The Foundation of Friendships: How Critical Hit Got Its Start

The Foundation of Friendships: How Critical Hit Got Its Start

By: Dallas Whitt | January 15, 2026

Looking back at the start of Critical Hit Pest Management is a bit of an out-of-body experience. Today, we’re running between 5 and 10 services a day, but in June 2023, I was sitting in an apartment parking lot with a used Nissan Frontier and exactly three jobs on the books.

The "First Swipe" and the Surreal Reality

I’ll never forget my very first customer. She was the sister of a good friend who needed help with a flea infestation. I remember finishing the job, having her sign my handwritten documents, and then pulling out my phone to process the credit card.

When that transaction went through, it was surreal. After 20 years in the industry, that was the first dollar ever earned specifically for Critical Hit. It wasn't just a payment; it was a proof of concept.

The Philosophy of "Who You Know"

If there is one thing I want new entrepreneurs to understand, it’s this: It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. You can have all the technical knowledge in the world, but your connections are what drive your business in a positive direction.

My first 10 customers came through:

1. Direct Relationships: Friends and family who believed in me.
2. Referral Loops: My wife, a doctor at a local clinic, would hand out my cards when her patients mentioned pest issues.
3. The "99 Slaps": I spent my days knocking on commercial doors in downtown OKC, handing out free information on rodent and fruit fly management. For every 99 rejections, I’d get one "yes."

Integrity: The Long-Term Play

A lot of people ask if I went after my old clients when I left my previous company. I can proudly say I never "sniped" a single one. Even though I didn't have a non-compete, I didn't want to start my business from a place of angst or low integrity. I wanted to create something entirely new.

Every customer I have today was earned through a connection made after June 2023. Integrity is the shortcut to a business that is hard to fire. As I always say: It’s easy to fire a company, but it’s hard to fire a friend.

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