Want to see how your portable restroom rental business stacks up—or learn what it takes to start one? In this ToiletTalk episode, we sit down with Blue Loo Portable Restrooms to walk through the 2024 Portable Sanitation Benchmark Report.

Whether you’re starting, owning, or running a portable restroom rental business, this episode gives you clear targets and practical advice you can use today.

Transcript:

Matt A:
What’s up, guys! In this episode, I’m diving into this year’s Portable Sanitation Benchmark Report with Candy from Blue Loo Portable Restrooms. This is your chance to see how your business stacks up. Let’s jump in! Let’s kick things off. Candy, welcome to the show! Can you tell us a little about Blue Loo?

Candy:
Sure! Blue Loo is a new portable sanitation company based in Thurston County, Washington. We started in January and positioned ourselves centrally to serve the entire Pacific Northwest. We have about 120 units, 6 ADAs, and 35 sinks—and we’re ready to roll. I’m a problem-solver, so when challenges pop up, I grab units, pitch in wherever needed, and figure it out as I go.

Matt A:
I love that attitude. You’ve also worked with other portable toilet businesses, so we’re excited to tap into your expertise. Let’s look at some of the key benchmarks. At ServiceCore, we’ve surveyed operators for the past three years, and this year we had over 500 respondents across the U.S. and Canada—ranging from brand-new companies to long-established ones. The sweet spot seemed to be companies with 4 to 14 drivers.

Let’s start with profit margins. From 2023 to 2024, we saw a big jump. What do you think caused that?

Candy:
I think construction came back strong. Jobs reopened, events returned, and people were ready to make money again. Cities started issuing permits, and businesses had units ready to deploy. Everyone jumped in—and that brought profits back.

Matt A:
Let’s move to operational costs. We saw fuel prices and other expenses spike in 2022 and 2023 but level off in 2024—except disposal fees. What’s been your experience?

Candy:
Things have stabilized across the board, at least in our area. When we filled out new permits, costs looked pretty similar to last year. Hopefully it stays that way.

Matt A:
Let’s talk about fuel practices. Most PROs use fuel cards, tanks on site, or wet hose service. What does Blue Loo use?

Candy:
We use gas cards and pay once a month. At my previous company, a service came by at night to fuel our 15 trucks, which saved money. Now, we look for cards that offer rebates or discounts and allow us to fuel at commercial-only stations.

Matt A:
And for unloading?

Candy:
Our drivers go to the dump site mid-route or hold until the next day. At my old company, night provisioners would transfer waste from multiple trucks into one or two, then take those to the dump. Dispatch plays a big role in planning efficient dump points—I’m reworking our ServiceCore routing to hit transfer stations more often.

Matt A:
Fleet maintenance is another big area. 55% of PROs have an on-site mechanic. Smaller companies may not. What’s your experience?

Candy:
At the previous company, we had older trucks and in-house provisioners who doubled as mechanics. For warranty repairs, we used an outside shop. Now, with a new truck, the warranty is great—but once it expires, the costs are yours. I believe in holding drivers accountable for vehicle care. If they treat it well, it won’t cost you a fortune.

Matt A:
Let’s move to marketing. Referrals are always #1, but branding and Google ads are popular too. What’s worked for you?

Candy:
We had a great web designer who handled Google ads. He promoted trailer units and whatever we needed to push. For Blue Loo, we branded our trucks, used QR codes, and built a website with strong SEO. I also do “Donut Day”—I visit construction sites once a week with donuts and my card. I don’t hard sell; I just say hi and follow up later.

Matt A:
Let’s get into billing. We’ve seen a rise in 28-day billing cycles, credit cards on file, and daily or weekly billing. Do you require a card on file?

Candy:
Absolutely! It saves time and improves cash flow. ServiceCore even alerts us when cards are about to expire. I’d rather send a receipt than chase payments.

Matt A:
Fewer outstanding receivables are tied to those practices. Do you agree?

Candy:
Yes—if everyone was on auto-pay, it would be a dream.

Matt A:
Half of PROs now require photos of units. What’s your policy?

Candy:
We take photos at drop-off and pickup, plus occasional service shots. If a driver can’t service a unit, they need to photograph the issue and try to fix it or call the site contact. It’s about protecting yourself—be a lawyer. We had 15 units destroyed by arson once. Thanks to photos, insurance covered not only the units but the damaged sidewalk too.

Matt A:
Let’s talk tech. You’re a ServiceCore user, but more broadly, top PROs—those with 20%+ margins—tend to use software. Do you use telematics?

Candy:
We used Verizon Connect at my last job. It saved us when people falsely claimed our trucks caused damage. At Blue Loo, I use basic GPS for insurance purposes. It’s not as robust, but it helps.

Matt A:
Now let’s talk markets. We saw a spike in municipal revenue—possibly due to disasters or parks reopening. Thoughts?

Candy:
I noticed the growth too, but I’m not sure why. It could depend on region. We’ll see what happens next year.

Matt A:
Residential growth jumped 25% year-over-year. How’s that been for you?

Candy:
Construction is booming—especially residential. There’s also talk about the “Silver Tsunami”—retiring Baby Boomers who’ll need housing. That’ll fuel more builds, and we’re already seeing demand.

Matt A:
54% of PROs reported more competition. What’s happening in your area?

Candy:
It’s definitely growing. Years ago, there were only a few big players. Now people realize there’s money in this business—because everybody poops! The trick is providing good service. If you’re not reliable, someone else will get the job.

Matt A:
Let’s talk terms and conditions. 20% of businesses still don’t have formal agreements. I hope that’s not you!

Candy:
Definitely not. Our invoices include terms and a link to full conditions. Customers have to check a box to agree—just like any online purchase. If anything goes wrong, we have proof they agreed.

Matt A:
That wraps it up. Candy, thank you so much—this was packed with great advice.

Candy:
Thanks for having me! Let me know if you need anything else. I’m always around.

Matt A:
Absolutely. See you on the next episode!

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