How to Start a Grease Removal Business

A grease removal business maintains their clients’ grease traps so the drainage system doesn’t interfere with the wastewater of the community. When grease hardens inside a trap, it can either cause a blockage of the water system or lead to the contamination of local bodies of water where wastewater flows.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a grease removal business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Grease Removal Business
  2. Form your Grease Removal Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Grease Removal Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Grease Removal Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Grease Removal Business
  7. Get Grease Removal Business Insurance
  8. Define your Grease Removal Business Brand
  9. Create your Grease Removal Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your grease removal business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Grease Removal Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a grease removal business?

The price of direct materials to open the business is remarkably low. Supplies such as a putty knife, gloves, and scooper will cost less than $100. However, owners also need to factor in the cost of marketing and commercial insurance. The drainage system can be significantly impacted if the grease remover makes a mistake, so they’ll need liability insurance to ensure they don’t have to pay for damages out-of-pocket.

What are the ongoing expenses for a grease removal business?

Liability insurance, permit renewal fees, and tool maintenance are the biggest costs for a grease removal businesses. Certain factors, such as liability insurance, are heavily dependent on the neighborhood a business owner operates out of. However, these expenses are generally fairly low in most areas.

Who is the target market?

Most grease removal businesses target restaurants or other food-service establishments (e.g., nursing homes, etc.) who need their grease traps cleaned on a regular basis. High-volume restaurants may need their traps cleaned out at least once a month, which can provide a lucrative target market for a removal business.

How does a grease removal business make money?

Grease removal businesses make money buy cleaning out the grease hoods at restaurants and other food service establishments

How much can you charge customers?

Grease trap removal is a special skill, which means you can charge anywhere from $75 to $150 for a single job. Check rates in your area to learn more about what the expectations are for business owners who pay for grease removal so you can set competitive rates.

How much profit can a grease removal business make?

Because the cost of business is so low, a successful grease removal business can make plenty of profits. Just completing two jobs a day at $150 will add up to $78,000 a year minus direct expenses.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Owners can consider offering general handyman services for restaurants once they get their primary business off the ground. Most grease removal owners are good with their hands and they have an opportunity to really learn about different types of restaurant equipment when going from business to business. They can use this knowledge to their advantage by offering additional services and maintenance for dishwashers, plumbing systems, etc.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your grease removal business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your grease removal business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a grease removal business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Services Contract

Grease removal businesses should consider requiring clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and so on.

Labor Safety Requirements

Working in the grease removal industry means you will be working with tools and chemicals that could be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Therefore, you should make sure your business follows all labor safety requirments which can be found here

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Grease Removal Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Grease Removal Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a grease removal business

Because it’s such a local service, business owners are encouraged to make local relationships. The more people see your face and see your dedication, the more they’ll begin to trust you. You can also try online ads if you feel a neighborhood is severely underserved. However, the demand in your area may not be enough to justify the expense.

How to keep customers coming back

Customers are going to want to see a clean drain each and every time. They’re going to want a grease removal owner to show up on time and quickly do your job with as little disruption as possible to daily business. Grease removal owners should be courteous, efficient, and professional at all times.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is excellent for those who are good with their hands and don’t mind getting them a little dirty. Grease removal isn’t glamorous, but it’s necessary to avoid major disaster and to stay compliant with local water safety laws.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a grease removal business?

Most days will be spent on the road, traveling from business to business to perform the actual grease removal. There will also need to be time devoted to marketing and invoicing clients.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful grease removal business?

People should have some type of experience working with grease traps in the past. They should be familiar with the kinds of traps used for both large- and small-scale operations. Owners should also understand the regulations that dictate what type of grease trap is appropriate for each type of operation, and have a basic system of keeping tabs on who owes what.

What is the growth potential for a grease removal business?

It may be difficult to get a foothold in grease removal if there’s already a lot of competition in the area. However, there is always potential for someone who finds an angle that isn’t being served. For example, if an owner can offer their services for a much lower price, or if they can quickly adapt to a wide variety of grease traps. Clients often don’t realize how important their grease traps are, so educating them about the consequences is a smart way to boost the growth potential of the business.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a grease removal business?

The best place to start with a grease removal business is to first learn the exact details of grease removal rules and recommendations in your area. From fines to shut-downs, failing to comply with local laws can really land a business in hot water. For example, communities may choose their department of water to check up on food-service establishments who have grease traps. In-ground outside grease traps may need to be cleared out when as little as ¼ of the trap becomes full of solids or grease (or at least once every three months.)

Chances are the restaurants you’re visiting will have their own means of grease removal, so your job is to convince them why they should choose you. This usually means going from door-to-door to meet business owners and to leave them with a business card or short pamphlet that tells them what you do. Ask them how they’re currently removing their grease, and if they’re aware of how quickly grease can build up. Make them aware of how you can take over the practical details of grease removal — including documentation, maintenance, and direct cleaning. Your efforts ultimately ensure their businesses don’t end up with a non-compliance notice or a fine from the enforcers of the law.

If food service establishments are having their employees complete the job, chances are it’s not being completed accurately (thus risking the drainage or wastewater system.) A clog can not only cost thousands of dollars worth of water damage, it can also have a significant impact on the restaurant’s direct business. If the clog interferes with the service and general operation of the restaurant, the reputation loss can be significant. You should also have a way of clear means of charging for your services (most will go by the job as opposed to by the hour) as well as a clear method of invoicing your clients. This can save billing nightmares and tax headaches down the line.

How and when to build a team

Most people begin this business as a means of making extra money as opposed to assembling a full squad of employees. You can consider hiring qualified handyman to help only when you’ve built up a sufficient clientele.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading