USA Today has a nice article and amusing video online detailing those who have made their fortunes by doing work no one else wants to do.
Among those profiled are a six-figure-earning septic business owner, a wealthy fertilizer industry CEO who worked his way up and, most notably, the founder and several franchise owners of DoodyCalls, a business that makes its profits by picking up pet owners’ dog droppings at a starting rate of $15 a month.
The business, which started in 2000 and began franchising in 2004, thrives on people’s distaste for the task of cleaning up after their pets. Now with 26 franchises and over $2 million in revenue, it plans to reach a whopping 275 franchises by 2011.
The DoodyCalls Web site highlights this growing niche:
Look around at the growing number of pet care businesses, and you’ll realize a new industry is being born. Why? Well 40% of all American households have a pet, and cat and dog populations are growing. At the same time, Americans have less and less time to spend taking care of their pet. They’d rather play with their dog and let someone else clean up. That’s where DoodyCalls comes in.
And for an initial investment of between $44,830 and $72,870, you too can have a DoodyCalls franchise.
There was no such cost of entry for the privilege of cleaning up after the two dogs in my parents’ yard growing up, but then again, I only netted about $7 a month. Unfortunately, I’d not yet acquired any business acumen.
Even if the article doesn’t turn you on to the wonders of working with the unsavory, it will at least make you appreciate your desk job that much more.
On the other hand, if you want to explore the dirtier side of the workforce (as a spectator, at least), you might just enjoy the the Dirty Jobs TV series on the Discovery Channel.
Cleaning Up After Others Makes Some Filthy Rich [USA Today]
Image credit: Peter Kaminski
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11:39 am (reply)
This is one of the reasons I don’t own a dog. I don’t want to clean up after the bowel bovements of any other living being if I don’t have to. More power to the people who make this their life ambition—someone has to do it.