Portable toilet rental and servicing route

Construction contractors, event organizers, farms, parks, community groups and homeowners with big projects.

Monthly rental per unit for job sites, flat fees or per-day rates for events, plus delivery, extra servicing and handwash station add-ons.

• Comfortable driving and handling a heavy truck
• Reliable scheduling and route planning
• Customer service with contractors and event planners
• Not squeamish about dirty work

• Many states and counties require a septage or waste hauler permit, check with your state environmental agency
• You need an approved disposal site, such as a wastewater treatment plant, and may need an agreement with it
• Check whether your truck weight requires a commercial driver's license or a DOT number
• General liability, commercial auto and pollution liability coverage, check what your insurer requires
• Zoning rules for storing units and washing them at your yard
• Vandalism, theft and damage to units, and seasonal swings in demand

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $20,000 to $70,000, depending on the size of your fleet, the vacuum truck you buy and the yard you set up. Vandalism, theft and damage to units can add to costs.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on how many units you rent out and how busy your customers are. Demand swings by season, so treat these figures as rough estimates.

Check whether your state or county requires a septage or waste hauler permit, and arrange an approved disposal site. Also check whether your truck needs a commercial driver's license or DOT number, insurance requirements, and zoning for storing and washing units.