Scooping Poop Pays Off!

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:40 am

Scooping Poop Becomes Million-Dollar Biz

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Doug Barnhart was so repulsed by the notion of picking up dog poop that he hired a service to do it.

But he's gradually overcoming his revulsion now that he's planning to open his own scoop shop later this year in Virginia Beach.

Barnhart said he's been practicing in his neighbors' yards.

Barnhart is starting a franchise of a company based in Palmyra, Va., called Doody Calls.

Doody Calls launched in 2000 with two University of Virginia graduates who picked up dog waste on weekends. Now it has more than $1 million in annual revenue and roughly 1,500 clients in seven states, including Maryland and the District of Columbia.

It used to be that only small, local companies bothered to pick up behind pets. But Doody Calls and Texas-based Pet Butler -- which operates in 14 states -- introduced the franchise concept to the industry in 2004 and are steadily adding new locations.

Just goes to show that there are franchise opportunities for everyone! Is it for you??

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:01 am

They pick up on WEEKENDS?

Far too long to leave it out there... in my book!

:-6

ETA: At Tamsen's former rate of 2 a day, that would be FOURTEEN

piles to pick up? Nuh-uh.

:eek:

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:05 am

valerie wrote: They pick up on WEEKENDS?

Far too long to leave it out there... in my book!

:-6

ETA: At Tamsen's former rate of 2 a day, that would be FOURTEEN

piles to pick up? Nuh-uh.

:eek:

I looked this company up online.....LOL.....the company started out with two people providing this service on weekends, but it has grown so much that it is now a full-time, full-service company.......LOL Who woulda thunk it??? LOL

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:19 am

What is so hard about picking up your own dog's poop?

If you've changed diapers in your life

Then dog poop is NOTHING :-6

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:34 am

Besides..who wants to live with flies/smells/LAND MINES all week long?

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:36 am

Lulu2 wrote: Besides..who wants to live with flies/smells/LAND MINES all week long?

Right

It seems unsanitary, doesn't it?

(Not to mention kinda lazy)

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:41 am

I think Beagle's got the idea, you can probably get it cleaned up

daily now if you want. And I bet it would make money...

People don't want to be bothered but I could see if it was an older

or disabled person... I always wondered what people do who have

guide dogs...

If I knew of any seniors around here who needed it done I'd be happy

to go do it for them!

:-6

Beagle · Post by **Beagle** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:47 am

valerie wrote: I think Beagle's got the idea, you can probably get it cleaned up

daily now if you want. And I bet it would make money...

People don't want to be bothered but I could see if it was an older

or disabled person... I always wondered what people do who have

guide dogs...

If I knew of any seniors around here who needed it done I'd be happy

to go do it for them!

:-6

Yes, they no longer just scoop poop on the weekends - they operate full time. How they got started was pretty amazing. Just two university students who decided to do this as a side job. This is their story (I found it on their web site):

"Jacob D’Aniello was sitting in his cubicle looking for a change. Jacob sought financial and professional independence, but his life in Information Technology seemed limited, not limitless. He and his future wife, Susan, talked about their love of animals, love for the outdoors, their desire for freedom, and a new business idea for a pet waste removal service. Research revealed dramatic growth in the pet-care market, and the two took the leap, starting DoodyCalls in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

In the beginning, Susan and Jacob kept their full-time jobs and worked on their new business during evenings and weekends. Demand for DoodyCalls grew steadily, and as they planned their wedding, the pair decided to turn DoodyCalls into a professional service poised for growth. They hired employees, purchased trucks, and began to advertise heavily. Soon, business was so strong Jacob and Susan were able to leave their jobs to run DoodyCalls full-time.

Stories in the Washington Times and on MSNBC soon followed and operations expanded to North Attleboro, Massachusetts. In 2004, DoodyCalls marked the fastest growing and most profitable year in the company’s history. And with the pet-care market continuing to expand, long term success, as well as Jacob and Susan’s dreams of independence, are no longer just a dream."

I always find it amazing that it seems the simplest and most basic of ideas can turn ordinary, everyday people into financially-independent individuals!!

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:48 am

valerie wrote: If I knew of any seniors around here who needed it done I'd be happy to go do it for them!

:-6

Me too

It would be an honor to help out in that situation :-6

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:45 pm

Then get your shovels ready, friends, because I've already realized that scooping up after my dog is going to be really difficult next month, right after I've had my knee replaced!