The Great Franchisee | Local Brings Scoop Soldiers Franchise to Northwest Arkansas, Follows Dreams of Business Ownership

Jeff Easterling has worked in corporate America his entire career. After working for large companies, he decided to take the leap into business ownership to take hold of his future and finances. On July 11, Easterling opened Scoop Soldiers, the pet waste removal franchise, in Northwest Arkansas.

Easterling is looking forward to bringing the pet waste removal business to his community. His goal is to provide a service that helps his area's dog owners and non-dog owners. With plans for growth and expansion, Easterling wants to continue to hire top-notch staff to help serve the community.

1851 Franchise spoke with Easterling to learn more about his franchising journey with Scoop Soldiers.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Jeff Easterling: I ran restaurants for a long time. Now I work for a food service brokerage company called Acosta. I’ve worked for large companies my entire life. I wanted an opportunity to make money that would go straight to me, not a company. I was looking into franchising because I knew I would get support to start and operate my own business.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Easterling: I’ve never been down the business ownership road before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to set myself up for success, and I saw franchising as a safety net that would provide guidance and support. 

Even though you get that support, you aren’t just handed anything. You still must go out and make the business model work by putting in time and effort.

1851: What makes you stand out as business owners in your local community?

Easterling: We go out of our way to make our customers feel safe. We complete background checks on all our employees. We also arrive in a company truck and uniforms, and our customers have the option to ask that we call or text ahead of arrival. We provide several different services at Scoop Soldiers, like spraying for parvo. We are providing a service that affects dog owners and non-dog owners alike.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Easterling: I picked Scoop Soldiers because they are building a national brand, their marketing, and the support they offer. I looked at many companies, but when I came across Scoop Soldiers, I saw that they offered their franchisees more support than most brands. They handle the backside of the business, and that is very nice to have.

I’m excited to own a Scoop Soldiers and grow it. I’m excited to bring a high level of professionalism to the market by bringing a service the community can trust. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Easterling: We have goals set for each year. We’ve been hitting our monthly metrics, and I want to continue to hit those marks. Eventually, I want to grow to the point where I can step away and have an operations manager.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Easterling: We are locally owned, and we have a vested interest. I want to serve the community and be able to give back to the community.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Easterling: Do your homework and make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing and the brand you choose.