Grease Trap Pumping
The grosser the job, the lower the competition
Every restaurant and commercial kitchen in North America is legally required to have its grease traps pumped on a regular schedule — typically every 1-3 months. Grease trap pumping is mandated by municipal wastewater codes, creating near-zero churn once you land accounts. The disgust factor keeps competition low and margins high. A single truck servicing 100-200 restaurant accounts can clear $300K-$500K in revenue with minimal overhead beyond the pump truck.
Avg Revenue
$350K
Profit Margin
30%
Acquisition Multiple
2x - 3.5x
Startup Cost
$40K - $120K
Difficulty
2/5
How It Works
Restaurants and commercial kitchens hire you to pump, clean, and haul away grease trap waste on a recurring schedule. Service is billed per pump-out at $175-$800 per visit depending on trap size and frequency. You haul waste to an approved disposal facility or rendering plant. Many facilities will pay you for recovered grease (used in biodiesel). Routes of 150+ accounts generate predictable monthly revenue.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 562998 · All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | MN | $312K | $367K | 2 | — |
| Sep 2025 | AZ | $333K | $392K | 4 | — |
| Mar 2025 | FL | $619K | $728K | 6 | — |
| Oct 2024 | WI | $166K | $195K | 1 | — |
| Sep 2024 | IA | $4.5M | $5.3M | 13 | — |
| Jul 2024 | MI | $2.8M | $3.3M | 23 | — |
| May 2024 | CA | $215K | $253K | 3 | — |
| Dec 2023 | WY | $150K | $177K | 3 | — |
| Sep 2023 | CA | $1.8M | $2.1M | 1 | — |
| Sep 2023 | NY | $629K | $740K | 2 | — |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +Mandatory compliance — restaurants cannot legally skip service
- +Extremely high retention once accounts are on contract
- +Rendering plants often pay for recovered grease — double revenue stream
- +Low competition due to the nature of the work
Cons
- -Truck acquisition and disposal facility access are the main hurdles
- -Waste disposal regulations vary by municipality
- -Odor and mess — not for the faint of heart
Best For
Operators who want recession-proof route revenue and don't mind getting dirty
Operating Costs
Primary costs are truck payment/maintenance, fuel, disposal fees (or transportation to rendering), insurance, and one driver per truck. Margins of 30%+ are common after all costs once routes are established.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Find grease trap and environmental service businesses for sale
Browse grease hauling and wastewater route businesses
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- route
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Buy price
- $700K–$1.2M
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
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