Jacob D’aniello wonders what his former finance professor would say if he could see him now. D’aniello, who holds an economics degree, has shunned big business high finance for what may be the perfect job — professional pooper-scooper.

No, the economy hasn’t gotten that bad yet. But D’aniello and partner Susan Otis recognized a need for a pet clean-up service. They founded DoodyCalls, a professional dog-waste removal business in Centreville about a year and a half ago. "When I was younger, I remember my father saying, ‘I bet someone would pay for this,’" D’aniello recalls. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1999, D’aniello was looking to start a business that would allow him to work outside. "I never would have imagined having this much fun doing this," he says.

The company has about 35 regular customers whom they visit on a weekly basis. To ensure they don’t spread any germs from one yard to the next, D’aniello and Otis — the only employees so far — go to great lengths to make sure the tools they use (primarily a long-handled dustpan) are disinfected before and after each use. D’aniello enjoys the work so much that he hopes to expand the company and hire more employees. When not collecting doggie doody, he works as an IT consultant. Otis is enrolled in Johns Hopkins’ nurse practitioner program.

Although he won’t disclose figures, D’aniello says the company, which services Ashburn, Sterling, Fairfax, Falls Church and Arlington, definitely has been profitable. "The overhead consists mainly of garbage bags and insurance." DoodyCalls carries a full liability policy that protects the business "against things that we hope never happen" such as accidentally leaving a gate open. And the company saves money by keeping a low advertising budget, instead relying more on word-of-mouth testimonials.

One reason their business is popular is that Fairfax County and other Virginia localities require owners to clean up after their pets. Rather than carry an armful of plastic bags, many dog-lovers would rather just let the dog out in the back yard. But who wants the poop piled up in their own yard? Also, many elderly or handicapped people who have problems picking up after their life-long companions count on DoodyCalls.

DoodyCalls will maintain an average sized yard for $12 each week ($4 extra for each additional dog) and it offers a 10 percent discount for senior citizens. They also offer gift certificates, which D’aniello says are popular housewarming gifts.