He Built a $2.4M/Year Business Picking Up Dog Poop 💩
Most entrepreneurs dream of flashy tech startups or revolutionary products. But Will Milliken? He struck gold by solving a problem nobody wants to deal with. His company, Swoop Scoop, now rakes in $2.4 million yearly just by picking up dog poop. Turns out the nastiest jobs can lead to the sweetest profits.
The Business Opportunity No One Saw Coming 👀
Will didn’t set out to become the poop-scooping king. Back in late 2020, he stumbled across some YouTube videos and spotted a gap in the market.
Think about it: 65+ million American households have dogs. That’s a whole lot of daily doggy deposits nobody enjoys cleaning up.
Will’s lightbulb moment was dead simple: dog owners love their pets but hate dealing with the mess. Few competitors existed, startup costs were tiny, and countless backyards needed cleaning. Perfect!
Starting Small, Scaling Fast 🚀
The craziest part? Will launched Swoop Scoop on a shoestring:
- Initial investment: A measly $174
- Basic tools: Garden rake, modified dustpan, spray bottle, and bucket
- Target: Bigger cities, beginning in Seattle
- Strategy: Monthly subscriptions for steady income
Within just three months, he’d signed up 350 customers. Today, about 2,000 clients pay for regular service, bringing in $200,000 monthly with 30% profit margins. Not bad for picking up poop!
The Operating Model: Simple Yet Systematic ⚙️
Swoop Scoop’s success comes from keeping things straightforward:
- Quick visits: Each yard takes just 7-12 minutes to clean
- Staff efficiency: One worker handles around 150 clients weekly
- Full service: Yard cleanup, equipment sanitizing, and photo proof
- Clear pricing: Based on dog count and service frequency
- Big contracts: Some clients pay $20,000-$30,000 yearly
The company now employs roughly 20 people year-round, bumping up to 30-40 during busy seasons. Will himself barely works 10 hours weekly on the business thanks to smart systems and good delegation.
Marketing That Delivers Results 📣
Swoop Scoop didn’t grow by accident. Their marketing evolved from humble beginnings to sophisticated campaigns:
Early Days:
- Door knocking and hanging flyers (landed 15-20 first customers)
- Facebook ads showing actual dog waste and uniformed teams
- Customer acquisition cost: Just $7 initially
Current Approach:
- Heavy focus on Facebook advertising
- Added Google ads to complement social media
- Branded trucks with eye-catching wraps
- $30,000+ monthly ad spend during busy seasons
- Follow-up via text messages and email sequences
Building a Resilient Team 🤝
Will knows his service hinges on good people, so he created a workplace worth sticking around:
- Better pay than similar gigs at FedEx, lawn care companies, or Amazon
- Full benefits including health, dental, and vision
- Monthly attendance bonuses ($250 for perfect attendance)
- Proper training with ride-alongs and online learning
- Clear career paths with managers, lead techs, and service staff
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 💡
Will’s journey offers some gold nuggets for anyone starting out:
Don’t wait for perfection: Will figured things out as he went along.
Low entry costs can mean big returns: You don’t need tons of cash to build something profitable.
Know your seasonal patterns: Will learned the hard way that spring thaw—not summer—is their busiest time.
Focus beats sprawl: Instead of expanding to multiple cities, Swoop Scoop dominated one area completely.
Systems make scaling possible: The business runs smoothly because Will built solid processes.
For Those Starting With Nothing 🌱
Short on cash? Will suggests:
- Post consistently in Facebook groups and on Craigslist weekly (it’s free!)
- Set up your Google Business Profile for map visibility
- Offer free cleanups to friends and family in exchange for honest feedback
The Takeaway: Execution Trumps Glamour 🏆
Swoop Scoop reminds us that business success isn’t about finding the coolest idea—it’s about nailing the execution of something people genuinely need.
Will turned a universally hated chore into a money-making machine with low overhead, sticky customers, and room to grow. While others walked past this opportunity thinking it was too gross, Will saw potential gold in every backyard.
Next time you’re hunting for business ideas, remember: solving a common headache might just be your ticket to unexpected millions.