Risk Score
Pending analysis
Investment Range
$3,620 - $25,970
Min Cash Required
$1,250
Total US Locations
209
Business Summary
Poop 911 operates a mobile pet waste removal service business under its brand name. Poop 911 primarily serves residential customers, homeowner associations, apartment complexes, and commercial properties. Franchisees operate the business from their homes using their vehicles, with a commercial office being an optional choice. The franchisor provides back-office support, including a central call and scheduling center, a website for the franchise system, and a proprietary Billing, Administration, Routing, Customer Scheduling (BARCS) system for managing appointments, routing, and customer billing. Franchisees focus on marketing, developing, maintaining, and servicing customer accounts.
Corporate History
Hounds Mounds, Inc., operating as Poop 911, was incorporated in Texas on November 15, 2005. Since its inception, the company has operated a pet waste removal service business in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, similar to the Poop 911 franchise. Poop 911 initially offered a business opportunity, which some states later classified as a franchise, from March 2008 to February 2012. The current franchise format has been offered since September 30, 2012.
Financial Overview
Investment Range
$3,620 - $25,970
Minimum Cash Required
$1,250
Royalty %
25%
Equipment Costs (Low)
$100
Equipment Costs (High)
$1,200
Working Capital
$1,875
Audited Financials
Yes
Offers Financing
No
Audit Opinion
Unqualified opinion
Financial Health Notes
Poop 911's financial condition, as noted in a special risk disclosure, raises questions about its financial ability to provide services and support to franchisees. The audited financial statements reveal negative working capital for Poop 911, with -$1,082,128 in 2023 and -$905,395 in 2022, indicating that the company's current liabilities significantly exceed its current assets. Additionally, Poop 911 made cash distributions in 2023 and 2022 without the prior written consent required by a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, which is secured by substantially all company assets. The impact of these distributions and subsequent loan agreements on the SBA loan status is unknown.
Financing Details
Poop 911 does not offer any direct or indirect financing options to its franchisees. Franchisees are solely responsible for securing their own funding for the business, and Poop 911 does not guarantee any notes, leases, or other obligations they may incur.
Performance Metrics
Total US Locations
209
Franchised Units
196
Corporate Units
11
Franchising Since
2012
Legal & Compliance Analysis
Recent Litigation
No
Bankruptcy
No
Litigation Count
4
Litigation Summary
Poop 911 has a history of four legal issues. In 2012, the State of California issued a Desist and Refrain Order, finding that Poop 911 and its President, Geoffrey Bodle, were offering and selling franchises in California without complying with the state's Franchise Investment Law. Poop 911 agreed not to offer or sell franchises until registered. In 2013, Poop 911 voluntarily entered into a Consent Order with the Washington Department of Financial Institutions for violating state law by selling a franchise without being registered and without providing the required disclosure document; Poop 911 agreed to register and paid investigation costs. Also in 2013, Poop 911 filed an arbitration demand against a former franchisee for breach of contract, trademark infringement, and other claims. The arbitrator found no signed franchise agreement existed and no damages were awarded. In a separate but related case, the former franchisee filed a complaint against Poop 911 in Florida in 2013, alleging unfair trade practices and franchise act violations, which was dismissed in 2018 for lack of prosecution. All listed litigation is older than three years from the FDD issuance date.
Bankruptcy History
Poop 911 has no bankruptcy history to report in Item 4 of its FDD.
Agreement Terms
Initial Term
5 years
Renewal Term
5 years
Renewal Conditions
To renew their franchise agreement, Poop 911 franchisees must be in good standing, meaning they are not in default at the time of expiration and have not been repeatedly in default, and have consistently adhered to customer satisfaction guidelines and other requirements outlined in the agreement and Operating Manual. Franchisees must provide written notice of their intent to renew at least six months prior to expiration, pay a renewal fee of $5,000 or 3% of the then-prevailing Initial Franchise Fee (whichever is greater), execute Poop 911's then-current franchise agreement (which may contain materially different terms), and sign a general release of claims against the franchisor.
Training & Support Program
Franchisor Assistance
Before opening, Poop 911 licenses the use of its trade name and trademarks, designates an exclusive territory, approves the franchisee's home or commercial office location, and helps with initial marketing planning and implementation. Poop 911 provides specifications and approved vendors for computer systems and phone systems, supplies initial scooper technician tools (T-shirts, hats, and door hangers), and covers the cost of one vehicle wrap. Franchisees also receive an Operating Manual and initial training. During operation, Poop 911 provides administrative and back-office support through its BARCS system, managing customer billing, processing, routing, and scheduling. The franchisor remits net proceeds from collected customer payments twice a month, provides updates to the Operating Manual, and offers phone and web training support for the first 90 days to assist with marketing and customer account establishment. Poop 911 also gives advice on business operations, periodically advises on approved vendors, provides an exclusive dedicated telephone number with a central call center, and maintains a central website and pet services listings to promote the franchise system.
Initial Training Hours
33
Training Location
Hybrid of virtual and in-person at Dallas, TX or a designated franchisee territory
Ongoing Support
Poop 911 provides ongoing administrative and back office support via its BARCS system, including customer billing, processing, routing, and scheduling services. The franchisor remits net proceeds to franchisees bi-monthly, provides updates to the Operating Manual, and offers phone and web training sessions for the first 90 days of business to help with marketing and establishing initial customer accounts. Poop 911 also gives advice and guidance on business operations, periodically advises on approved vendors, maintains an exclusive dedicated telephone number with a call center to route calls, and manages a central website and pet services listings to promote the system and its franchisees. While the franchisor may require refresher training, there are no fixed schedules, and it is subject to availability and a reasonable fee.
Franchise Requirements
Ideal Candidate Profile
Poop 911 seeks individuals with a strong desire, common sense, general business acumen, and a robust work ethic. Candidates should also possess customer service and sales skills, as these are deemed necessary for success. Poop 911 requires franchisees to oversee or personally perform a substantial portion of the day-to-day work.
Industry Experience Required
No
Management Experience Required
No
Sales Experience Required
Yes
Technical Skills Required
No
Operational Details
Location Type
Hybrid
Owner Participation
full-time
Territory Type
exclusive
Territory Size Requirements
Poop 911 territories are defined by zip codes and each assigned an exclusive list of zip codes with a minimum population of 250,000. The franchisor may also define territories by political divisions (town, city, county), by radius from the home base, by mapped delineation, or by population densities. Territorial exclusivity may be reduced if a franchisee twice declines to service customers or fails to maintain the required number of service vehicles (currently one vehicle for every 125 enrolled customers).
Staffing Notes
Poop 911 requires the franchisee, or at least one controlling person, to operate and actively supervise the business on a full-time basis, dedicating no less than one full day for every 10 customers during the customer development phase. While franchisees may employ full-time or part-time staff, they must personally oversee or perform a substantial portion of the daily operations. Franchisees must adhere to minimum hours of availability for service and other operational requirements specified in the Operating Manual, including using an approved vendor for payroll and related HR services. Franchisees may hire assistants to help deliver duties, provided they are under the franchisee's supervision.