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
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.
Where to Buy
Find grease trap and environmental service businesses for sale
Browse grease hauling and wastewater route businesses
Quick Facts
- Category
- route
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Acquisition Price
- $700K - $1.2M
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Grease Trap Pumping
$350K/yr • 30% margins • 2x–3.5x multiple
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