Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1155755
W EEKLY EDITION AUGUST 14, 2019 Tips for Making Money in the Portable Sanitation and Rental Business By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Director 6. Keep a missed rentals list . Every time a customer wants something you don't offer, log it. Once an item or service has been requested a few times, plan to purchase a fe w of those items and add them to your rental inventory. Those few may be enough to keep your customers happy – or you may find that the item is easy to sell and decide to add a whole business line. Equipment Delivery and Return Tips 1. Update your transportation or delivery fees . This fee is going to be the most effective and fair if it is based both on the distance involved and the type of job involved. Driving a "onesie" 40 miles for someone's birthday party is expensive. So is accommodating a ver y tight customer window for delivery or pick up. Create a fee schedule based on a per - mile (or kilometer) measure, and make your most affordable rates those that allow you a large window of time. If the customer can only accommodate a narrow window of tim e, add an upcharge , and have your driver call ahead to ensure the customer is ready . If you're not currently charging a fee for transportation and delivery, think about how to implement one. 2. Do pre - and post - trip inspections of equipment . Inspections may seem like a no - brainer, but letting the obvious slide can cost you money. Whenever possible , have your customer do a "walk - around" with you when the equipment is delivered. You can do this using a carbonless form like those you get when you rent a car, or something electronic like an iPad. Either way, record (and photograph if possible) the condition of the equipment at delivery and have the customer sign off. Do the same when you pick up and charge for damage in excess of normal wear and tear. If the cust omer isn't available, take date/time stamped pictures. You may want to have a specific fee schedule for broken seats, interior hardware, and graffiti. 3. Use "instruction" sheets . Portable sanitation equipment may seem pretty basic to some people, but you k now all the questions you get from customers. To reduce headaches for everyone and increase the chances of a successful rental, make sure your drivers leave an instruction sheet with the responsible party at the time of delivery and set up. The sheet sho uld cover basics about how to use your equipment safely, answers to frequently asked questions, and cover "what ifs" like how to handle running out of toilet paper or needing to reach your firm in an emergency. It doesn't hurt to include a short list of fu n facts like how many uses they can expect a portable unit to handle and equipment upgrades they might want to consider. Educating your customer this way can increase rental success, provide upselling opportunities, and reduce the number of times you have to respond to routine inquiries. P AGE 9 CONTINUED ON PAGE 1 0