogleOklahoma | 4.9/5 | 55 | View |
| Googlenational: all US Google listings of the Bulwark Exterminating brand, used only as the complaint base | 4.9/5 | 45,797 | see record |
The Bug Master 13 review profiles
| Platform and scope | Rating | Reviews | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoogleAustin, Texas | 4.9/5 | 2,966 | View |
| GoogleThe Woodlands, Texas | 4.9/5 | 886 | View |
| GoogleTemple, Texas | 4.9/5 | 732 | View |
| GoogleSan Antonio, Texas | 4.9/5 | 605 | View |
| GoogleSan Marcos, Texas | 4.9/5 | 511 | View |
| GoogleHouston, Texas | 4.8/5 | 494 | View |
| GoogleTexas | 5.0/5 | 307 | View |
| GoogleTexas | 3.5/5 | 13 | View |
| GoogleTexas | 5.0/5 | 1 | View |
| GoogleTexas | 5.0/5 | 1 | View |
| BBBTexas: BBB Heart of Texas file 0825-42185 | — | 0 | View |
| Facebookcompany page | — | 48 | View |
| YelpAustin, Texas | 3.5/5 | 82 | View |
Better Business Bureau
Bulwark Exterminating. Its company-wide BBB profile shows an A+ grade and 35 complaints in the last three years.
The Bug Master. Its BBB profile shows an A+ grade and 3 complaints in the last three years.
| Bulwark Exterminating | The Bug Master | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB grade | A+3, 9, 50, 51, +5 | A+3, 9, 26 |
| Accredited | Yes, since 5/18/2000 | Yes, since 4/1/1988 |
| Complaints, last 3 years | 35, company-wide | 3 |
| BBB customer reviews | 4.94/5 average from 1,135 reviews | No reviews |
| Profile scope | Company-wide. The Mesa, Arizona HQ file covers “headquarters and its corporate-owned locations”; the BBB branch files checked for Austin, Houston, Schertz and Corpus Christi (Texas) and North Las Vegas (Nevada) show the same 35 complaints and 4.94 / 1,135 reviews, and Peoria, Flagstaff, Prescott (Arizona), St. George and Salt Lake City (Utah) are address listings on the HQ file. The HQ total therefore pools Texas, Arizona, Utah and Nevada and non-West states (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico and Washington). Only Tucson, Arizona has its own complaint record (1 complaint). | Not recorded |
| Retrieved | October 27, 2026 | October 27, 2026 |
| Profiles |
Contract terms
Terms as recorded from the linked sources.
Bulwark Exterminating 10 terms
Company-stated initial term: in a 12/28/2023 BBB response the company said the customer’s signed service agreement committed to an initial full year of service.12
Company-stated renewal and cancellation terms (termite warranty agreement): the warranty renewed month to month after its term, and either party may cancel with 30 days’ written notice (BBB response 04/10/2024).12
Company-stated renewal (termite warranty, Tucson BBB file): after the prepaid extension ends, coverage moves to a $14.85 monthly renewal fee (BBB response 02/16/2026).13
Company cancellation instructions: call Customer Support (described as quickest), or download the formal cancellation request form and submit it as the form instructs; customers are told to check their service agreement for cancellation policies or possible fees.14
The posted cancellation form is a three-business-day Notice of Cancellation, canceled by mailing or delivering written notice to a Dallas, Texas PO box.11
Money-back guarantee scope per the company (BBB response 04/11/2024): a refund of the most recent service charge, not the payment history.12
Consumer-reported early-cancellation fee of $300 after a door-to-door sale (one first-hand BBB complaint, 10/10/2025; state not shown).9
Company-described warranty billing: warranty-program services are billed in monthly installments rather than per visit (BBB response 01/28/2026).15
New-home complimentary service: per the company, it carries a 60-day retreatment warranty and no obligation to continue regular service (BBB response 05/28/2025).15
Customer-reported payment option (Las Vegas Google review): month-to-month payments or paying upfront.16
The Bug Master 7 terms
Company (BBB response, 03/09/2026): the residential Pest Plus plan is an annual program billed monthly with quarterly visits, i.e. a 12-month term.9
Company (BBB responses, 07/18/2024 and 08/07/2024, commercial apartment customer): its termite/Sentricon agreement includes an auto-renewal clause; annual termite and Sentricon station fees renew automatically because the stations are leased.9
Consumer-reported price (BBB complaint 02/25/2026, Pest Plus plan): $179 initial service, then $53.04 per month.9
Company FAQ: residential treatments at least quarterly; monthly for mosquitoes/fleas.10
Guarantee (company): free re-service if a problem persists; warranties vary by service; satisfaction guarantee refunds the last scheduled service if the problem cannot be fixed.4, 11
Consumer report (BBB complaint 02/03/2026): customer says they tried to cancel in November 2025 and kept being billed monthly and threatened with collections; company replied it could not find the account.9
Not published: the website shows no service agreement, cancellation method, early-cancellation fee or arbitration terms (FAQ, location and package pages checked; FAQ accordions expanded).10
Licensing and registrations
Status and expiry dates are shown exactly as the issuing agency’s record showed them on the date retrieved.
