ToiletTalk Episode 17: How to Run a Grease Pumping Business
Key Takeaways
- Grease pumping is a great add-on for septic and portable restroom businesses—it uses the same trucks and offers steady, recurring income.
- Most grease trap customers need service multiple times a year, making this a reliable revenue stream.
- The sales cycle takes time—building trust with restaurants and commercial kitchens is key.
- Disposal rules for grease are different from septic, so it’s important to research local regulations and dump sites first.
- Good service is what wins business—being responsive, helpful, and consistent makes you stand out.
Thinking about starting a grease pumping business or adding this service to your septic or portable toilet business?
In this episode of ToiletTalk, we sit down with Vasishta Monavarty, owner of Grease Busters in Denver, CO to break down exactly what it takes to run a grease pumping business. From the equipment you need to the types of customers you’ll serve — and even what you can charge per job — we cover everything you need to know to decide if grease pumping is the right add-on service for your business.
Transcript:
Matt:
What’s up, guys? In this episode, we have the owner of Grease Busters, a Denver-based grease pumping company. He’s here to talk about everything you want to know about running a grease pumping business—and if you already have a septic or portable restroom business, why you might want to add this service. Let’s jump right in.
Vasishta:
Thanks, Matt. Grease pumping is basically the process of servicing grease traps at commercial kitchens. A grease trap is a device that catches fats, oils, and greases before they reach the sewer line. Think of any place with a kitchen—restaurants, schools, hospitals, senior living facilities—they all have them. These devices need to be pumped regularly to protect our public sewer infrastructure.
Matt:
That’s awesome. And I’ve heard car washes fall under this too, right?
Vasishta:
Yes, though they’re a little different. Car washes, mechanic shops, golf courses—those typically have sand and grit interceptors rather than traditional grease traps. The equipment and disposal process is slightly different, but they still need regular service.
Matt:
Let’s talk equipment. What kind of gear do you need to get started with grease pumping?
Vasishta:
You can go big or start small. For exterior grease traps, which are often 1,000–15,000 gallons, you’ll need a larger vacuum truck—something many septic operators already have. For smaller indoor grease traps, which are closer to 25–50 gallons, a smaller truck will do. Portable restroom operators with smaller trucks might start with those.
Matt:
Can you walk us through the workflow of a typical grease pumping job?
Vasishta:
Sure. Most of our customers are commercial and on a quarterly service schedule. When we get a service call, we use ServiceCore to schedule it and set recurring reminders. Our team heads out, usually during off-peak hours, like early mornings or afternoons. Exterior traps usually have two manhole covers. We pump out the fats, oils, and grease—sometimes it’s messy and smelly work. You need the right staff who can handle it, but over time, you get used to it. Funny enough, our team prefers grease over septic.
Matt:
That’s wild. So how do you actually get customers in this space?
Vasishta:
It takes time. Building relationships with restaurants, hospitals, or schools can take 6–8 months. Most already have a vendor. What’s worked for us is being helpful and available—especially for emergency calls. That responsiveness often leads to long-term business.
Matt:
What about frequency—how often do different traps need service?
Vasishta:
Exterior grease traps usually go on a quarterly schedule. Smaller indoor ones may need service monthly or every other month. We let the customer decide but back it up with before-and-after photos in ServiceCore. That way, they can see for themselves if they need more frequent service.
Matt:
Are there special regulations around grease disposal?
Vasishta:
Yes, absolutely. State laws set a baseline, but local water authorities often have stricter rules. For example, in Colorado, the state wants traps serviced twice a year, but some counties require quarterly service. Also, grease is usually not dumped at the same place as septic waste. You’ll need to find a licensed disposal site and figure out the logistics from there.
Matt:
What about disposal fees?
Vasishta:
It varies. Some sites charge per truckload; others charge per gallon. It could range from 7 to 12 cents per gallon, depending on where and how you dump. You’ll need to research your local options and figure out what makes the most sense for your route planning.
Matt:
What’s typical pricing for grease jobs?
Vasishta:
We charge a flat fee for anything under 1,000 gallons and then a per-gallon rate beyond that. It’s similar to septic in that it’s unit economics. Do your market research—ask local restaurants what they’re paying now. Some will even show you their invoices.
Matt:
How competitive is the grease pumping space?
Vasishta:
It depends on your market. There are a few big national players, but it’s mostly fragmented. That means opportunity—for organic growth through great service or even acquisitions of smaller operations.
Matt:
How long does a typical job take?
Vasishta:
Anywhere from 15 minutes to 14 hours, depending on the size and complexity. We average about 30–40 grease traps per week across our staff. Some techs handle 4–5 jobs a day; others may spend all day on one big one.
Matt:
What’s something you wish you knew before starting?
Vasishta:
The sales cycle is much longer than septic or portable toilets. If you’re trying to replace an existing vendor, it can take months. You have to be patient and consistent.
Matt:
Do you think COVID created new opportunities in grease?
Vasishta:
Definitely. Some vendors retired, and restaurants reopened needing service. But the key is customer diversity—working with hospitals, schools, and senior living facilities that stay open no matter what. That kind of balance helps you weather downturns.
Matt:
What’s the number one reason a septic or porta potty business should add grease pumping?
Vasishta:
Two reasons: First, you already have the trucks. Second, it’s recurring revenue. Septic is every 3–5 years, portables are project-based. But grease is 2–4 times per year—steady work from customers that need you.
Matt:
Hiring CDL drivers has been a challenge for some of our customers. How has it been for you?
Vasishta:
It’s tough for everyone, but we’ve built a solid team through word of mouth. We focus on finding people who want a career—not just a job. Grease pumping is a niche, essential service with job security. We also look for techs who are good with customers since they’ll see the same accounts multiple times a year.
Matt:
You’ve shared so much great insight. What’s one thing you’d leave our audience with?
Vasishta:
Service first, always. Treat customers like they’re your own. Help people. That mindset will take you far.
Matt:
Well said. Thanks so much for being here today.
Vasishta:
Thanks for having me, Matt—and thanks to ServiceCore. It’s made our operations way more efficient. We’ve really enjoyed using it.
Matt:
We’re happy to hear that. See you on the next one!
FAQs
Grease pumping is when you clean out a grease trap. Grease traps collect fats, oils, and grease from places like restaurants so it doesn’t clog the sewer system.
Any place with a kitchen—like restaurants, schools, hospitals, and senior living centers—needs their grease traps cleaned regularly.
Yes! If you have vacuum trucks and trained drivers, you’re already halfway there. Septic trucks often work well for grease jobs too.
Most grease traps are cleaned every 1–3 months. Some larger ones only need cleaning every 3–4 months. It depends on the size and how much grease is used.
You’ll need a vacuum truck—smaller ones for indoor traps and bigger ones for outdoor traps. You might also need tools to break up thick grease.
You’ll need to dump it at a special disposal site. Septic sites usually won’t take grease, so you’ll have to find a local site that does.
Pricing depends on your area and the size of the trap. Some businesses charge a flat fee for small traps and a per-gallon rate for big ones.
It can be, but great service wins. Many areas still have small companies, so there’s room to grow if you treat customers well and show up on time.
Steady, repeat business. Unlike porta potties or septic, grease traps often need service 4 times a year or more—so you can build long-term customers and recurring revenue.
