 
Royal Restrooms”™ upscale portable toilets should make a visit to the throne away from home a more commodious experience than that offered inside the standard construction-site variety.
Some even have showers.
“They”™re executive restroom trailers,” said Mark Foster, franchise owner of Royal Restrooms in Fairfield.
“There are a lot of port-o-potty companies and septic companies, but there are not many things that are like this: nicer and still portable.”
According to Foster, each trailer ”“ they come in a variety of sizes ”“ has air conditioning, heat, running water, flushing toilets and lights on the interior and exterior.
“We get a lot of weddings and corporate events,” said Foster. “We”™ve been up and running here in Fairfield for three years. We do Westchester, Long Island, the Hamptons and down to the Jersey Shore.”
Royal Restrooms, the parent company, is based in Georgia.
Foster, a former minor league baseball player, saw a chance to expand the market in Fairfield County and the areas surrounding New York City.
“I opened up this office here in Fairfield because I thought it was a smart niche,” said Foster. “I don”™t think you need to have the most brilliant idea but you should do what nobody else is doing.
Foster started the Fairfield operation with two trailers and now has ten.
“Last year we grew 130 percent,” said Foster. “This year we expect to grow another 50 percent.”
Foster said the business, which parallels the event business has had its own scenario in the current economy.
“There”™s two pieces to us and our market,” said Foster. “Part of our market are the people who maybe used to buy from someone else but our real market is the people who are getting a port-o- potty today but haven”™t realize that there”™s something else out there.”
Foster said that often the impression is that it”™s either a cramped portable potty or a long trek to a restroom and Royal Restrooms”™ advantage is that the company offers a worthy compromise.
“Even in the down economy, we can still achieve that market awareness,” said Foster. “It”™s incredible how many people don”™t know that this options out there. Many times we hear, ”˜This is nicer than my house.”™”
Foster said that though most rentals are for weekend use, long-term placements are not uncommon.
“We also do Lowes and Home Depots when they”™re doing some remodeling their bathrooms,” said Foster. “We have some units with showers in them, so that caters to a different, longer-term need.”
Foster said he has even rented an 11 stall unit to the Marina Café in Staten Island allowing the establishment to supplement their increased summer customer base.
“Our California office is currently the biggest franchise and I think we have an opportunity to do that too,” said Foster. “I could see having some satellite offices from our location in the Hamptons or down on the Jersey Shore.”
Foster currently has two full time employees as well as five drivers.
Foster said to expand further, community involvement and reach out is the most important to the services”™ awareness and market.
“We”™ve been growing to this point basically from quote requests from the internet,” said Foster.
According to Foster in Fairfield County there are four major standard portable potty businesses.
“They really make their money on volume,” said Foster. “There”™s really nobody who has what we have around here. Our guys make these things immaculate. In this area, we get a lot of positive feedback from families and kids.”
Foster said that the problematic potty trip for children is another advantage for the Royal Restroom customers.
“When you start bringing kids to a festival or to an event restroom, (restroom) trips can be a real ordeal,” said Foster.
Foster seeks relationships with tent companies, catering companies and wedding coordinators.
Foster said that Royal Restrooms franchising has helped to keep the travel costs low.
“Our prices are around $1,500 for a weekend,” said Foster. “It”™s more than a port-o-potty, which is about $300 to $400 each, but it”™s certainly not outrageous.”
Foster said the business is to some extent seasonal.
“Because they are fully heated we are able to help those businesses that need a trailer for their employees as well as the remodeling business though we do lose a lot of the event business,” said Foster.
Foster said they have even allowed southern offices like Georgia and Florida, who do a lot of hurricane work to have some of their trailers for the coldest winter months.
