Ask any dog owners why they love their dog and they will probably give you a laundry list of reasons ranging from companionship to unconditional love. However, ask what they don't like about being a dog owner and you're probably going to hear: cleaning up after the dog. No one likes to walk around the yard, bag in hand, scouring for dog poop then having to bend over (think of how many people have bad backs these days!) and scooping it up.

Voila! It is not the most glamorous business in the world, but it sure is profitable. Starting your own pooper-scooper business could be your ticket to financial independence. Think about your neighborhood, how many of your neighbors have dogs? Then, think bigger, how many people in your town have dogs? Your market is undoubtedly huge!

Here's how it generally works: dog owners will hire you to come once a week to clean their yards up for a set price. You may charge $10 per week for one dog and charge an additional fee for more than one dog. If you can clean four to six yards an hour, you'll make between $40 and $60 an hour! (Of course, that's assuming you charge $10. Do some research-Google "pooper-scooper businesses"- to find out what others are charging.)

Starting a pooper-scooper business should be pretty simple. The tools of the trade are rather simple: a shovel, dustpan, and many plastic bags, all things you can purchase at your local dollar store, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or home store like Home Depot or Lowe's. You'll probably want to steer clear of those fancy pooper-scoopers they sell at pet stores. Most likely, you will probably learn through trial-and-error the tools that work best for you.

Before you're ready to start soliciting clients, you need to determine your town's regulations regarding waste disposal. Some pooper-scoopers simply clean up the waste and toss the bag in their client's trash bin. Others take it to their local landfill. To avoid breaking the law, make sure you check your town's regulations.

Once you know the regulations and have the tools, you're ready to get down to business. Finding clients should be pretty simple. If your neighborhood has a dog park, consider going there at different times during the day, talking to dog owners and handing out business cards. (You can purchase relatively inexpensive, professional-looking business cards at your local business supply store like Staples and Office Depot. On the other hand, if you have a quality printer and a program like Microsoft Publisher, you can make your own.) Talking to different people can do two things: first, it will help you gauge interest in your service. Second, word-of-mouth is perhaps the best marketing tool you can use.

Of course, there are other inexpensive, effective ways to market your business. Place ads in your local newspapers. You might also want to invest in a magnetic sign for your car - the sign should include your business name, phone number, and website address, if applicable.

If you live in an area highly populated with dogs, then you are likely going to have enough business to keep you busy seven days a week. Once your business is a success, you might want to hire help. If you prefer, you can keep working alongside your employees. On the other hand, you can supervise, make money, and concentrate on other business endeavors.

Finally, don't restrict yourself to single family homes. Contact the management of local apartment and condominium communities. Tell them how your service will contribute to their community's safety and beauty. Charge a "corporate" rate. If you are able to sign a few communities to your roster, then you will make an even bigger profit with your pooper-scooper business.

[Editor's Note: Not really interested in cleaning up after dogs and cats, but know many people who own them? Why not contact the pooper-scooper business in your area (use the directory below) and see if they are willing to pay you a referral fee for each person, you send their way? If they are, then recommend your friends contact them. Take it a step further and contact the managers of local apartment communities that allow pets, community playgrounds, and dog parks and other places that may be interested in using the service. Get a contact name and then work out the referral fees with the pooper-scooper owner.]

Resources:

http://www.doggydoodyduty.com/

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/ways-to-clean-up-your-dogs-waste/page1.aspx

http://www.petbutler.com/pbx/