Bulwark Exterminating 12 records (Texas 7, Arizona 1, Utah 2, Nevada 2)
| State | Authority and type | Number | Status | Expires | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business license (TPCL 0566941; Harris County; Houston branch) | 0566941 | Listed on TDA’s Structural Pest Control “Current Licenses” Commercial Business report | 04/30/2027 | 57 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business license (TPCL 0566944; Travis County; Austin branch) | 0566944 | Listed on TDA’s Structural Pest Control “Current Licenses” Commercial Business report | 04/30/2027 | 57 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business license (TPCL 0566942; Guadalupe County; Schertz / San Antonio branch) | 0566942 | Listed on TDA’s Structural Pest Control “Current Licenses” Commercial Business report | 04/30/2027 | 57 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business license (TPCL 0715854; Nueces County; Corpus Christi branch) | 0715854 | Listed on TDA’s Structural Pest Control “Current Licenses” Commercial Business report | 04/30/2027 | 57 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business license (TPCL 0996159; Dallas County; Dallas branch, issued 05/19/2026) | 0996159 | Listed on TDA’s Structural Pest Control “Current Licenses” Commercial Business report | 05/31/2027 | 57 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business license (TPCL 0566943; UNKNOWN County; county shown as UNKNOWN COUNTY; operator Adam T Seever) | 0566943 | Listed on TDA’s Structural Pest Control “Current Licenses” Commercial Business report | 04/30/2027 | 57 |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Agriculture, Pest Management Division (Office of Pest Management license search, opm.azda.gov)Pest management business license (Bulwark Exterminating, LLC.; five qualifying parties; registered branch offices Peoria #3, Queen Creek #11, Taylor #8, Tucson #10) | 5632 | Active | 05/31/2027 | 4, 58 |
| Utah | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), Pesticide Program4000 - Commercial Pesticide Business (“BULWARK EXTERMINATING (STG)”, St. George) | 4000-467 | Active | 12/31/2028 | 59 |
| Utah | Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF), Pesticide Program4000 - Commercial Pesticide Business (“BULWARK EXTERMINATING LLC(SLC)”, Salt Lake City) | 4000-1943 | Active | 12/31/2026 | 59 |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Agriculture, Pest Control Section (Plant Industry - Pest Control Program licensed operator report)Pest Control Business License (company license number 5253, Bulwark Exterminating LLC); 35 licensed operators listed under it, primary principal Camron J. Davis (operator license 202105) | 5253 | Listed on the 2026 Licensed Operators report (report dated September 2, 2026) | 12/31/2026 | 60 |
| Texas | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (franchise tax account status / Texas SOS registration)Business registration: foreign LLC (state of formation Arizona); Texas SOS file 0704974323 | 18609502317 | Right to transact business: ACTIVE; SOS registration: ACTIVE | Not shown | 61 |
| Nevada | Nevada Secretary of State (business entity search)Business registration: Foreign Limited-Liability Company, entity no. LLC4830-2001 | NV20011049862 | Active | Not shown | 62 |
The Bug Master 5 records (Texas 5)
| State | Authority and type | Number | Status | Expires | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business License | TPCL 0566854 | Active (listed on TDA current-licenses report) | 07/31/2027 | 27 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business License | TPCL 0566852 | Active (listed on TDA current-licenses report) | 07/31/2027 | 27 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Business License | TPCL 0779874 | Active (listed on TDA current-licenses report) | 02/28/2027 | 27 |
| Texas | Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Structural Pest Control ServiceCommercial Certified Applicator (individual) registrations tied to the company’s business licenses | 0559088 (Dauphin M Ewart); 0711028 (Keld Ewart) | Listed on TDA certified-applicator report | 07/31/2027 (0559088); 07/31/2027 and 02/28/2027 (0711028) | 28 |
| Texas | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (Franchise Tax Account Status, showing Texas Secretary of State registration)Business entity registration (Texas limited partnership) | Texas taxpayer 17421913033; SOS file 0013005810 | Right to Transact Business: ACTIVE; SOS Registration Status: ACTIVE | Not shown | 2 |
Legal and regulatory record
Only resolved government actions count toward the legal and regulatory score. Pending lawsuits, allegations and private matters are listed but not scored. Summaries are our researchers’ wording of the source; allegations are allegations, not findings.
Bulwark Exterminating 3 records
Legal and regulatory score: 10.0/10. Records counted in it: none.
