If you live in the U.S, you must have come across a porta potty before. But right now, people are making good money from it as a business. If you are reading this post right now, chances are that you have also been thinking about the business side of this portable restroom.
We have put this guide together to help people that have been searching for how to start a porta potty rental business. It will guide you on the necessary things you will need to kick the business off the ground. So let’s get into it and show you how to make money in the most unexpected way!
How to Start a Porta Potty Rental Business
#1: Plan your business
Starting this type of business requires proper planning. You need to get all your dots together before launching out. And when we talk about planning the business, it largely includes answering important questions about the business. Some of such questions include:
How much does a porta potty cost?
This largely depends on the company doing the rental. But on average, a standard porta potty costs about $130 per week and some $175 per month. For a luxury porta potty, it could be as high as $800 and $1500 per month. A standard porta potty includes a urinal, toilet, hand sanitizer dispenser, and toilet paper dispenser.
How many porta potties do I need to start a business?
This largely depends on how you intend to run the business and how many toilets your client will need. But the soft spot is 20. A standard porta potty will cater to about 20 people to ensure cleanliness. Since you are intending a business, think of the chance of having to service a client that will be hosting many people at the same time.
Is porta potty rental business a profitable one?
There is money in porta potty rental business. In fact, it is rated among the top 7 most profitable dirty jobs – yes, dirty jobs. If you don’t mind the stinky nature of the business, you are definitely going to make it big with it.
Even an average technician working with a porta potty owner earns between $50,000 and $58,000. You can now imagine how much you can make as the owner of the business.
Who are the target markets for a porta potty rental business?
More than in any other business, the customers play a huge role in a porta potty rental business. In fact, you will need to plan your business based on the needs and type of clients you want to service. But this type of business can cater to a wide range of people.
However, the type of toilets you buy will be determined by the category of people you have in mind to service. Potential clients for a porta potty business are:
- Workers and technicians at construction sites
- Food festival attendees
- People present at fundraising events
- Attendees at a sport or funfair event
- Families renovating their homes
- Attendees at a trade show
#2: Write a comprehensive business plan
After getting answers to some important questions, next thing is to get your business gradually off the ground. Start by writing a comprehensive business plan that will include your goals and mission for the business.
Your business plan should serve as a road map for you in the business, it should include everything from your startup capital, the type of equipment you need, your target market, competition analysis, to even how much you intend to charge for your services.
A good business plan will also come in handy in helping you to secure a loan from the bank in case you need funding in the future.
#3: Get necessary permits and licenses
Porta potty rental business is one that deals with waste and so is guided by strict laws and regulations. If the wastes generated by this type of business are not well managed, it can be hazardous to the environment. So the government is always strict with it.
So, make sure you are on the good side of the law by obtaining all necessary permits and licenses. There are also zoning laws that restrict you from putting your toilets up in certain areas. Familiarize yourself with these restrictions too, so you can run your business in peace.
#4: Find a waste disposal site
One key factor that enhances customer engagement is having a good site to dispose of your waste. There are some areas that have been designated by local authorities for this, so find them. You can talk to people who are already in the business to help make that easy for you.
#5: Secure startup funding
A porta potty rental business is one that requires a huge amount of money as startup costs. You will need to purchase the necessary equipment and hire relevant personnel to run the business. You will be spending money on storage units where the toilets will be stored when not in use, and also on the space to keep them all.
The chemicals and deodorants to keep the place appealing, as well as the trucks that will convey the toilets down to where they will be used all require money. So, get your funding planned out first before even thinking of starting a porta potty rental business.
#6: Purchase the toilets
This is the most important item you need to have in your inventory to run a porta potty rental business. Without them, you are not going anywhere. So you will need to be extra careful when choosing them. Choose your toilet types based on the type of clients you will be servicing and many they are.
In order to maintain cleanliness, a portable toilet should not serve more than 20 people. That means if your client is hosting an event, expecting 200 people, you will have to get at least 10 toilets to fulfill the terms of your lease.
Also, consider who the people are before buying your toilets. If you are servicing prestigious people, a standard toilet may not work well. You may need to get luxury portable toilets that have upgraded features. At the same time, there are some toilets specially designed for people in wheelchairs.
#7: Obtain necessary insurance
A porta potty rental business will need more than just general liability coverage. You may need to get an insurance policy that covers your employees in case of injury or any type of exposure while on the job. That means you will need to form a legal business entity, get an employer identification number, and create an official business presence in some ways.
#8: Purchase the equipment you will need
Portable toilets are not all you need to run this business. You will also need some specific equipment on-hand to allow the smooth running of the business. Some of this equipment includes:
- A holding tank for human waste
- Toilet paper
- Cleaning agents
- Storage units
- Deodorants
- Haulage truck
#9: Hire people to help
A porta potty rental business goes more than what only one person can do. You just can’t do it all. Therefore, you will need to hire more hands to help. In fact, most times, the owner of the business doesn’t get involved in the dirty job but takes care of the management aspect.
One group of people you will most need for the business are the technicians. You will need skilled drivers and a few other personnel to help mount the potties unto the haulage vehicles for disposal. Another group of people will also be doing the cleaning, toilet paper replacement, etc.
#10: Market the business
To see the business successful, you just have to pay special attention to marketing, especially during the early stage of the business. If possible, get a marketing team to help simplify the task. Use simple but effective marketing means like social media and word-of-mouth methods to get the word out to the right people.
Walk up to meet potential clients and offer them good deals they won’t be able to resist. But don’t forget to consider your operational costs too, so you don’t run at loss trying to please your clients. It may not be easy getting clients at first because of competition, but with smart works, you can get some clients for yourself.
Take advantage of situations like a construction about to happen in your area or an even about to hold. Accidents can also open opportunities for you when residents of a particular area seriously need to make some renovations. Also, work together with event planners to get easy jobs you won’t have to stress so much to secure.
Final Note
If you don’t mind touching someone else’s feces, then you can make yourself huge money from porta potty rental business. The industry is lucrative and you don’t need too much money to get it started. However, you will need hard work, tolerance, and persistence to do the “dirty job.”
