Last year, Kimberley Dilley made a career move that surprised her colleagues, trading her full-time career in pharma and biotech for the world of franchising. Today, Dilley owns and operates a DoodyCalls franchise in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, having made the leap from pediatric medicine and clinical research to mobile pet waste removal.
“I worked in academic medicine for many years. Then in 2016, I transitioned to pharma and biotech on the clinical research side. In 2025, I decided to stop being employed by a corporate entity,” Dilley said. “One reason I decided to pull the trigger was as a pre-retirement income diversification move. I used the ROBS program to invest retirement funds from previous jobs into the business instead of the stock market.”
For Dilley, making the move to franchise ownership was a proactive attempt to diversify her income as she neared retirement. Launching her DoodyCalls franchise this past May, she now operates a single-unit business, balancing the demands of running a new franchise alongside her consulting work.
Making the transition to a more hands-on role in entrepreneurship wasn’t without its challenges, especially this past spring and summer during her earliest days as a franchise owner. However, the period ultimately taught Dilley franchising intricacies like scheduling, proper customer management and general employee oversight. Support from franchisor Authority Brands helped, too.
“I learned the system and had a handful of clients. But, in August, we bought a competitor client list in conjunction with other Chicago owners and grew from five customers to 70 overnight,” Dilley said. “That period kept me busy. I had to schedule, enter and manage all customers. But, now, I have a routine, a couple of part-time employees and a daily route.”
Strong support and an established model offering consistency are franchising hallmarks. Founded in 2000, DoodyCalls has consistently tweaked its system over the course of more than two decades, and operating under the Authority Brands umbrella helps offer both brand recognition and strong support to franchise owners.
For DoodyCalls, which operates in a largely mobile setting, there’s also the added benefit of lower overhead with the ability to scale the business in time. All of which made the idea of franchising an appealing prospect for Dilley.
“I liked DoodyCalls because it’s well-established, rapidly growing and doesn’t require a storefront like other franchises. There’s some overhead — branded trucks, uniforms — but much less than a retail location,” Dilley said. “Plus, DoodyCalls has a well-established training system and software for managing operations. And the national call center has also been a huge benefit, managing leads and client inquiries. Overall, the support has been invaluable.”
Stabilizing her new business in 2025, Dilley is looking ahead to a 2026 predicated upon further growth. By increasing her number of residential clients while pursuing commercial contracts, she hopes to increase overall revenues with the long-term goal of stepping into a more strategic, oversight-focused role.
Making the leap from medicine to franchising is a significant one. But Dilley is proof that franchising can bridge the gap for those pondering a career shift, delivering dependability, support, consistency and resources without sacrificing greater autonomy. Reflecting on 2025, Dilley has a message of affirmation for those pondering the idea of entering entrepreneurship.
“For someone with small-business experience, franchising is actually a great move. You get support and resources. For a first-time owner making a major career change, a franchise can bridge the gap and provide structure. There’s also vendor support for payroll, insurance and other needs,” Dilley said. “Starting a business in 2025 had challenges. But it’s been rewarding. Despite the challenges, it was the right decision for me. And I’m looking forward to growth and positivity in 2026.”
About DoodyCalls:
DoodyCalls was founded in 2000 by Jacob and Susan D'Aniello in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. In 2004, the company began franchising its pet waste removal business nationwide and established corporate headquarters in Charlottesville, Va. DoodyCalls provides service to 26 states and the District of Columbia with dog waste pickup with consumer and industrial services. For more information about DoodyCalls, visit www.doodycalls.com.
About Authority Brands:
Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands' companies include 15 leading home service franchise brands: America's Swimming Pool Co. Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, STOP Restoration, and Woofie's. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,700 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology, and operational support. See authoritybrands.com for more information.
DoodyCalls
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Leaving her health care career behind to run a mobile pet waste removal franchise, Dilley’s entrepreneurial leap has grown into a hands-on business, making a real impact at the local level.
