How to Start a Restaurant Drain Cleaning Business
Restaurants notoriously toss leftover produce, meat and other bits of food into the garbage disposal at the end of the night. If too much food gets lodged in the pipes, the restaurant sometimes relies on the assistance of a drain cleaning business. Starting such a company mandates purchasing cleaning products and equipment, and developing restaurant contacts.
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Things You'll Need
- Drain cleaner
- Drain cleaning machinery
- Vehicle
- Staff
- Promotional material
Instructions
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Incorporate and register your business. The specific requirements vary by state, but the U.S. Small Business Administration lists generic steps of the process, which include obtaining a license and permit, registering a "Doing Business As" name, obtaining a federal tax ID number and registering with the state revenue agency.
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Buy industrial-grade drain cleaning supplies. In "Plumber's Field Manual," R. Dodge Wilson explains how powder and liquid-based cleaners sold in grocery stores rarely unclog significant pipe clogs. Because drain problems in restaurants are typically food-related, skip buying cleaners intended to dissolve minor clogs from hair and small buildup.
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Buy a drain cleaning machine. Expect to spend most of your startup budget on a machine capable of unplugging clogs. If capital permits, buy a machine with a centrifugal compressor and a portable camera at the end of the hose.
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Purchase a vehicle capable of hauling you and the equipment to the job site; in most instances, a truck suffices. If you use your own vehicle, keep track of mileage and repairs for the purpose of year-end tax deductions.
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Hire staff members. Select candidates with prior plumbing experience, or people who have worked with waste and sewage in prior jobs. Such workers are less inclined to quit on account of the unhygienic working conditions.
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Develop a relationship with restaurants in the area. Offer refrigerator magnets with your business information that can easily be displayed on kitchen refrigerators and other appliances near the drains. Give discounts to first-time visits as a way to build a client base. Additionally, offer your services late at night; because most restaurant kitchens close as late as two in the morning, having your services available during such hours may boost business.
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Tips & Warnings
Gain experience working for a drain cleaning business as a way to learn the business and pricing structure. Ron Condit, author of the book, "Start Your Business with Little Money," explains that spending just a few months working for drain cleaners provides insight into which chemicals to use and how to operate fickle machinery.
Issue a safety training course to all new staff members, teaching them to handle machinery and chemicals. Buy liability insurance to safeguard the business from any damage that could arise from misuse of the equipment or cleaning supplies.
References
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