Authority Brands Buys Pet Waste Removal Service, DoodyCalls

by Callie Evergreen, originally published on franchisetimes.com on March 4, 2021

Everyone’s least favorite part of owning a dog is picking up after they drop some doo-doo. Now imagine you’re at the park and you see a lime green pickup truck drive by, complete with a cartoon dog in the window and the words “we scoop poop” on the side. You breathe a sigh of relief and take out your wallet.

In 1999, Jacob D’Aniello was on his way home from his IT job when he heard a guy on the radio talking about how he earned a good living—yes, you guessed it—picking up pet waste. That night, D’Aniello talked to his girlfriend (now wife), Susan, and a week later they founded DoodyCalls, a pet waste removal service for the kind of dog owner mentioned above. The brand was one of the first pet waste management companies and franchises of its kind.

“We started doing all of the work ourselves and reinvested everything until we left our jobs,” D’Aniello said. The couple decided to franchise in 2004 and began offering franchises a year later. DoodyCalls has since grown to more than 45 territories in 16 states, with an initial investment ranging from approximately $36,000 to $53,000.

And despite the pandemic, 2020 was the brand’s best year in history for new sign-ups, D’Aniello said. “People are home more, they are adopting dogs for companionship, and they don't like picking up what they leave behind.”

Headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, DoodyCalls was recently acquired by Authority Brands, a franchisor of home service concepts such as Monster Tree Service, The Cleaning Authority, Homewatch CareGivers, America's Swimming Pool Company, Mosquito Squad, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, Mister Sparky, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and STOP Restoration.

For DoodyCalls, the acquisition means gaining the ability to provide additional programs for franchise owners to increase their size and profitability. “I'm most excited about working with a team of smart and focused professionals that have diverse experiences and expertise to help expand DoodyCalls’ vision,” D’Aniello said.

Boxwood Partners provided sell-side advisory services to DoodyCalls during the transaction, the value of which was not disclosed. This deal marks Authority Brands’ eighth acquisition since October 2018.

“We’re excited to welcome DoodyCalls to the Authority Brands family and further diversify our portfolio,” said Rob Weddle, CEO of Authority Brands in a statement. “Jacob and Susan have established a strong business model and grown the brand tremendously over the last two decades. We look forward to helping propel the company to new heights as we put our full network of support behind this leading and innovative brand.”