Pet Waste Removal Franchise vs. Starting Your Own
What five years costs on each path, counting every cost we can source on both sides. Change the revenue to see how royalties grow with your sales.
Preview: figures awaiting verification
Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.
At a glance
| Franchise (3 brands) | Independent | |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $39,500 – $46,000Pending verificationSourcesDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Pet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Scoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $64,100 – $122,500Pending verificationSourcesDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Pet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Scoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands. | $61 – $71*Pending verificationSourcesHD Supply — Fur Essentials Pooper Scooper Set, 38-inch handle (part 408315)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026HD Supply — Pooper Scooper Rake and Shovel Pan Set (part 293461)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 1 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded. |
| Ongoing royalties | 7.5% – 16% of revenuePending verificationSourcesDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Pet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Scoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $21,420 – $25,415Pending verificationSourcesPet Care Insurance — Pooper scooper insurance(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Insureon — Pet care business insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Sweep&Go — Pooper scooper app pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths. | $21,420 – $25,415 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $128,506 – $207,843 | $21,481 – $25,486* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $39,500 – $46,000Pending verificationSourcesDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Pet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Scoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $64,100 – $122,500Pending verificationSourcesDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Pet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Scoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands.
- Independent
- $61 – $71*Pending verificationSourcesHD Supply — Fur Essentials Pooper Scooper Set, 38-inch handle (part 408315)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026HD Supply — Pooper Scooper Rake and Shovel Pan Set (part 293461)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 1 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
Ongoing royalties
- Franchise (3 brands)
- 7.5% – 16% of revenuePending verificationSourcesDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Pet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Scoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $21,420 – $25,415Pending verificationSourcesPet Care Insurance — Pooper scooper insurance(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Insureon — Pet care business insurance cost(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026Sweep&Go — Pooper scooper app pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $21,420 – $25,415
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (3 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $128,506 – $207,843
- Independent
- $21,481 – $25,486*
5-year totals assume $31,096–$49,920 in yearly revenue (our forecast presets at full volume), the same sourced operating costs (insurance, software, fees) on both paths, and both the lean and professional independent plans. Franchise investment figures come from each brand's disclosure (FDD Item 7) and already include the franchise fee. * Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
What franchisees report taking in
From each brand's own disclosure (FDD Item 19), copied exactly. These are gross sales before royalties and costs, not profit, and not a promise of what you will earn.
DoodyCalls
Item 19 reports system-wide sales for 2021–2025 and 2025 Gross Revenue per franchisee and per territory by quartile; the median franchisee took in much less than the average.
- Average annual Gross Revenue per franchisee, 2025, 65 franchisees open all year (not profit)$365,634 a yearPending verificationSourceDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Revenue before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 65 franchisees (107 territories) open all of 2025; excludes 22 franchisees that opened in 2025, 2 that closed and 1 that didn't report all 12 months. Many franchisees own several territories. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ." 20 of the 65 (31%) exceeded this average.
- Median annual Gross Revenue per franchisee, 2025, same 65 franchisees (not profit)$147,096 a yearPending verificationSourceDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Revenue before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 65 franchisees (107 territories) open all of 2025; excludes 22 franchisees that opened in 2025, 2 that closed and 1 that didn't report all 12 months. Many franchisees own several territories. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
- Average annual Gross Revenue of the top 25%, 2025, 17 franchisees with 46 territories (not profit)$1,013,831 a yearPending verificationSourceDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Revenue before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 65 franchisees (107 territories) open all of 2025; excludes 22 franchisees that opened in 2025, 2 that closed and 1 that didn't report all 12 months. Many franchisees own several territories. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
- Average annual Gross Revenue of the bottom 25%, 2025, 16 franchisees with 18 territories (not profit)$54,367 a yearPending verificationSourceDoodyCalls 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 28, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Revenue before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 65 franchisees (107 territories) open all of 2025; excludes 22 franchisees that opened in 2025, 2 that closed and 1 that didn't report all 12 months. Many franchisees own several territories. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ." The lowest franchisee reported $31,477.
Pet Butler
Item 19 doesn't give yearly sales per franchise. It reports 2025 revenue per truck, per customer and per stop, and stops per hour, for 39 businesses open all year.
