Jason Starr knows he has a snack food processing plant and an enterprising grandfather to thank for his business, Starr Portables in tiny Millville, Pennsylvania. Like his grandfather, Max, the 44-year-old has ambition and ideas how to build the business even more through social media and by adding more restroom trailers.

Max Starr farmed 2,500 acres in central Pennsylvania, growing produce for canneries. He sold fertilizer and operated a school bus business and trucking operation when he contracted to unload corn for a potato chip and corn chip plant in the early 1970s. When he learned the plant needed to haul away water used in the processing, he purchased an old tanker truck to transfer the wastewater from the plant to area fields. Soon after, he started pumping septic tanks. 

In 1989, Max recognized another opportunity when he rented a couple of portable restrooms for an estate auction. “He had four (restrooms) by the end of the week. He went crazy after that,” Jason Starr says.

The Starr family purchased restrooms from Satellite Industries, which created another business for the family when they were asked to assemble Satellite restrooms for distribution in the East. Max’s son, Greg Starr, worked with his father in both businesses and continues to work in the warehouse assembling restrooms. Jason, Greg’s nephew, took over the septic and restroom businesses at the end of 2020. Jason’s father, Roger, is a truck driver and helps his son out on the septic side of the business. 

Max died in 2012, but his wife, Martha, continues working with the businesses for her son Greg. At 90, she turned in her last handwritten and typed receipts and bookwork in 2020 for Starr Portables, when Jason Starr added a new computer and software for the business. He, his wife, Helen, and Morgan Lawton, now take care of the bookwork.

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

Jason Starr recognizes the responsibility of carrying on the family name. 

“I was the oldest grandson and I was at my grandparents’ every weekend,” Starr recalls. “Paps” called him “The Boss” and at 12, the youngster was helping load, unload and wash restrooms.

“When I was 16, I got my license on Thursday and I was driving a pumper truck on Saturday. I worked weekends and after school. I wanted to quit school because I knew what I wanted to do,” Starr recalls. He graduated from high school in 1996 and continued to work with his grandparents and uncle. 

Starr Portables still pumps wastewater from the potato chip factory that got the business started as well as septic tanks for long-time customers. But portable restrooms account for most of the business’ income.

“In the last 10 years, this business went crazy,” Starr says of the portable restrooms. Partly the growth has been because customers prefer a local, family run company and because clean restroom units are a priority for him. 

“I have a pet peeve about dirty roofs that are black and moldy,” he explains, noting units are thoroughly powerwashed inside and out. He has three Karcher pressure washers with 13 hp Honda engines, and they are also used to steam wash the fleet of vacuum trucks every week. 

DIVERSE CLIENTS

Though the business is located in a town with a population of about 1,000 in a very rural area, a wide variety of customers need services. Construction accounts for about 50%, and Starr recently expanded his coverage area to accommodate his contractors, which keeps the company busy through the winter. In past years, a gas pipeline project and natural gas plant construction projects required dozens of restrooms for extended periods with every-other-day service. Prisons and nearby Bloomsburg University also rent restrooms.

The COVID pandemic also created opportunities, which affected the business when Starr was preparing to purchase it from his uncle.

“I decided I’m going to make this work, like my grandpa, who was a go-getter,” he says, noting that one positive thing resulted from the pandemic: People understand the importance of portable sanitation and appreciate the portable restroom business more. 

Starr Portables contracted with four hospitals that needed restrooms, hand-wash and sanitizing stations. During 2021, events and parties were back full speed. “Special events and parties are where it’s at,” says Starr about the favorite part of his business.

Prior to the pandemic in 2019, the Starrs recognized the potential of trailers, and ordered a three-station Satellite unit that was only rented out a few times. But then during an outage, a power plant needed one. Not wanting to use his new trailer, he rented a construction-style trailer from a friend for the power company. Since then, he purchased a 2016 three-station Comforts of Home Services ADA trailer used and a 26-foot, 4-stall unit from Montondo Trailer and another Satellite three-stall trailer because the market for outdoor venues and barn weddings is growing and increasing the need for nicer trailer restrooms. 

EQUIPMENT CORNER

For most customers, Starr’s inventory of about 1,000 Satellite Industries restrooms has been enough to cover the busy summers. In addition to private parties, it’s common to book 15-20 restrooms for community celebrations and carnivals. There are several wine, apple and pumpkin festivals in the area also.

