We’re excited to share that Stahla Services was recently featured on the Disruptive Successor podcast where our Co-owners, Grant and Erin Stahla, discussed their incredible journey of transforming the portable sanitation industry from the ground up. During this insightful conversation with host Jonathan Goldhill, Grant and Erin shared how they’ve disrupted a traditional industry by elevating the standard porta-potty into what customers often describe as a “hotel bathroom on wheels.” From starting with a single restroom trailer right out of college to expanding across multiple states, their story reveals how faith-driven leadership and unwavering commitment to quality can redefine an entire market category.
What We Discussed: From Commodity to Premium Experience
The conversation began with Grant sharing the origin story of how Stahla Services came to be. Starting the business right after college, he and Erin joined forces with a clear vision: to provide hospitality-level service in an industry that had long accepted mediocrity as the standard. We didn’t just enter the portable sanitation market—we created an entirely new category within it.
Grant explained how we innovated what was traditionally a commodity product into a premium experience. Our ADA restroom trailers feature amenities like flushing toilets, running hot water, air conditioning, heating, and even Bluetooth sound systems. As Grant noted during the podcast, “Such a basic thing. But also it’s so different than the standard plastic porta-potty.” This fundamental shift in what customers could expect from portable sanitation has allowed us to transform how events, construction sites, and emergency response teams think about restroom facilities.
The discussion also touched on the genesis of our second company, Stahla Leads. After spending over a million dollars on Google Ads and discovering that most leads were outside our service area, we turned a marketing challenge into a new revenue stream. We created an innovative online marketplace that connects qualified customers with other vendors in the sanitation space, embodying our philosophy that “we really want to be that rising tide that lifts all ships within our industry.”
Values-Driven Leadership: Faith as the Foundation
One of the most powerful aspects of the podcast centered on how our faith serves as the foundational core for everything we do at Stahla Services. As Grant shared with Jonathan, “We want to do this business like Jesus would. So we want to own it like Jesus would and just manage like Jesus would.” This isn’t just a tagline—it informs our company culture, customer service approach, and how we maintain perspective and life balance.
This values-driven leadership extends to every decision we make, from how we treat our team members to the quality standards we maintain for every shower trailer delivery. Erin emphasized that their faith is “the core of everything,” providing the compass that guides both strategic business decisions and day-to-day operations. This commitment to leading with faith has created a culture where integrity and service excellence aren’t optional—they’re fundamental.
The podcast revealed how this approach influences even our long-term vision. While many entrepreneurs build with the intention to sell, Grant and Erin shared that their true inspiration comes from legacy companies like Chick-fil-A that focus on long-term growth and value creation over decades. As Grant put it, “If we’re gonna have a business, we wanna do it right and we wanna keep building it.”
Real-World Impact: The Dynamics of Running a Business as a Couple
Erin offered an open and honest look at what it takes to successfully run a business as a married couple. She shared that success requires acknowledging the ups and downs, communicating openly, and finding a flexible balance that works for your unique situation rather than enforcing rigid rules. “Anything that you do, there’s going to be some low moments and some hard things that you’re gonna have to talk through, whether that’s like purely a coworker or a coworker who happens to be your spouse,” Erin explained.
This transparency about the challenges and rewards of working together as husband and wife provides valuable insight into the human side of building a business. The conversation revealed how Grant and Erin have navigated the complexities of maintaining both a strong marriage and a thriving company, demonstrating that with open communication and shared values, these two aspects of life can strengthen rather than compete with each other.
Their partnership has been instrumental in scaling Stahla Services from a single trailer operation to a multi-state enterprise. Whether it’s coordinating logistics for 8-stall restroom trailer deliveries or strategizing expansion into new markets, their complementary skills and unified vision have driven sustainable growth.
Scaling with Intention: Systems That Maintain Quality
Jonathan Goldhill explored how Grant and Erin have managed to scale their business while maintaining the quality and culture that defined their early success. We’ve intentionally scaled using proven systems like the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), combined with software platforms like HubSpot and Smartsheets that allow us to maintain consistency across all locations.
The key to our scaling strategy has been embedding our core values across every location and touchpoint. Whether a customer is renting a 2-stall restroom trailer in one state or a 16-station shower trailer in another, they experience the same commitment to quality and service excellence. This systematic approach ensures that growth never comes at the expense of the premium experience we’ve built our reputation on.
Grant and Erin also discussed using the “build to sell” framework not because they plan to exit, but because it ensures the business is properly systemized and valuable. This disciplined approach creates a company that can operate effectively with clear processes, strong documentation, and empowered team members who understand how their role contributes to the larger mission.
Understanding the Investment: Creating Market Value
Throughout the podcast, Grant and Erin shared insights about how they’ve positioned Stahla Services in the market. By offering amenities that transform the portable restroom experience—from climate control to modern aesthetics—we’ve been able to command premium pricing while delivering exceptional value. Our premium 3-stall ADA restroom trailer and combo trailer rentals represent significant investments for events and projects, but they deliver an experience that justifies every dollar.
The discussion also highlighted how we’ve diversified our offerings to serve different market needs. From decontamination trailers for emergency response to laundry trailers for disaster relief, we’ve expanded our product line while maintaining the same standards of quality and service. You can explore pricing information and learn more about which solution fits your specific needs through our comprehensive resources.
The Vision Forward: Lifting All Ships
One of the most inspiring aspects of the conversation was Grant and Erin’s vision for the future of the portable sanitation industry. Their statement that “we really want to be that rising tide that lifts all ships within our industry” reflects a generous, abundance-minded approach to business. Rather than hoarding knowledge or viewing other vendors as pure competition, they’ve created Stahla Leads to help the entire industry grow and professionalize.
This philosophy extends to how we serve our customers as well. Whether you’re planning a wedding, managing a construction site, or coordinating disaster relief efforts, we view our role as partners in your success rather than simply vendors. Our team takes the time to understand your specific needs and recommend the right solution, whether that’s a 4-stall restroom trailer or a complete shower and restroom combination.
As we’ve shared before, Grant and Erin Stahla are driven by a mission that goes beyond business. They are passionate about redefining portable sanitation through a company built on caring for people, delivering service excellence, and leading with faith. This includes their dedicated support of organizations like Love Justice International. This core commitment to integrity and service is woven into every interaction at Stahla Services.
We are deeply grateful to Jonathan Goldhill and the Disruptive Successor podcast team for providing such a thoughtful platform to share our story. As Grant emphasized during the interview, “We want to do this business like Jesus would. So we want to own it like Jesus would and just manage like Jesus would.” This commitment drives everything we do, from answering your questions at our contact page to delivering trailers that exceed your expectations. We invite you to explore our full range of products and discover how the Stahla Services difference can transform your next event or project.
Ready to experience the premium difference for yourself? Get Your Personalized Quote Today! or call us at 844-900-3190. Let us show you how faith-driven leadership and relentless commitment to quality create portable restroom solutions that truly feel like a hotel bathroom on wheels.