Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Nesvacil.
Hi Austin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In early 2020, my wife Jodie and I were expecting our second son to be born in May. My wife was a full-time teacher and I had worked various jobs part-time while also working at our local church for over five years. With the new baby on the way, I began seeking ways to increase our income in order to pay down debt and give my wife the opportunity to stay home with our children full time.
After researching opportunities that could be started with low overhead and minimal time in the beginning, I stumbled on a Facebook thread about “side-gigs” that gave me the idea for the business. A fellow entrepreneur shared that he started a dog waste removal business in his hometown that had grown considerably. After more research, I realized this was the perfect opportunity in our hometown of Lakeland! There wasn’t very much competition and our city is one of the fastest-growing in the nation, so what could I lose? In January of 2020, I filed for the proper business license, purchased the necessary tools, and began marketing.
It is a very slow business in the beginning. This isn’t exactly a well-known industry to say the least so it took a while to get the idea for the service out there. Over time things began to grow and now we are doing very well. We have been able to move from using my wife’s mini-van part-time to hiring our first employee and using a work truck. There is much more room for growth and we are continuing to expand into our surrounding cities including Auburndale, Bartow, Polk-City, and Winter Haven.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have been so blessed by the quality of the folks that we work with each week. Our primary service is weekly cleanings so we usually get the opportunity to meet all of the members of the family and the pets. It feels like one big extended family!
It has been difficult at times, especially launching the business just before the pandemic really got going. In some ways, I think we were helped by people being home: people spent a lot of time on social media which gave us plenty of exposure. However, the pandemic certainly added some unique challenges and we just had to keep pushing through. Being new to business, my wife and I had to figure out a lot of administrative things pretty quickly.
We’ve been impressed with Poo Patrol Lakeland, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Poo Patrol Lakeland is a locally owned and operated pet waste removal business from Lakeland, Florida. We specialize in weekly and one-time pet (primarily dog) waste removal to give our customers the freedom to enjoy their yards again.
What we have found is that most dog owners simply do not prioritize cleaning up after their furry friends. Whether life is too busy with work, little kids and family keeps them occupied, or the job is just too gross, many don’t want to do the dirty work of picking up the poo.
That’s where we come in! We want to take the hassle out of getting outside and stooping down over and over again and having smelly garbage cans. We take the stress out of the mess and give prompt, routine service to clean the yard and haul the waste away so our customers never have to think about it again.
No matter the size of the yard, or the number of dogs, we are happy to help dog owners in need. We offer deodorizing services to help neutralize the unwanted smell of waste. We also offer services to commercial customers, including apartment complexes and private communities in need of pet waste station installation and routine maintenance, as well as common area cleanups.
We take pride in our customer service and care of our pets and their owners. Too many service businesses fall short in communicating properly and giving their customers the experience they deserve. We may scoop dog poop, but we do it with excellence!
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I tend to think of success in terms of legacy. It is too easy to measure success numerically, financially, etc. What matters most is the impact that is left behind. In terms of business, I want to do my best to leave an impression on every one of our customers. An impression that we did our absolute best job with the greatest attitude and level of care. I want to leave a legacy for my children that they can enjoy the benefits and opportunities afforded to them by this business. I want to leave a legacy for our employees and their children to enjoy. Success in my eyes, is the impact that this business can leave on those we work with and those we work for.
Pricing:
- Rates start at $13 per week for a once-per-week cleanup for one dog
Contact Info:
- Email: info@poopatrollakeland.com
- Website: https://floridadogpoopremoval.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poo__patrol/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PooPatrolLakeland/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/poo-patrol-lakeland-lakeland