October 27, 2026 · Complaint summaryUsed in complaint record
BBB Mountain West & Pacific Southwest (Mesa, Arizona HQ file; covers HQ and corporate-owned locations)
35 BBB complaints in the last 3 years and 11 in the last 12 months on the HQ file, which the Texas (Austin, Houston, Schertz, Corpus Christi), Nevada, Utah and Arizona branch listings roll up to. All 30 complaints displayed (12/27/2023–10/14/2026) show Answered or Resolved. Types: service/repair 13, billing 9, order 3, product 2, sales/advertising 2, customer service 1. Recurring themes: billing after cancellation or for unwanted add-ons, accounts sent to collections and then cleared by the company, missed or undocumented services, and disputes over what a signature or free new-home service committed the customer to.9
October 27, 2026 · Complaint summaryShown only
BBB Serving Southern Arizona (Tucson file)
Separate Tucson BBB file (opened 11/18/2025, A+, accredited since 11/26/2025): 1 complaint in the last 3 years (02/09/2026, termite-warranty billing, Resolved after the company confirmed the prepaid coverage); 0 customer reviews.13
October 27, 2026 · Complaint summaryShown only
Arizona Department of Agriculture, Pest Management Division
The Arizona pest-management license record for Bulwark Exterminating, LLC. (license 5632) lists no adjudicated complaints in the last 3 years.4
The Bug Master 6 records
Legal and regulatory score: 10.0/10. Records counted in it: none.
October 27, 2026 · Complaint summaryUsed in complaint record
BBB Heart of Texas
BBB file 0825-42185 (Austin HQ with San Marcos, Temple and Waco branch addresses; its phone list includes The Woodlands number): 3 complaints in the last 3 years, 2 in the last 12 months. All 3 displayed show business responses (status Answered): a Pest Plus billing complaint (monthly billing vs quarterly visits, 02/2026), billing after attempted cancellation (02/2026; company could not find the account), and a commercial apartment owner’s dispute over an auto-renewed termite/Sentricon bill sent to collections, where the customer alleged a forged signature (07/2024; company kept the account in collections).9
October 27, 2026 · Complaint summaryShown only
Texas (Attorney General; federal)
No Texas Attorney General action, FTC action, consent order or settlement involving The Bug Master or Bug Master Exterminating Service was found. The cited CourtListener RECAP (federal) search returns 4 dockets, none an action by a government body against the company: three list it only as a creditor or notice party in other companies’ bankruptcies, and one cites a private case, “Barsness Service Group, Inc. vs. Bug Master Exterminating Service, Ltd.”, in a 2018 court appendix (not researched). The Texas AG publishes no per-company complaint data.32
August 21, 2026 · EnforcementShown only
Texas (Texas Department of Agriculture, Structural Pest Control Service)
TDA enforcement case 00049359 against TPCL 0566854 (Austin business license): violations “WORKING OUT OF CATEGORY” and “OTHER”; agency action WARNING, no penalty; date final 08/21/2026. A warning with no penalty is not a resolved government penalty and is not scored.29
July 17, 2024 · ComplaintUsed in complaint record
BBB Heart of Texas (complaint 22002354)
Commercial customer (two apartment properties) said it declined a termite renewal, was billed $2,776.61 anyway, had pest service suspended at both properties over the dispute, and that the contract Bug Master gave a collections agency carried a forged signature; it said it reported this to police. The company replied that the signed agreement auto-renews (leased Sentricon stations), work orders show the work was done, and it would let collections proceed. Allegations only; no outcome beyond the BBB exchange is known.9
December 31, 2002 · LawsuitShown only
Texas, Third Court of Appeals (Austin); Travis County 261st District Court No. 99-00846
Abash Exterminating sued a former employee to enforce his employment agreement, then added Bug Master Exterminating Service, Inc. as a defendant, alleging interference with business relations and unfair competition by using Abash’s trade secrets obtained when Bug Master hired him; Abash later nonsuited Bug Master. Bug Master appealed the denial of its sanctions motion; the court affirmed (12/31/2002). Private business dispute, resolved, over 20 years old; not scored.30
June 26, 1997 · LawsuitShown only
Texas, Third Court of Appeals (Austin), No. 03-96-00574-CV
Home buyers who found termites after closing sued the sellers, realtors and others, including Bug Master Exterminating Service, Inc., which had done the FHA termite inspection on closing day and found no termites. The appeal concerns the sellers only; the outcome of the claim against Bug Master is not shown. Private, about 29 years old; not scored.31
Keep reading
- Bulwark Exterminating review#1 of 164 in the West
- The Bug Master review#6 of 164 in the West
- Is Bulwark Exterminating legit?Licenses, BBB record and legal history
- Is The Bug Master legit?Licenses, BBB record and legal history
- The Pacific Northwest pest control rankingsThe full rankings, with every factor score
- How we review companiesThe five factors, their weights and what we count
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