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It’s a topic you often see addressed on landscape and lawn forums: “What do I do if my customer hasn’t picked up their pet waste before I come to mow their yard?”
Some suggest doing the job like normal and giving the equipment a thorough cleaning afterward, while others add a nominal charge to pick it up as part of the service. However, another option on the table is to truly turn pet waste removal into another source of revenue.
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This is how Scoop Soldiers was founded in 2010. This franchise operation services both residential and commercial properties with service packages running from three visits per week to one-time cleanups for special events.
Technicians are assigned to accounts to build a relationship with the customer and their pet(s). Clients are notified ahead of time when the technician is on the way.
At the time of service, a uniformed technician will enter the backyard with a large dustpan and narrow rake. They rake the waste into the dustpan, make sure the gate is closed and send a picture of the closed gate to the client before moving on to the next site. The waste is double bagged and hauled off to a dumpster or landfill.
As for why clients would choose to use this service, they are able to reclaim time conveniently for less than $20 per week.
“For the person providing this service, it provides year-round steady cash flow,” says E.J. McCoy, CEO of White Picket Team Management, the parent company of Scoop Soldiers. “It’s a very simple industry to execute and people really enjoy getting the service. They love us!”
McCoy says Scoop Soldiers is a stand-alone business and is capable of being fully self-sufficient but can be added on by entrepreneurs in the lawn and landscape industry.
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Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Scoop Soldiers currently serves seven states and 13 markets including Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Austin, San Antonio and Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Tampa and Orlando, Florida. There are a number of territory opportunities and growth markets for Scoop Soldier franchises.
Ideal franchise owner candidates are dog lovers with a can-do attitude who have $200K net worth and $50 liquid capital. The initial investment cost varies from $43,800 to $104,050.
“If you are going to do it, take it seriously,” McCoy says. “Do not view it as just an add-on service or a ‘minor’ service. In our experience, the people mowing grass are not interested in scooping waste and will not take it seriously. Pet waste removal is not just about scooping poop. It’s about being a pet lover. It’s as much a part of the billion-dollar pet industry as it is part of any other industry. You want pet lovers doing this work. This goes back to finding the right team!”