- Average revenue per truck, 2025, 39 businesses open all year (not profit)$102,592 a yearPending verificationSourcePet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 39 businesses open all of 2025 (38 franchises plus 1 the franchisor's affiliate took over in late December). The franchisor pooled everyone's revenue and divided by the total count, so this is not an average of each business. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ." Counts full- and part-time vehicles. Individual businesses ranged from $52,988 to $384,043 per truck; 26 of 39 (67%) reached the average.
- Median revenue per truck, 2025, same 39 businesses (not profit)$108,667 a yearPending verificationSourcePet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 39 businesses open all of 2025 (38 franchises plus 1 the franchisor's affiliate took over in late December). The franchisor pooled everyone's revenue and divided by the total count, so this is not an average of each business. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
- Average revenue per customer for the year, 2025, 39 businesses (not profit)$724 a yearPending verificationSourcePet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 39 businesses open all of 2025 (38 franchises plus 1 the franchisor's affiliate took over in late December). The franchisor pooled everyone's revenue and divided by the total count, so this is not an average of each business. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ." Individual businesses ranged from $409 to $2,148.
- Average revenue per stop (one service visit), 2025, 39 businesses (not profit)$19.45Pending verificationSourcePet Butler 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers 39 businesses open all of 2025 (38 franchises plus 1 the franchisor's affiliate took over in late December). The franchisor pooled everyone's revenue and divided by the total count, so this is not an average of each business. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ." Individual businesses ranged from $15.28 to $70.73.
Scoop Soldiers
Item 19 reports 2025 Gross Sales for each franchise territory and each company-owned outlet, plus totals by franchisee; one territory took in as little as $12,214 and another $638,317.
- Average annual Gross Sales per franchise territory, 2025, 92 territories open before 2025 (not profit)$170,283 a yearPending verificationSourceScoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Sales before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers all 92 franchise territories open before 2025, counted one territory at a time; many franchisees own several territories. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
- Median annual Gross Sales per franchise territory, 2025, same 92 territories (not profit)$128,591 a yearPending verificationSourceScoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Sales before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers all 92 franchise territories open before 2025, counted one territory at a time; many franchisees own several territories. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
- Average annual Gross Sales, 2025, 4 company-owned outlets (each 1–4 territories; not profit)$148,111 a yearPending verificationSourceScoop Soldiers 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Gross Sales before expenses, not profit. Company-owned outlets don't pay royalties or brand fund fees, and the FDD says their experienced management may not match a new franchisee's. The FDD says: "Your individual results may differ."
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- Franchisor runs your grand opening marketing
- Commercial accounts (apartments, HOAs) are part of the model
- Initial training with no training fee for the key person
- A network of other owners to learn from
- Franchisor runs a $30,000 initial marketing campaign in your territory
- Property data for your territory supplied at opening
- Established operating software
- Franchisor-run Command Center services
- Bookkeeping handled by a designated service
- Grand opening marketing run by the franchisor
Going independent means
- You keep 100% of what you earn after costs — no royalties.
- You build your own brand, systems, and customer base.
- You need more self-reliance, especially in the first year.
Brand by brand
| Option | Initial investment | Royalties | Marketing fund | Fixed fees | Operating costs | 5-year total | vs. independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoodyCalls | $76,450 – $93,850 | $11,661 – $18,720 | $2,332 – $3,744 | $27,000 | $21,420 – $25,415 | $138,863 – $168,729 | +$117,382 – $143,243 |
| Pet Butler | $96,325 – $121,486 | $18,658 – $29,952 | $3,110 – $4,992 | $10,500 | $21,420 – $25,415 | $150,012 – $192,345 | +$128,531 – $166,859 |
| Scoop Soldiers | $64,100 – $122,500 | $24,877 – $39,936 | $3,110 – $4,992 | $15,000 | $21,420 – $25,415 | $128,506 – $207,843 | +$107,025 – $182,357 |
| Independent (lean start) | $61 – $71* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $21,420 – $25,415 | $21,481 – $25,486 | — |
Low figures pair the low end of each cost with low revenue; high figures pair the high ends. Franchise initial investment is each brand's FDD Item 7 estimate and already includes the franchise fee. Marketing fund and fixed fees show $0 where we have no sourced figure for that brand.
* Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
Costs are only half the picture
A franchise's brand, training, and support can help some owners reach customers faster. Weigh what those are worth to you against the difference above.
Back to the Pet Waste Removal guide · Sources for these figures