$2.4M/Year Business You Could Start Tomorrow! ($174 Startup)
The pet waste removal industry is proving to be one of the most scalable and low-cost service businesses out there. In a recent video titled “$2.4M/Year Business You Could Start Tomorrow! ($174 Startup)”, the UpFlip team interviewed William from Swoop Scoop to break down how he built a multi-million dollar poop scooping empire with an initial investment of just $174.
Here’s a full breakdown of the insights shared in the video, along with my own take on how this business model works and how you can get started in the pet waste removal industry.
A Business Built on Dog Poop
William started Swoop Scoop after realizing there was a massive demand for dog waste removal services—but most companies were unreliable, lacked proper systems, and had poor customer service. By streamlining operations, focusing on customer experience, and leveraging digital marketing, he rapidly scaled his business to over 2,000 recurring customers and $200,000 per month in revenue.
How Does the Service Work?
At its core, the business is as simple as picking up dog poop. Customers sign up for a subscription-based model, choosing how often they want their yards cleaned:
- Twice a week
- Weekly (most popular option)
- Every other week
- Once a month
Customers receive instant quotes online, and the team arrives, scoops the poop, and moves on to the next yard. One of the small but important details that set them apart is taking a picture of the closed gate after every visit—a small gesture that builds trust and reassures customers that their pets are safe.
The Startup Costs: How to Get Started for Just $174
One of the biggest advantages of this business is its low barrier to entry. William breaks down the essential tools needed to get started:
- Corona Garden Rake – Used to scoop up waste efficiently.
- Lobby Dustpan – Modified for better ergonomics to reduce wrist strain.
- Disinfectant Sprayer – Used to clean tools after each yard.
- Bucket – To keep everything organized and sanitized.
With just these basic tools, you can start servicing clients immediately.
Earning Potential: How Fast Can You Reach $100K?
One of the most impressive takeaways from this video is how quickly you can scale this business.
Here’s the math:
- The average customer pays about $100 per month.
- 85 customers = $100K/year.
- If you acquire just 2 new customers per week, you’ll reach $100K in revenue within your first year.
And since most customers stay long-term, your income continues to grow month after month. It’s a recurring revenue model, which makes it predictable and scalable.
Marketing: The Key to Scaling Fast
William credits his background in digital marketing for his ability to grow the business so quickly. He started with door hangers and local networking, but things really exploded when he started running Facebook and Google Ads.
His early success with Facebook ads:
- $50-$100/day ad budget
- Ads featuring real people and trucks converted the best.
- First ads were as simple as a picture of a bag of poop.
- Leads cost as little as $7 each.
- 1 in 3 leads converted into paying customers.
William also stressed the importance of brand recognition—his trucks are fully wrapped, his team wears uniforms, and his company has a strong presence online.
🚀 Takeaway: If you want to grow fast, local Facebook ads + Google ads are the best way to do it.
The Biggest Challenges & Mistakes
Even with rapid success, William made some mistakes along the way. Here are the biggest lessons learned:
- Not understanding seasonality – He assumed summer would be the busiest season, but demand actually spikes in the winter and early spring when snow melts and yards are a mess.
- Hiring too quickly – They had a huge surge in demand but struggled to hire fast enough to keep up.
- Fleet expansion – He and his co-founder took on personal truck loans to keep up with growth, but they’ve since been able to upgrade their fleet strategically.
🚀 Takeaway: Expect seasonal fluctuations and plan marketing + hiring accordingly.
The Key to Success: Systems & Automation
One of the most valuable insights from the video is how systems and automation allow the business to run almost hands-free:
- Customers sign up online without talking to anyone.
- Automated SMS & email follow-ups recapture lost leads.
- A fully staffed call center handles customer inquiries.
- Route management software optimizes daily schedules.
- Each location has a manager, so the business runs independently.
William estimates that he only works about 10 hours per week on Swoop Scoop now, and the business could run for six months without him.
🚀 Takeaway: If you want to scale big, you need systems in place from the start.
How to Get Started in Pet Waste Removal
If this business model sounds appealing, there are two clear paths to success:
1️⃣ Start Your Own Business from Scratch – Learn the business, invest in marketing, and build your own brand.
2️⃣ Apply to Work with Royal Scoopers – If you’d rather focus on scooping and let someone else handle customer acquisition, you can apply to become an independent contractor and start getting customers assigned to you immediately.
🔥 Want to fast-track your learning? If you want coaching and guidance on how to build your own business, check out Poop Scoop Millionaire for step-by-step training and industry insights.
📌 Join Poop Scoop Millionaire (PSM) here
📌 Apply to Work with Royal Scoopers here
Final Thoughts
The dog waste removal business is one of the simplest, most scalable, and most profitable service businesses you can start with almost no upfront investment.
This video showed that with just 85 recurring customers, you can make $100,000 per year—and scaling beyond that is just a matter of hiring more scoopers and adding more routes.
If you’re ready to take action, apply to work with Royal Scoopers today or check out Poop Scoop Millionaire to learn how to build your own business.
Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O995lrTYb40