Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Cahill.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Josh. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started out in the lawn care service industry, my business partner and I managing a team who already took care of a not-so-desirable task for homeowners. Our crew would frequently come back to the office telling horror stories about their equipment encountering lawns that were covered in poop, which made their jobs much harder and frankly, gross. Already knowledgeable about the home services industry, we identified a gap in the market and started Scoop Soldiers as a way to offer another service that eased the burden on homeowners while also keeping neighborhoods and waterways safe from the toxins that can gather when dog waste is allowed to pile up.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In 2010, we started out with a few customers in McKinney. Our initial struggle was building that into a consistent and continuously expanding client base. Dallas alone is home to more than 600,000 dogs, so we knew our customers were out there. Dogs are such an important part of the family, and we found out quickly that taking considerate care of them and building trust with their owners is the most important thing. From security of the yard to ensure proper sanitation of our tools to providing photographic evidence to show that a job is complete – showing how much we care about the dogs goes a long way.
We continued investing all of our profits into the company until 2014 when we were finally able to expand to the rest of Dallas—Fort Worth and begin hiring and training technicians. We really pride ourselves on our team, who are genuinely good human beings that care about our clients and their pets. With their help, over the past ten years we have grown to now operating in 14 cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Orlando, Phoenix, Tulsa, Tampa, and more.
Please tell us about Scoop Soldiers.
Most of our clients schedule one, two, or three visits per week. During each visit, our background-checked and trained technicians arrive in a branded truck to search the lawn and flower beds for poop – or as we like to call them, landmines. We scoop the waste and take it with us, so clients are not left with smelly trash cans. After playing with the dog(s) if they’re out, we ensure all gates are tightly closed and locked and even take a picture that is emailed to the client showing a secure backyard and a job completed. We pick up around 28,000 pounds of dog waste per week and contract the disposal to waste management companies to ensure that it’s disposed of properly.
Our number one goal is to make the joy of dog ownership even better. We eliminate stress from our clients’ lives by performing this essential task – removing arguments over who has to take the chore on, and making sure that clients’ yards are clean and safe for their entire family. We have so many clients who are recovering from surgeries and injuries or have special needs or disabilities. These hardships shouldn’t keep a person from the happiness that a dog can bring into your home. Another important mission to Scoop Soldiers is giving back. A few of my personal favorite projects include sponsoring the training of a K-9 Unit dog for the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, as well as a service dog in Tampa who will be matched with a wounded veteran or first responder through Valor Service Dogs. We are always looking for ways to support animal-related charities and causes who are focused on providing vital services for their communities.
What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
Late last year, we began rolling out a franchising program for Scoop Soldiers, with our initial focus here in North Texas. The notion of franchising has been years in the making, and to build out and oversee the program, we brought on my father John Cahill who has more than 30 years of franchise and leadership experience. It has been so rewarding to work with other entrepreneurs who are passionate about succeeding and growing the brand. So far, we have already sold four territories in Collin County, including Frisco and Allen. As we have been building the business in Texas for ten years, our franchisees have the unique advantage of taking over territories with well-established customer bases, employees, and revenue streams. It’s a turn-key model that includes a training program, branded trucks, local marketing support, and more. Scoop Soldiers is considered an essential business due to the public health aspect of what we do, so it’s a smart and safe investment for someone considering going into business for themselves.
We’re so proud to serve and work alongside so many good people to continue growing Scoop Soldiers and keep backyards safe and clean. Getting to meet hundreds of adorable dogs along the way is the best bonus I can imagine!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1401 Harroun Ave, McKinney, TX 75069
- Website: https://scoopsoldiers.com
- Phone: 877-930-POOP
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scoopsoldiers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScoopSoldiers/
Image Credit:
Scoop Soldiers
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