8 Costly Mistakes Pooper Scooper Business Owners Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Starting a dog waste removal business can be a great way to build steady income—but there are key mistakes that can cost you time, money, and customers.
In this post, we’re breaking down 8 common mistakes pooper scooper businesses make, based on real-world experience from the team at Swoop Scoop, as covered in this video.
💡 Plus, I’ll share my personal take on each mistake, so you know how to avoid them and grow a profitable pet waste removal business.
1. Not Understanding Seasonality
Many new pooper scooper businesses assume summer is the busiest time—but in reality, the biggest rush happens in late winter and early spring.
Why?
❄️ In winter, poop builds up under the snow.
🌱 When the snow melts, yards are a disaster—and pet owners rush to hire scoopers.
🔥 In summer, people scoop their own yards more often since they’re outside anyway.
How to Plan for This:
✅ Increase your marketing budget in November – March to prepare for the seasonal boom.
✅ Hire extra help in early spring to handle the spike in demand.
✅ Prepare for slower summer months by budgeting ahead.
💡 My Take:
Not planning for seasonality can ruin your cash flow. If you’re just starting out, NOW is the best time (fall/winter) to set up your business so you’re ready when demand spikes in early spring.
2. Hiring the Wrong People
A bad hire costs you time and money—but hiring too quickly just to fill a spot can hurt even more.
Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Rushing to hire anyone who applies.
❌ Hiring people who aren’t detail-oriented or reliable.
❌ Skipping proper training and expecting employees to “figure it out.”
How to Hire Better:
✔ Hire slowly, fire quickly – Take your time to find the right person.
✔ Look for work ethic over experience – A good attitude is more important than prior scooping experience.
✔ Train properly – Use checklists, videos, or shadowing before letting someone work alone.
💡 My Take:
I’ve seen businesses rush into hiring, only to have high turnover, bad customer experiences, and lost revenue. Good hires make or break your business—don’t cut corners!
3. Wasting Money on Bad Marketing
Many scooping businesses throw money at ads without tracking results—leading to thousands wasted on marketing that doesn’t work.
🚨 Two Marketing Fails From the Video:
❌ Radio Ads: $6K+ spent, ZERO leads.
❌ Pizza Box Flyers: $5K on flyers no one cared about.
What Actually Works?
✅ Google Ads – Get leads from people actively searching for your service.
✅ Facebook Ads – Educate people who don’t even know this service exists yet.
✅ Truck Wraps – Rolling ads that work 24/7 for years.
✅ Google Business Profile – Helps local pet owners find you fast.
💡 My Take:
The biggest marketing mistake is guessing instead of tracking results. If you’re paying for marketing, watch your numbers so you know what’s bringing in leads and what’s wasting money.
4. Getting Too Many Leads Without a System
Believe it or not, getting too many leads too fast can be just as bad as getting none.
What Happens When You’re Overwhelmed?
❌ Customers wait too long for a response → they go elsewhere.
❌ You miss calls & emails → lost revenue.
❌ Customer experience suffers → negative reviews and lower retention.
How to Fix It:
✔ Use a CRM – Automate scheduling, quotes, and follow-ups.
✔ Hire BEFORE you get overwhelmed – Waiting too long = disaster.
✔ Pre-qualify leads – Ask key questions before signing customers up.
💡 My Take:
It’s tempting to chase every lead, but if you can’t handle them properly, it’ll hurt your reputation. A good system in place = sustainable growth.
5. Charging Too Little for Services
Many scoopers set their prices too low—which might get customers but leaves no room for growth.
💰 Bad Pricing Example:
❌ $60/month for weekly service
❌ Doesn’t cover marketing, wages, insurance, or profit
✅ Good Pricing Example:
✔ $100+/month for weekly service
✔ Covers costs AND leaves room to grow
💡 My Take:
Undervaluing your service hurts long-term success. Customers will pay more for reliability & professionalism—don’t undercut yourself!
6. Growing Too Fast Without Fixing Operations
If your business expands too quickly without strong systems, things fall apart fast.
📌 Common Issues With Rapid Growth:
❌ Poor scheduling leads to missed appointments.
❌ Bad customer service results in negative reviews.
❌ Employees quit because workload is too chaotic.
How to Scale Correctly:
✔ Fix scheduling & training BEFORE growing.
✔ Hire and train properly BEFORE running more ads.
✔ Use a CRM to automate billing & routing.
💡 My Take:
Scaling up is exciting, but if your operations aren’t ready, you’ll burn out employees & lose customers. Fix your foundation first.
7. Ignoring Customer Experience
Your business survives on reputation—if your service sucks, customers WILL leave.
📌 Common Customer Service Mistakes:
❌ Slow response times.
❌ Not following up after service.
❌ Poor communication.
Simple Fixes:
✅ Reply quickly to messages & calls.
✅ Take “closed gate” photos after each service.
✅ Check in with customers regularly.
💡 My Take:
A great customer experience = more referrals, higher retention, and better reviews.
8. Expecting Overnight Success
A pooper scooper business can be highly profitable—but it doesn’t happen overnight.
📌 Instead of chasing fast money:
✅ Focus on great service → Happy customers = Long-term success.
✅ Invest in smart marketing → Quality over quantity.
✅ Refine operations before expanding → Growth is easier when systems work smoothly.
💡 My Take:
Success takes time—but if you’re patient, strategic, and provide great service, this business can change your life.
Want to Start Your Own Pooper Scooper Business? Here’s Your Next Step!
📢 Learn from the best & avoid costly mistakes!
✅ Join Poop Scoop Millionaire today!
💼 Looking for scooping jobs? Apply to work with Royal Scoopers!
✅ Apply here
📺 Watch the full breakdown here:
✅ Pooper Scooper Business Mistakes – 8 Painful Lessons