Business Competitors Turned Business Partners Expand Scoop Soldiers Into the Tampa Market

John Amaroufi and Ron Battaglia have both owned and operated several successful businesses in the past. They eventually became contracting partners, and now they are business partners. In 2019, Amaroufi and Battaglia opened four territories of the pet waste removal franchise Scoop Soldiers in the Dallas area. 

After Battaglia moved to Florida, they saw an opportunity to expand with the brand into the Tampa market. The business partners opened their first four territories in Florida on January 16, but they aren’t stopping there. Amaroufi and Battaglia potentially could open more territories with Scoop Soldiers in the future.

1851 Franchise spoke with John Amaroufi and Ron Battaglia to learn more about their franchising experience 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?

John Amaroufi: I have a long background in construction and finance. I bought a concrete construction company in 2011 that opened in 1992. Then I branched off into real estate and started flipping houses on the side. I heard randomly about Scoop Soldiers through an ad I saw. The services they offered were mindblowing. So when Ron walked into my office to go over some real estate investments and he told me he was already planning on going to the brand’s discovery day the next week, I decided to join him. The business plan looked really good, so I jumped in and I’ve been nothing but happy that I did.

Ron Battaglia: I started a lawn care company 20 years ago. Before that, I was in the corporate world for 25 years. Since then, I started several businesses and I sold my lawn care company in 2014. Eventually, I partnered with someone who knew John through real estate investments. We met through him. contracting partners and now business partners.

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

Amaroufi: We were really attracted to the services the brand offered, as well as the business model. We saw a lot of growth potential with the brand. Ron recently moved to Florida, so we took that as an opportunity to buy territory in the Tampa area. We’re excited to grow that location and the employees that work for us.

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

Amaroufi: The future is very compelling in the Tampa area. After looking at the numbers, I knew it would be harder to scale if we just picked one spot in the beginning. With multiple locations, you can gain more momentum to expand in the future.

Battaglia: The population base in Tampa is very similar to the Dallas market. We see a lot of growth in Tampa. We think the market penetration for services like this is low compared to what it could be. I think the services Scoop Soldiers offers could be the new normal.

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

Amaroufi: The biggest piece of advice I would give to someone who wants to be an owner-operator is to start with one location. If you don’t want to be a technician, then I would suggest starting with two or three locations.

Battaglia: As John said, there are two ways to go into a franchise, specifically Scoop Soldiers. We knew we wanted to build something so we started with multiple locations and were able to hire a manager from day one.

ABOUT SCOOP SOLDIERS:

Scoop Soldiers was established in 2010 to give pet parents a break from the dirty work of cleaning up after their pets. Not only does Scoop Soldiers help to keep yards clean, but it also saves clients’ time. Pet waste removal services are available at residential and pet-friendly commercial clients such as apartment complexes, pet care centers, hotels and more. Clients can opt for service packages that range from three visits per week to a one-time cleanup for a special event. Scoop Soldiers helps to eliminate odor, germs and unsightly appearances from private and commercial properties. For more information on franchising with Scoop Soldiers, please visit scoopsoldiersfranchise.com.