“I took out more than 100 restrooms for weekend parties for the Fourth of July,” Starr says. “I’m not the cheapest in town, but I’m not selling the restroom, I’m selling my service.”

He emphasizes that point to combat competition that undercuts the price. There is plenty of work for everyone, he says, and fuel and other prices have gone up, so PROs must remember to price for a profit. 

Besides restrooms, his inventory of hand-wash stations includes 15 PolyJohn and about 50 Satellite units. He also has 25 Highrise units from Satellite. 

Starr Portables has a diverse fleet to deliver and service the restrooms with various capacities. There are four Fords — a 1999 F-550 with a stainless steel Best Enterprises slide-in unit with a 500-gallon waste/300-gallon freshwater tank, a 2006 F-750 with an aluminum 1,500-gallon waste/500-gallon freshwater Progress Tank, a 2009 F-550 with an aluminum 700-gallon waste/400-gallon freshwater Progress tank and a 2017 F-550 with a stainless steel 700-gallon waste/400-gallon freshwater Pik Rite tank. He also has a 2015 Kenworth truck with a stainless steel 1,000-gallon waste/500-gallon freshwater Best Enterprises tank. A 1999 Freightliner truck from Progress Tank with an aluminum 3,600-gallon tank is used for septic pumping. All have Masport pumps.

For moving restrooms, Starr Portables has a 2003 GMC 4500 with an 18-foot flatbed and lift gate, a 2017 Isuzu 20-foot flatbed truck with a lift gate, a 2015 Ford F-250 pickup with a lift gate and a 2016 Ford F-150 pickup with a lift gate. He recently purchased a 2022 Ford F-450 pickup, mostly for hauling trailers, including three single-axle trailers carrying two restrooms and a sink for agricultural use, a 12-place and 20-place trailer made by F.M. Manufacturing, and a 24-place Explorer trailer made by McKee Technologies.

TAKE CARE OF WORKERS 

Keeping the equipment running and the business successful requires good employees. Starr says he offers high wages for the area, gives occasional bonuses and recently started a 401K retirement program. Tyler Zimmerman has been with the company the longest. Brandon Farver also came with the business that the younger Starr purchased at the end of 2020, and later he added Damien Winders. All new hires ride with Starr or another employee at first and are cross-trained to work both portable sanitation and septic-pumping routes. 

“Randomly I will drive around and check the toilets,” Starr says, noting that usually they are up to his standards, including being cleaned with J-Spray from J&J Portable Sanitation Products and Spray Nine. 

Drivers use Google Maps on their phones for their daily routes. 

Starr added an office position and hired Morgan Lawton to answer the phone and schedule workers. With a new computer system and QuickBooks, Microsoft and Excel software, all aspects of the business from day-to-day accounting to separating out sales tax are organized and efficient. Office hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., but there is an emergency number. If bad weather is forecast, like a recent flood, Starr sets it up to ring directly to his mobile phone. 

Starr builds on old-fashioned service and name recognition with modern marketing tools. He and Helen mainly use Facebook. Many posts are quick and easy, such as sharing posts about the many events they contract serve. Other posts show their inventory — such as a restroom trailer set up at a beautiful location for a wedding. 

Starr likes radio advertising that includes the business’s slogan: “The best seat in town.” 

He also markets his business in a unique way with signs at eight area Little League baseball fields. Besides promoting Starr Portables, it provides a way to support communities he serves.

He uses Facebook to spread the word about his business by giving away things like tickets to the Pennsylvania State Fair and gift cards, when he randomly draws names from followers who like and share his posts.

FAMILY TRADITION

“My grandpa always said to treat people fair and to treat them well. He worked until he was 83,” Starr says, noting that he is a hustler and go-getter like his grandfather. Besides stressing cleanliness, he prioritizes prompt delivery and pickup.

Looking into the future, Starr could envision the business continuing in the family with his daughters, McKenzie, 17, and Delainey, 14, and infant son Easton getting involved. 

“I don’t want to go bigger,” Starr notes. “I want to concentrate on special events and my restroom trailers. I love the restroom industry. I love the work and I am a big people person.”