The 5 Worst Business Ideas (That Somehow Succeeded)

4. When Nature Calls, They Answer: DoodyCalls

In 1999, Jacob D'Aniello heard an interview with a professional pet poop remover and realized that the guy was making more money than he was. A year later, the management consultant founded DoodyCalls. "I wanted to take a step back and turn it into a real business, bringing a new level of sophistication and branding to it," D'Aniello says.

People who are too busy to pick up after their pets can pay $15 to $20 a week, and the company recently expanded to include kitty litter services. DoodyCalls also serves commercial properties, apartment communities, and home owner associations.

"We take a whimsical approach to every marketing tactic and campaign, and it works like a charm," D'Aniello says. DoodyCalls now comprises one company-owned unit and 48 franchises in 22 states. The company claims to scoop more than 3 million poops a year.

Pets don't stop pooping in a recession. The company's annual revenue for 2010 was $1.13 million, up almost 8 percent from 2009.