Equipment Rental

Porta-Potty / Portable Restroom Rental

Unglamorous. Recession-proof. $150-300 per unit per week.

Monthly Revenue
$6K–$20K
realistic range
Startup Cost
$20K–$80K
to get started
Hourly Rate
$100–$200
per hour billed
Complexity
3/4
skill required

The Business

Portable restroom rental serves construction sites, events, and outdoor venues. A single unit rented for a 4-week construction site delivers $600-1,200/month with weekly servicing. 30 units on rotation at $200/month average = $6,000/month recurring. The business is unsexy but highly necessary and locally served.

How to Start

Start by buying a few used units ($1,500-2,500 each) and subcontracting pumping to an existing operator while building your route. Once you have 20+ units, buy a used pump truck ($20-40K) to service yourself. Target construction companies and event venues for your first accounts.

REAL EXAMPLE

Pete started with 10 units and a subcontract pumping agreement, growing to 85 units earning $17K/month over 4 years.

Equipment Needed

  • Portable restroom units ($2,000-4,000 each)
  • Pump truck ($20-80K)
  • Cleaning chemicals
  • Delivery truck

Licensing

Business license + waste hauler permit

Monthly Search Volume

800
people/month search for this business
READY TO START?

Form your LLC and protect your assets. Start operating legally in days.

FORM YOUR LLC — ZENBUSINESSGET RENTERS — THUMBTACK PRO

Affiliate links · We may earn a commission

Revenue Calculator

1
$3,500
20 hrs
$80,000
Weekly Revenue
$3.5K
Monthly Revenue
$15.1K
Annual Revenue
$180.6K
Monthly Profit
$10.1K
Break-Even
8 months
Hourly Rate
$175
Monthly costs: $5,000/mo (insurance, fuel, supplies)
CHRIS'S TAKE

Portable sanitation is the business nobody wants to talk about but everyone needs. Construction sites, events, parks, disaster relief — the demand is massive and consistent. The companies in this space are notoriously profitable.

PRO TIP

Construction site contracts are your most valuable asset — long-term placements that need weekly servicing. One large construction project can place 10–20 units for 12+ months.

READY TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL?

Form Your LLC Today

You've seen the numbers. Protect your personal assets, get your EIN, and start operating legally. ZenBusiness handles the paperwork so you can focus on the business.

START YOUR LLC — FROM $0 →

Affiliate link · We may earn a commission at no cost to you

ACQUISITION ROUTE

Want to buy a Porta-Potty / Portable Restroom Rental instead of starting one?

Skip the startup grind. Existing businesses come with customers, cash flow, and proven systems. Use our valuation calculator to see what you'd pay.

CALCULATE VALUATION →HOW TO BUY A BUSINESS
TOOLS TO RUN THIS BUSINESS

Tools we'd use if we were starting this business today. Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission.

ZenBusinessFROM $0

Form your rental business LLC. Protect personal assets from equipment liability claims.

START YOUR LLC
FreshBooks30 DAYS FREE

Track rental income by asset, invoice customers, and see which equipment earns its keep.

START FREE TRIAL
JobberFREE TRIAL

Manage equipment bookings, deposits, and returns without spreadsheets.

TRY JOBBER FREE
Simply Business

Tools-in-trade and public liability insurance for equipment rental businesses.

GET INSURED
MORE EQUIPMENT RENTAL BUSINESSES
See all →
Bounce House Rental
Up to $12K/mo
Party Equipment Rental
Up to $18K/mo
Generator Rental
Up to $12K/mo
Dumpster Rental
Up to $30K/mo