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Restrooms + Get AlertsGlancing back at 2020, Portable Restroom Operator Magazine’s Take 5 print feature had a lot of insight to offer about the most common issues in portable sanitation. Some PROs face problems unique to their setting, but many problems are universal. Here are the top five and what our featured PROs had to say.
1. Inexperienced employees.
Clay Lincoln of Linkon Logs Portables and Event Services
“The seed is planted, and I see that Preston understands the business is successful because we clean a little better than the other guy,” Lincoln says, and Preston passes that on to the rest of the crew. “They become more responsible. They may not run a business, but they learn that doing the little things will help you succeed.”
— Clay Lincoln, Linkon Logs Portables and Event Services, Pacific Junction, Iowa, The Big Washout, May 2020
2. Building a network.
Nicole and David Spencer of Outback Portable Restroom Services
“The best thing [about the WWETT Show] was just to learn about the business, especially in the marketing classes. Getting to know some of the vendors face-to-face helped.”
— David Spencer, Outback Portable Restroom Services, St. Marys, Georgia, Jumping Right In, August 2020
3. Managing and paying for growth
Giulliano Paizante of The Throne King
“I’m not making money yet. We have to reinvest money. If we’re not going to get big, we’re not going to make money. We’ve got to grow.”
— Giulliano Paizante, The Throne King, Peabody, Massachusetts, Give Them the Royal Treatment, October 2020
4. Providing quality service.
Jack Werry of Jack's Expert Flush & Toilet
“I want to stress cleanliness, and personal service is the best way to achieve that. I also believe that if I became a lot larger, additional costs would result in a smaller rate of return.”
— Jack Werry, Jack’s Expert Flush & Toilet, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Finding the Sweet Spot, March 2020
5. Planning for your portable restroom operation’s future.
Charley and Kaitlin Heltunen of A-1 Toilets
“We financed the purchase of the business with a loan that comes due in the summer of 2024. When that loan is settled, I’ll definitely continue teaching for at least another year. Then we’re going to think seriously about whether I should continue teaching or devote my energies to A-1 full time.”
— Charley Heltunen, A-1 Toilets, Calumet, Michigan, The Double Live of Charley Heltunen, November 2020
