Why This Septic Company Pays $397/Month for Reminders (and Makes $15K Extra)

The Invisible Goldmine

Dave has owned A-1 Septic Services in rural Ontario for 18 years. He's got 2,400 customers in his database—homeowners who've paid for pump-outs, inspections, and repairs over the years.

Here's the problem: most of them forgot about him.

Septic tanks need pumping every 3-5 years. But who's keeping track? Not the homeowners. They remember when sewage backs up into their basement. By then, it's an emergency (and often a costly repair that could have been prevented).

"I had customers call me in a panic because their tank overflowed. I'd look them up in my system and see we pumped their tank 4 years ago. They had no idea it had been that long. And I had no way of reminding them."

The Brutal Math

Dave's average pump-out is $425. His database has 2,400 past customers.

If each customer needs service every 4 years on average, that's 600 pump-outs per year that should be happening from his existing customer base.

600 × $425 = $255,000 in recurring revenue just from past customers.

But Dave was only booking about 200-250 pump-outs per year from existing customers. The rest?

• Forgot about him and called a competitor
• Never thought about septic maintenance until there was a problem
• Sold their house and the new owners didn't know about his company

Dave was leaving $150,000+ per year on the table.

The "Set It and Forget It" Myth

Dave tried manual reminders once. He paid his office assistant to:

• Pull a list of customers due for pumping (3-4 years since last service)
• Call them one by one
• Leave voicemails when they didn't answer
• