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- $100M in...Septic?
What’s up everyone,
Turns out, 💩 pays (to the tune of thousands of dollars/day).
How’s that for an intro?
The septic business has the potential to be a real money-maker. For real, real. In today’s newsletter I talk about…
Economics of the septic business
Aspects of the business
How to get into it
Problems associated with it
What's your thoughts on the septic business? |
Before I tell you how to win big in the septic business, I want to introduce you to Service Scalers—a lead generation agency solely for home service companies.
Scaling Wilson in a cost efficient manner is my #1 job. And with that, I need one thing: leads.
Thanks to their expertise in SEO, PPC, LSA, and GMB marketing, Service Scalers has been a game-changer for us. Last year their partnership helped us achieve 46% year-over-year growth and this year is going to be even bigger!
If you're in the trades and ready to grow your marketing channels, I can’t recommend them enough. Learn more here.
Big $$$ in the Septic Business
Most people overlook septic. But if you’re in the trades and want high-margin work with low competition?
You might want to take a closer look.
Septic pumping and replacements don’t just smell like money—they are money. We’re talking 70% margins and average tickets that can hit $20K+.
Here’s the breakdown 👇
What’s the Money Look Like?
Start with one replacement job.
Cost: $11,500
Revenue: $20,000
Gross profit: $8,500
That kind of margin is what turns a small operator into a serious player.
And that’s just one side of the business.
Septic breaks down into two parts:
Pumping (recurring, route-based)
Replacement (big-ticket installs)
If you can land both? That’s where things scale.
How Do You Start a Septic Business?
Honestly? It’s not that hard.
Here’s what you need:
A wastewater license (can take the test online)
A truck
A driver
That’s it.
You’re not buried in red tape. You just need equipment and a game plan.
What About Trucks?
You’ve got options. (hint: old isn’t good)
Smaller trucks: 1,000-gallon tanks → $30K–$80K
Heavy-duty trucks (ours): 4,000–5,000-gallon tanks → $250K+
Big trucks move more volume, dump less often, and pump faster. More velocity = more revenue per day.
But the downside?
Maintenance costs are high
CDL drivers are hard to find
If you’re running it solo, no problem. If not, be ready to pay up for great drivers.
How Do You Get Leads?
This might be the easiest part—and you don’t even have to do it yourself.
Remember the marketing agency I mentioned above? They can help with…
Google My Business
Direct mail
and more
This industry is still unsophisticated. That means less competition and cheap leads.
If you know how to market, you’ll clean up.
Final Word
The septic business is simple to start, fast to grow, and wildly profitable.
Low licensing barrier
Big-ticket replacements
Predictable pumping work
Easy lead gen
70% margins
The trucks are expensive. The drivers are hard to find. But the economics?
They’re hard to beat.
So if you’re looking for a cash-flow machine with real asset value—don’t sleep on septic.
Here’s all the motivation you need, in 30 seconds…
⚡ Shout Out to Quick Staffers ⚡
Looking to scale your business through acquisitions?
Jack Carr, my podcast co-host, recently launched Quick Staffers, designed to place overseas CSRs who are pre-trained with HVAC and plumbing knowledge.
They’re already running proven SOPs and scripts from both mine and Jack’s call center.
It’s a total game-changer for growing your team without blowing your budget. Right now, he’s offering a soft launch special—$500 off per placement!
That’s all for today, but if you have any time this weekend, you’ll want to watch our most recent podcast episode.
👊 John
Disclosure: This newsletter includes sponsored content. However, all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Want More Owned and Operated?
📖 Check out the go-to resource for scaling your home service business here
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