Scaling a Specialty Trailer Business with Erin Stahla – Top Entrepreneurs Podcast

Erin Stahla, Co-owner of Stahla Services, a nationwide provider of restroom, shower, and ADA trailer rentals joins Enterprise Radio. Erin will discuss some important factors to implement in scaling a specialty trailer business.

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

(Host Eric Dye): What has been the biggest hurdle you faced when scaling your trailer operations, and how did you overcome it?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Yeah, yeah, great question. It’s always difficult to kind of identify the different hurdles that you’re going to face before you really face them, but I think for me, the biggest hurdle with Stahla Services was coming into a business that was already established, but then being the owner. So was my husband, and I met, he had established the business, founded it out of college and so then I was coming into a business that he had owned and ran, let’s see; it was about eight or nine years, so it’s very established. And then I wasn’t coming in, just as you know, as a director or an employee, but initially as the owner right away. So I think that was a huge challenge just learning how to lead people from the beginning and not really start in an employee role and then work my way up as I was accustomed to. So I think that was definitely a challenge, but it was something that I really grew. And I would have a lot of things that I would do differently going back, but I think that was just such a big hurdle that became an opportunity and something that I’ve gained so many lessons from. Now just looking back over that experience. So that was my biggest hurdle anyway.

(Host Eric Dye): What operating system or process made the biggest impact as you grew beyond just a few trailers?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Yeah. I think for us it was implementing. I don’t know if anyone’s heard of entrepreneurial operating system or EOS. It’s a pretty widely known operating system and it really did help us continue to grow internally. So I think a lot of times we can get very interested or very caught up in how to expand the business externally. You know what our customers saying? What do we need to do to improve on that front? Very important, but I think it really starts from the inside out. So that was such a big thing for us, is making sure that we had an operating system that our team could follow that great night could implement and really work off of. And that operating system provided us things and still does today, things like an accountability chart. How do you make sure that everyone has a seat and a job description that they understand? Do you know clearly who you report to? Who’s your team members? What they do for the company, so even something as simple as that where you think, OK, yeah, all companies have that. Well, not necessarily. So that’s something that really helps with meeting rhythms. When do you need to meet as a leadership team? When do you need to meet as a whole team? What’s your operations team? You know, meeting cadence and helps you think through is the communication flowing well throughout our company. It also helps really establish, you know, what are some of the issues that we face in our company and how do we really smoke those out each day. To make sure that we bring those to a solution, make sure that we don’t get hung up in those areas ever again. So it really helps move the business forward in a way that wouldn’t happen unless you really identified a structured process that was going on internally, so I think that that’s been one of the biggest impacts and we’ve been running on it for years. Bringing in a Coach, that really has helped us level up as well through that operating system. Somebody to see it from a bird’s eye view. Third party is very, very helpful I think and most people would agree that you know, you can really get caught up in your own, in the weeds in the details. So having a coach is helpful.

(Host Eric Dye): What’s one thing you wish you had invested in earlier—whether it was marketing, equipment, or people—that would have sped up your growth?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Isn’t that the million dollar question? For me, looking back, we would have invested much sooner in a sales team, a dedicated sales team. So before we kind of had accounts in sales working together, they still work very much hand in hand. But really splitting those off to who is a dedicated sales Rep, who is dedicated head of sales role and making sure that they’re fully supported and can go out and just do their job. I think that it was overlooked on our part and hopefully I can say some people this mistake, you start thinking, oh, we don’t really need a salesperson because we have marketing or we don’t need sales people because we’re all salespeople in the business, right? That’s the kind of the idea behind it. While all of those things are true, having that next level of sales, the person that wakes up thinking about it, the team that just you know, they’re they’re looking to achieve their next sales goal is so much different than splitting that role into two. Or, you know, having somebody who’s in operations who’s also trying to sell on each job, it just gets difficult. So for us that would have saved, I think a lot of heartache. Honestly, if we would have just identified that as a bottleneck sooner and really gone out and find that right sales team fit.

(Host Eric Dye): What’s one mistake you often see new trailer business owners make when they’re trying to grow?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Oh man, if I had to choose just one, and I’m saying this with all sorts of love because we made so many mistakes and I’m and we’re currently making mistakes that we’ll look back and, you know, even a few months and realize that they were mistakes but the thing is, is how do you speed up that time from realizing you made a mistake to moving past it, moving through it and finding a solve? So I think that’s one mistake that we often make in that we’re working on getting better at closing that time gap between perceived mistake, closing the gap, understanding if it is or not, and then moving on towards the solve and moving through it. So just the timetable at which you move through a mistake is one thing that I think everyone could benefit from. Just speed, you know, speed to moving through the mistake. And then I often see people making I want to mistake is kind of harsh, but people just think that they can do everything. And I’ve been in this trap before. Where you think if you work harder at 1 thing that’ll make you more money or it will improve your team or it will XYZ where you think your time applied equals a better outcome. Sometimes that’s true. But you also have to make sure you’re working on the right thing. Are you prioritizing? Are you going after the biggest bottlenecks in the business that you possibly can? Are you making sure that you give the other problems to different team members to go solve, making sure that it doesn’t just hinge on one person? To really close the gap between time of mistake to time of solve. So yeah, just an encouragement to everyone out there who is in that boat of trying to do everything, just trying to make a list. I think even of priorities. If I were to solve these top 10 things, what would what would be different through them? Is there anything any one of these things that somebody on the team could help me accomplish so that I don’t have to think about this right now? So yeah, just making a priorities list is often helpful. But yeah, just know you can’t do everything. And that’s what a team is for.

(Host Eric Dye): If you could give just one piece of advice to someone managing a growing team and business for the first time, what would it be?

(Guest Erin Stahla): Everything takes time. It really does. And that’s not saying to slow things down or delay decision making. Absolutely not. We want to make sure that we’re making decisions speedily, were closing time gaps, all of that, but just realizing that good businesses, strong businesses with great foundations, they aren’t built in a year, two years, three years. They’re built over a period of time on compounding. Decisions that were good decisions. So if you’re getting frustrated, if you’re really in it and you’re trying to scale your business quicker and it man, it’s just not happening. Just know that it’s one of those that’s death by 1000 cuts. It’s 1000, bb’s. It’s not 1 golden bullet. So just keep doing what you’re doing, making sure that you’re making the biggest decisions for the company that you possibly can, and then just know that it’s going to compound and you’ll look back one day and realize it was going quickly. But man, in the moment, it sure does feel like a long time, but settle in and stay consistent.

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.