Scoop Soldiers | WHY I BOUGHT
Scoop Soldiers, the pet waste removal franchise that aims to help pet owners and their four-legged friends by taking on the dirty work of pet ownership, is signing franchisees left and right. As savvy investors continue to recognize the well-positioned opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for residential and commercial waste removal services, the brand experienced 22 signings and 14 openings in 2022 alone, bringing the total franchise count to 36.
So, what are some of the reasons entrepreneurs have been so eager to sign on with the brand?
Fort Worth Scoop Soldiers - No Brick-And-Mortar Location
The veteran couple Brandon and Valerie Howe signed on with Scoop Soldiers late last year, investing in two territories in the Fort Worth area. The Howes are pet owners themselves who know how stressful it can be to worry about the health and safety of pets.
“We’ve been looking into franchising for a while,” said Brandon Howe. “We wanted a service-based franchise that didn’t require a brick-and-mortar location. This brand also made sense because we are dog owners and see the benefits of a service like this.”
To fulfill demand in the $9.7 billion pet services industry, Scoop Soldiers was created to provide entrepreneurs like the Howes with low operating costs, comprehensive support services and a simplified business model. It’s a home-based business that can be run from home, a coffee shop or even from a vacation rental anywhere in the world. That is part of the reason why the brand’s initial investment range of $61,300 to $111,300 is significantly lower than many competitors.
Phoenix Scoop Soldiers - Enhanced Territory Model
Justin Thompson is another franchisee who recently joined the Scoop Soldiers system in Phoenix. Thompson has been self-employed as an independent contractor throughout his career in the pest control and merchant service industries, but he always wanted to own his own business in the home service industry.
When it comes to why he chose Scoop Soldiers, he says it was largely because of the brand’s Enhanced Territory strategy, which allows new franchisees to hit the ground running with existing brand awareness and an established client base.
“The territory I bought is already fully established, so I’ll be able to go in and grow upon the foundation that has already been laid,” said Thompson. “I also really like the marketing and the brand as a whole. Scoop Soldiers’ leadership team was great to work with and really stood out.”
Portland Scoop Soldiers - Corporate Support
The Portland-based franchisee Mark Gibbs has been a registered nurse for over a decade, but was ready to do something for himself. He was attracted to the proven framework of franchising and knew it could provide him with a pathway to grow wealth for his family. After discovering the Scoop Soldiers opportunity, Gibbs says he was sold.
“The primary reason I invested in the brand was because of the personalities involved,” said Gibbs. “The leadership team is very hands-on and is interested in the success of their franchisees.”
Scoop Soldiers franchisees can be confident they have the backing of a corporate team with 10-plus years of experience running a successful home-based business. For example, Scoop Soldiers offers daily billing and invoicing so that franchisees can focus on communicating with clients, building a management team and finding employees who can provide customers with high-quality pet waste removal services. The brand also handles marketing for the franchisees — both paid and organic.
Alpharetta Scoop Soldiers - Opportunities for Veterans
Eric Degan is another recently-signed Scoop Soldiers franchisee in Georgia. With experience in the food service industry, Degan is a serial entrepreneur who originally started looking into restaurant franchise concepts, but was turned off by the high start-up costs. When he discovered Scoop Soldiers, he loved that the concept was military-based, environmentally-friendly and offered a solid business model.
“The ability to have clean sidewalks and clean yards, not have the waste go back into our drinking water — this is a huge problem that not a lot of people know about,” said Degan. “The environmental aspect for me is the main driver of this business. No one has come out and found a way to repurpose dog waste, but that is my goal looking forward.”
Additionally, Degan says he is excited to use his business to employ veterans. “This is a way for you to go outside, enjoy the environment and build relationships with dogs and the owners on your own terms if you’d like to,” he said. “If you need a job to fill in for a few years, it can be a great fit for veterans.”
Continuing The Momentum in 2023
Looking ahead to 2023, the brand is planning to target another 30 additional franchise territories, either through existing or new franchisees and is targeting an additional five to six new markets, including in Seattle, DC, North Carolina and Salt Lake City, Utah.
“We are very proud of our recent growth and are thrilled that so many entrepreneurs from different backgrounds have been able to recognize the value of our business model and find the right fit for their future,” said Scott Oaks, VP of Franchise Development for Scoop Soldiers. “Now, we are ready to keep that momentum strong and continue to partner with qualified, passionate franchise owners across the country.”
The total cost to invest in Scoop Soldiers ranges from $61,300 to $111,300 per territory. To learn more about franchising with Scoop Soldiers, visit https://scoopsoldiersfranchise.com/.