Last year, Kimberley Dilley made a career move that surprised her colleagues, trading her full-time career in pharma and biotech for the world of franchising. Today, Dilley owns and operates a DoodyCalls franchise in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, having made the leap from pediatric medicine and clinical research to mobile pet waste removal.
“I worked in academic medicine for many years. Then in 2016, I transitioned to pharma and biotech on the clinical research side. In 2025, I decided to stop being employed by a corporate entity,” Dilley said. “One reason I decided to pull the trigger was as a pre-retirement income diversification move. I used the ROBS program to invest retirement funds from previous jobs into the business instead of the stock market.”
For Dilley, making the move to franchise ownership was a proactive attempt to diversify her income as she neared retirement. Launching her DoodyCalls franchise this past May, she now operates a single-unit business, balancing the demands of running a new franchise alongside her consulting work.
Making the transition to a more hands-on role in entrepreneurship wasn’t without its challenges, especially this past spring and summer during her earliest days as a franchise owner. However, the period ultimately taught Dilley franchising intricacies like scheduling, proper customer management and general employee oversight. Support from franchisor Authority Brands helped, too.
“I learned the system and had a handful of clients. But, in August, we bought a competitor client list in conjunction with other Chicago owners and grew from five customers to 70 overnight,” Dilley said. “That period kept me busy. I had to schedule, enter and manage all customers. But, now, I have a routine, a couple of part-time employees and a daily route.”
Strong support and an established model offering consistency are franchising hallmarks. Founded in 2000, DoodyCalls has consistently tweaked its system over the course of more than two decades, and operating under the Authority Brands umbrella helps offer both brand recognition and strong support to franchise owners.
For DoodyCalls, which operates in a largely mobile setting, there’s also the added benefit of lower overhead with the ability to scale the business in time. All of which made the idea of franchising an appealing prospect for Dilley.
“I liked DoodyCalls because it’s well-established, rapidly growing and doesn’t require a storefront like other franchises. There’s some overhead — branded trucks, uniforms — but much less than a retail location,” Dilley said. “Plus, DoodyCalls has a well-established training system and software for managing operations. And the national call center has also been a huge benefit, managing leads and client inquiries. Overall, the support has been invaluable.”
Stabilizing her new business in 2025, Dilley is looking ahead to a 2026 predicated upon further growth. By increasing her number of residential clients while pursuing commercial contracts, she hopes to increase overall revenues with the long-term goal of stepping into a more strategic, oversight-focused role.
Making the leap from medicine to franchising is a significant one. But Dilley is proof that franchising can bridge the gap for those pondering a career shift, delivering dependability, support, consistency and resources without sacrificing greater autonomy. Reflecting on 2025, Dilley has a message of affirmation for those pondering the idea of entering entrepreneurship.
“For someone with small-business experience, franchising is actually a great move. You get support and resources. For a first-time owner making a major career change, a franchise can bridge the gap and provide structure. There’s also vendor support for payroll, insurance and other needs,” Dilley said. “Starting a business in 2025 had challenges. But it’s been rewarding. Despite the challenges, it was the right decision for me. And I’m looking forward to growth and positivity in 2026.”
About DoodyCalls:
DoodyCalls was founded in 2000 by Jacob and Susan D'Aniello in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. In 2004, the company began franchising its pet waste removal business nationwide and established corporate headquarters in Charlottesville, Va. DoodyCalls provides service to 26 states and the District of Columbia with dog waste pickup with consumer and industrial services. For more information about DoodyCalls, visit www.doodycalls.com.
About Authority Brands:
Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Authority Brands' companies include 15 leading home service franchise brands: America's Swimming Pool Co. Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, The Cleaning Authority, DoodyCalls, DRYmedic Restoration Services, Homewatch CareGivers, The Junkluggers, Lawn Squad, Mister Sparky, Monster Tree Service, Mosquito Squad, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Screenmobile, STOP Restoration, and Woofie's. Together, these brands provide home services through more than 2,700 territories operated by more than 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to supporting individual franchise owner growth by providing strong marketing, technology, and operational support. See authoritybrands.com for more information.
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