IT Professional Finds Fulfilling Career Change as Scoop Soldiers Franchisee

After working in the IT field for over 20 years, Gayle Todd was looking for a new opportunity that allowed her to pursue her passion for animals and love for the environment. Scoop Soldiers, the 40-plus-unit and counting “pooper scooper” franchise, combined these two interests, and now Todd is a proud franchisee of her own female-owned and operated business in Southwest Florida. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Todd about her journey into franchising with Scoop Soldiers and her plans for the future. 

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

Todd: I'm a county employee working in the IT field with a master's degree in computer information systems. After working in that field for 20 years, I'm looking to retire out of it. 

I wanted to get into something that was environmentally friendly and I love working with animals, so I put the two together and came up with the idea of pet waste removal. When I was researching franchises, I found Scoop Soldiers seemed to be the best franchise all around. Their marketing looks great, and I’m very excited about their support. The brand partners with Valor Service dogs, and I love how they support the training of service animals.  

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?

Todd: I looked at a couple of other franchises, but I had no idea what it entailed. Since I am looking to phase out of my current position, Scoop Soldiers offering all of the admin is something that will help me in the beginning to get started. That's why they were ideal for me.

As far as the franchise itself, they are very transparent and accommodating for a new business owner. They walk you through everything. We do a weekly meeting and they assign tasks that need to be completed before you go live with your launch. For someone like me who has never owned a business before, this is really beneficial. They're very good about making sure that I'm successful.

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

Todd: They're very customer service oriented, accommodating with their business model and very transparent. They really look at the customer as their bread and butter and provide great service. 

I also really admire what they do and that it’s environmentally friendly. They give back in many ways, too, which is awesome.

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

Todd: We're starting off with the Southwest Florida territory, and hopefully we will be able to expand at some time in the next couple of years. I am thinking it will take about three to five years to expand. Maybe we will aim to expand a little further north and a little further over to the East Coast.

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

Todd:  If there's anything that I can do to help Valor Service Dogs if they're bringing a dog to Southwest Florida, then definitely I will be involved. I love that we partner with them.

As the sole owner of my company, that means that it is woman and minority owned, which is exciting, and with Scoop Soldiers’ help, I can be successful. I am trusting that partnership.

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

Todd: Do your due diligence, research the franchise company, get to know the people that you're going to be working with, understand what their business model is and if it coordinates with what your goals are, and make sure you find the right fit for you. That's important.

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

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 https://scoopsoldiersfranchise.com/.