Scoop Soldiers Provides a Great Franchise Opportunity for Veterans

With soldiers who carry out missions to address local landmines, Scoop Soldiers, the 36-territory pet waste removal franchise, is an ideal fit for many veterans. In addition to its mission-focused structure with language and processes reminiscent of military terminology, the franchisor has made a serious internal effort to create a system that is welcoming to military veterans while working diligently to support veterans and first responders in the communities it services.

“Hands-down, the biggest transferable skills developed in the military are discipline, time management, self motivation and self confidence,” said Andrew Entwistle, a San Antonio Scoop Soldiers franchisee. “Those are really big skills that have definitely served me in life in general, but definitely as an entrepreneur. A lot of times, you’re kind of batting for yourself; it’s on you to struggle to succeed. Having those skills, alongside the communication and people skills developed by working in the military, has been really important and served me well.”

Entwistle spent seven years in the U.S. Army, serving as a military police officer while moving between Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Afghanistan; and Fort Bliss, Texas. After his military retirement, he began seeking work opportunities in the pet care space, but after working in veterinary clinics, he learned the medical aspect of pet care was not his forte.

Shortly after this realization, he took a job as a technician with Scoop Soldiers, and his journey with the brand took off.

“I Was Absolutely in Love With What I Was Doing”

Entwistle grew from a technician scooping yards to a team leader, operations manager and training and development leader. Each day, he became more fond of the work, and when territories became available for purchase in San Antonio, it felt only natural to invest.

In addition to supporting members of his own community in reclaiming their own time and supporting the health of their families, pets and environments, Entwistle also watched the Scoop Soldiers corporate team continually develop relationships and initiatives that were close to his own heart.

“Scoop Soldiers’ partnership with Valor Service Dogs is something that I watched develop on the corporate side for a period of time,” he said. “I always thought that it was a really awesome way for Scoop Soldiers to give back.”

Valor Service Dogs supports veterans and first responders in securing service dogs to support ongoing independence and healthy living, and Scoop Soldiers makes consistent donations to the organization to support training needs, additional resources and other development efforts. In addition to monetary support, the franchise system also offers free life-long waste removal services for any Valor Service Dogs placed with families in markets Scoop Soldiers services.

“Valor Service Dogs was actually represented at Scoop Swoop 2023, and hearing the stories of these individuals and what they’ve experienced in life is really awesome,” said Entwistle. “We know that we’re able to help improve their quality of life by doing something as simple as donating, and seeing the impact service dogs make on these individuals makes our partnership with Valor that much more rewarding.”

Scoop Soldiers has structures in place to ensure veterans who enter the system are “absolutely in love with” what they do, showing consistent support to the veteran community both within and beyond the system, but the franchisor also urges veterans to consider how their skill sets empower them to take this enjoyment to the next level.

As Entwistle mentioned, military service often develops a strong sense of responsibility, time management skills and an ability to apply oneself to a predetermined or pre-strategized goal. The Scoop Soldiers business model provides a straightforward framework to which veterans can apply these skills, all while building a business to benefit themselves and their families while simultaneously serving their own local communities and the larger veteran community.

“My message to any other veterans who are considering entrepreneurship, and especially those looking at Scoop Soldiers, is that we are a brand with strong moral values, high integrity and a willingness to help you succeed,” said Entwistle. “If you’re struggling, Scoop Soldiers is there. For many veterans, coming out of that environment where you always have a mission or a task to a world where you don’t have such a strong purpose can be pretty life-altering. Entrepreneurship is a really amazing way to not only gain some control and improve yourself but to find that purpose. That’s what Scoop Soldiers has done for me.”

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/scoopsoldiers/info.