We’re excited to share that Stahla Services was recently featured on Enterprise Radio (EPN) where our Co-owner, Erin Stahla, discussed the critical considerations for anyone thinking about entering the restroom trailer rental industry. Host Eric Dye dove deep into the realities of building a successful portable sanitation business, and Erin shared invaluable insights about what it really takes to thrive in this field. Whether you’re considering our restroom trailers for your own events or thinking about starting your own rental business, this conversation offers essential guidance.
If you missed the live broadcast, we’ve captured all the key insights Erin shared about the misconceptions, lifestyle realities, and strategic steps that can make or break your success in this industry.
What We Discussed: The Real Foundation of Trailer Rental Success
Erin began by providing context about Stahla Services’ current position in the marketplace. We cover the nation in logistics while maintaining three strategically located shops in Nebraska, Kansas, and Denver, serving the greater Midwest area with specialized focus. Our comprehensive offering includes restroom trailers, shower trailers, and specialty trailers that address both logistical challenges and unique asset requirements.
The conversation quickly shifted to addressing the biggest misconceptions people harbor before entering this industry. “There are a lot of misconceptions,” Erin acknowledged, emphasizing that these misunderstandings are natural when people are exploring unfamiliar territory.
Common Misconceptions: What Most People Get Wrong
The “Easy Money” Myth: One of the most dangerous misconceptions is that trailer rental is easy money. “A lot of people come away with the idea that it’s going to be easier than it is,” Erin explained. While some optimism is beneficial—preventing us from being paralyzed by challenges—underestimating the complexity can lead to frustration and failure.
Unrealistic Growth Expectations: Many newcomers expect rapid scaling, thinking they’ll start with a handful of trailers and “within a matter of 2, 3 or 4 years, this thing is going to be 10X to scale.” While explosive growth is possible, it typically takes much longer than anticipated. “Growth takes time,” Erin emphasized, encouraging entrepreneurs to focus on building solid foundations rather than chasing quick expansion.
The Solo Operator Illusion: Perhaps the most limiting misconception is believing you can scale everything by yourself. The reality depends entirely on your goals. Are you looking for weekend income, full-time replacement earnings, or building a legacy business? “If you want to go far and fast, you definitely have to have a great team behind you.” This requires developing leadership skills, management capabilities, and overall business acumen from the beginning.
Strategic Questions: Beginning with the End in Mind
When Eric asked about essential questions prospective business owners should consider, Erin’s response centered on long-term vision. “Begin with the end in mind,” she advised, encouraging people to envision themselves at 80 or 90 years old and work backward from their ideal legacy.
Lifestyle Architecture: Before diving into business ownership, you must honestly assess what you want your life to look like. “Do you want time for family? Do you want time for hobbies?” These aren’t secondary considerations—they’re foundational elements that should shape your business structure from day one. Understanding that “the business is going to take 10, at least 10X more time than you ever think it will” helps set realistic expectations and build appropriate frameworks.
Priority Clarification: Determining your priorities isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for creating a business that serves your life rather than consuming it. “Know that the business is going to take 10, at least 10X more time than you ever think it will, but that at least gives you a great frame to start working backwards from.”
First Steps: Financial Strategy and Smart Scaling
Erin outlined critical first steps that can determine long-term success or failure.
Financial Foundation: “How do you want to start financially?” This fundamental question shapes everything that follows. Options include bringing in partners, taking loans, pursuing debt-free growth, or seeking investors. “You have 100% say in how that goes, so be very intentional.” The trailer rental industry is particularly attractive to lenders because “we’re a very bankable business—banks really like us because of the asset-based company.”
Start Small Philosophy: Resist the temptation to launch big. “We typically recommend a 2 or 4 stall trailer just to see if you even like it.” The day-to-day reality involves weekend work, waste management, and hands-on problem-solving. “You have to actually enjoy your day-to-day, and at the beginning that’s gonna look a lot like taking a 2 stall trailer to a wedding, setting it up Friday night.” This isn’t glamorous work, and “it’s not for everyone.”
Pre-Sales Strategy: Here’s where many newcomers make costly mistakes. “Before you even purchase a trailer, start your marketing and your sales as soon as possible.” This means getting on wedding venue preferred vendor lists, posting in local Facebook groups, making cold calls, and joining the Chamber of Commerce. “If you can line it up to where you have your first rental out of that trailer before it even arrives, that is absolutely ideal.”
Erin emphasized this applies to every trailer purchase: “I recommend it for every trailer that you purchase in perpetuity. This asset has to begin working for you from day one before it even arrives on site.”
Lifestyle Reality: The Freedom and Responsibility Balance
When discussing the lifestyle this business supports, Erin provided an honest assessment of both opportunities and challenges.
The Ownership Reality: “You’re in charge. The decisions you make determine how the business is going to go.” This creates both tremendous opportunity and significant responsibility. “If it goes well, that’s great. That’s on you. If it’s not going well, maybe not so great, but it’s also on you.”
Communication Demands: Success requires accepting that “you have to be OK with getting calls on evenings and weekends.” This stems from two factors: general business ownership responsibilities and the event-focused nature of the industry. “Oftentimes people start in the event rental business where the weddings are on Friday evenings, Saturday afternoons, and you’re picking that up on Sunday.”
The Growth Payoff: Despite initial demands, proper attention to the business creates substantial rewards. “If you pay attention to this business, if you enjoy the sanitation industry, it will treat you very well.” The key is setting appropriate parameters and building systems that eventually reduce your direct involvement. “For those first few years especially, you’re going to be definitely on call a lot of the time and answering a lot of questions and troubleshooting.”
Long-Term Freedom: The challenging early years are an investment in future lifestyle freedom. “You’re able to set yourself up for huge success with lifestyle if you’re wanting to make sure that you are in charge of it, you’re setting the parameters around who can get in touch with you when.”
The Stahla Services Advantage
Understanding these industry realities helps explain why many organizations choose to work with established providers like Stahla Services rather than managing their own portable sanitation needs. Our ADA restroom trailers and comprehensive combo trailer rentals represent years of experience navigating exactly the challenges Erin discussed.
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.
Building Your Success Strategy
We are deeply grateful to Eric Dye and the Enterprise Radio team for providing this platform to share honest insights about our industry’s realities.
Erin’s closing perspective perfectly captures the balanced mindset required: “There are definitely pros and cons, but overall, we’ve decided it’s definitely worth it. We love the game of business and we love the lifestyle that it affords.”
Whether you’re exploring business ownership or simply need reliable portable sanitation solutions for your next project, understanding these foundational principles helps ensure success. If you’re ready to experience the Stahla Services difference without the complexities of business ownership, we’re here to provide expert guidance and premium equipment.
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Or give us a call directly at 844-900-3190. We’d love to discuss how our experience can serve your specific needs.