I Like Boring Businesses—And You Should Too! – Top Entrepreneurs Podcast

Erin Stahla, Co-owner of Stahla Services, a nationwide provider of restroom, shower, and ADA trailer rentals again joins Enterprise Radio. Erin will discuss some advantages of being in a ‘boring’ business that people don’t realize.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Erin Stahla discuss the following:

(Host Eric Dye): What do you mean by “boring business”? Can you give some examples?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Yeah. Yeah, it’s kind of funny. So some people refer to service based businesses as boring. So I think laundry mats, car washes, even specialty trailer service based businesses, sanitation, roll off dumpsters, Porta potties. You know my husband and I are in the sanitation industry with specialty restroom, shower bunkhouses laundry trailers and so we get this a lot. We get the boring business mentality. And you know another way to refer to it is the non-sexy business that’s becoming a more popular term now. And funny enough the non-sexy or the boring business is actually becoming popular again. So it’s kind of a funny dynamic to where it’s a boring business, but it’s becoming popular. So definitely wanted to take a little bit of time to talk about it. A couple more examples would be auto repair, just waste management in general. Recycling, plumbing, HVAC services. Even vending machines. So this will be a fun topic.

(Host Eric Dye): How do you explain your business to people who don’t understand what you do—and do you even bother?

(Guest Erin Stahla): It kind of depends. I like to explain our business. So doing restroom and shower trailers, mostly with restroom trailers. I just describe it as hey, it’s like your home bathroom, but on wheels or it’s an RV bathroom, but at a hotel level and that really helps people understand quickly. So I think that’s something that can really help a boring business employee or owner. If you just come up with a phrase that really describes your business quickly to just a normal person or a family member. It’s kind of like your elevator pitch, but much quicker. So that, hey, in a word or a phrase, how does somebody very quickly understand what you do and why you do it? So that’s a little bit of on that and I think I do bother to explain it to people. So it really does depend on what their interest level is after hearing what you do. But I think as many people come to find out with a boring business, there’s a lot of interest in that. So just saying that we’re in the sanitation industry or within restroom trailers, people have a lot of follow up questions and they’re curious. So it’s a great educational moment to really talk through the the foundation of your business, the product or service that you’re providing, helping people to understand, you know what your team does every single day and what it is that you think about on a consistent basis. So I say go forward if people are asking you questions about it. Just keep diving in ’cause that really helps bring awareness and understanding to boring businesses, and I think people come to find that it’s kind of a pleasant surprise. It’s not so boring after all.

(Host Eric Dye): What’s one thing people completely misunderstand about boring businesses?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Yeah, I think they had quite boring business to a business that doesn’t make money and it’s quite the opposite. So, especially within boring businesses today, people are becoming more fascinated with them. So just taking into account our restroom trailer business, you don’t really think about needing facilities at a party or a wedding that’s out on an acreage or a large corporate event or commercial remodel. You don’t think of that until you’re in the moment and realizing that, hey, we actually need restrooms about every place that we go. So that’s definitely something that’s misunderstood, is that a boring business isn’t often necessary, but it’s the opposite there as well. So boring businesses are typically necessary. So we need the laundry mats. We need the, you know, the HVAC and plumbing services. We need car washes. So I think another kind of misunderstood piece of a boring business is that the blue collar industry is where some of the most incredible down to earth people are. That’s kind of what they desire to be in, is in the boring business. So, yeah, blue collar people are awesome. They’re so humble and fun to work with and they just really want to get into a business and understand it and figure out how to provide value for the customers.

(Host Eric Dye): What advice would you give someone who’s embarrassed that their business isn’t ‘cool’ enough?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Yeah. I think some people get kind of caught up in this idea that if you’re going to start a business or be in a business, you want to be in something more flashy, like marketing or even architecture or something where when you say it, people really understand what it is quickly and have a have a lot of admiration and understanding for it. But oftentimes that really just isn’t true in a service based business or in the non-sexy, you know businesses so I would just ask, you know, if you’re embarrassed to share it with somebody – who are you looking to for your value or for your for affirmation? Like is it really that person that you’re wanting to get affirmation from? Is that is that really worth your time? I think it’s really worth taking an inside view and just really trying to evaluate, does it matter what this person thinks of me? Does it matter if I work in a certain industry over another? In 20 years, will it be such a big deal? Those sorts of questions? And if it really does bother you, the type of industry you’re working in, if it’s service based, HVAC, plumbing, some of the more quote, un-quote humble industries, I would say, yeah, maybe just do an internal audit real quick on you know, what would it take for me to begin to not care what other people think about me. What would it take for other people to start to understand the type of industry that I am in? To come to see the value in it. So those are some I guess just internal work that I’ve even asked myself. Some of those questions before of does it really matter what this person thinks? Is this a good opportunity to just demonstrate humility? Is it a good opportunity to demonstrate and talk through some understanding about the business to educate and yeah, well, will it matter tomorrow?

(Host Eric Dye): What are some advantages of being in a ‘boring’ business that people don’t realize?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Well, for us being in the restroom trailer and shower trailer industry, we have bathrooms wherever we go, right? So that’s just one silly example. But another thing that people don’t realize within the boring business is that it really is a place where you can network quickly with like minded people. There are a lot of benefits to being in the service based industries because you’re pretty much typically just either serving directly the customer or a business, and either way, each of those demographics or people that are usually very grateful for what you’re offering and so you can really make a lot of connections that way as well. So I think the customer base in the boring businesses is very fun. Honestly, to be able to curate those friendships, sometimes even that, arise out of it because it’s just very grateful. Grateful customer base that you develop.

Tune into our ALL ABOUT Stahla Services Podcast Series – right here.

About Grant & Erin Stahla

Grant and Erin Stahla are entrepreneurs passionate about redefining portable sanitation and creating a business that reflects their values—care for people, excellence in service, and faith-driven leadership.

Their journey began with a shared passion for business, which became the foundation of their relationship. While most couples start with small talk, Grant and Erin’s first date was spent discussing sales, marketing, and operations. Grant launched Stahla Services right out of college, and Erin joined him in the business after they got married. Together, they’ve built a company that not only delivers exceptional service but also prioritizes strong relationships—with customers, employees, and the community.

Beyond their work, Grant and Erin are committed to personal growth, mentoring young entrepreneurs, and giving back through their support of Love Justice International, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing human trafficking. Their business is an extension of their mission to serve others while fostering a life centered on faith, family, and integrity.

About Stahla Services

At Stahla Services, we believe restrooms should be more than just a necessity. That’s why we provide restroom and shower trailer rentals that offer a clean, comfortable, and premium experience for event guests, construction crews, and businesses alike.

Unlike standard porta-potties, our facilities feel more like high-end hotel restrooms, featuring:

✅ Climate control for comfort in any season
✅ Fresh running water and modern fixtures
✅ Spacious, spotless interiors with fully stocked supplies

Whether you are hosting a wedding, managing a construction site, or organizing a corporate event, we deliver reliable service with a commitment to excellence. Our team ensures that your restroom experience is seamless, from setup to pickup, so you can focus on what matters most.

Beyond business, we’re driven by a purpose—to do things the right way, give back to those in need, and create opportunities for growth. With every rental, a portion of our profits supports Love Justice International in their fight against human trafficking.

At Stahla Services, we’re more than just a restroom rental company—we’re a team dedicated to providing comfort, reliability, and care in every interaction.