Armando Rosario is a New Jersey police officer who was bit by the entrepreneurial bug. A lifelong dog person, Rosario had the idea to start a “pooper scooper” business to help pet owners clean their yards on a weekly basis, removing all dog feces.
Rosario teamed with his wife and brother to start K9 Doodie Patrol, a dog waste removal service in Mercer County. He recently spoke with us to discuss what it’s taken to make this family business a success.
The Start
How did you get started with your business?
I’ve always had a love for dogs. I’ve grown up with dogs and had them my entire life. And I’ve always wanted to own my own business. I came across the idea for a pooper scooper service and started researching it. One thing led to another, I spoke to my wife and told her, “I really want to see if I can make this go!”
I based the name on the fact that I’m also a police officer. This is a side job for me that I do along with my wife and brother.
How did you fund your business in the beginning? Have you taken on any additional funding since?
I used my own money to start off and pay for the proper paperwork to be registered with the state, my tools and the cleaning products to clean all my tools. I didn’t need a loan to get started. I’ve been putting my earnings back into the business to do a lot of marketing, like mailing postcards and creating a website.
Running the Business
How did you learn to run your business?
Research – A lot of research. I’ve talked to a lot of business owners in the same field and asked them what they’ve learned and what their downfalls have been. I’ve had some people that were great with me and literally sat down on the phone and talked for hours. That’s been the best way I’ve learned, talking to other business owners.
Who was your first customer?
My first customer was a woman in Mercer County. I was placing ads on Craigslist and other sites to advertise the business and she found me that way. She is a full-time nurse who lives alone. Her schedule varies from working day to night. She has two dogs and needs help maintaining her yard.
I was so excited to get that first call. Not just to get the business going, but to know that someone is aware that this type of service exists. It validated that there is a need for my idea out there.
What’s the biggest mistake you made in the first year?
Knock on wood, but I haven’t made any so far. I attribute that to my research on how to run a business, how to maintain it properly, what customers are looking for and what they expect. I love to read any helpful material I can find in books and online.
What’s the most rewarding thing about running your own business?
I find it rewarding to be able to provide this service and help people. I have a couple of customers who are older and love their dogs, but they don’t have the time and aren’t able to go out and clean the yard themselves. So, just being able to help people is what’s rewarding.
What’s the most difficult/challenging thing about running your own business?
The most challenging thing about running the business is running the business. It’s not easy. Having a full-time job and running this, plus spending time with my kids, participating in sports, taking care of my family life … It’s tough to run a business. I’m still small, but I know once we get out there and get more comfortable with it, we’ll be OK!
What has been the most surprising thing about running your business?
With the type of business I have, I’ve found that a lot of people make negative comments. I guess it’s expected. They say that customers must be lazy and wonder why people are paying me for this type of service. But I don’t see it that way. I see it as helping people and giving them more time to spend with their families and with their dogs because they don’t have to go out there and clean the yard at all.
What business owner or entrepreneur do you admire most? Who is your role model?
Rhonda Abrams. I’ve been doing a lot of research on her. The way she talks about businesses and how to run them has really caught my eye and helped me with things.
What I’ve Learned
What advice do you have for others starting their own business?
Make sure you do your research. Research, research, research. That’s the most important thing. And make sure you have the time. And talk to people in the field.
About the Author — Ashley Sweren is a freelance marketing writer and editor. She owns her own small business, Firework Writing, located in San Jose, California.
This article was originally written on April 27, 2015 and updated on July 15, 2016.
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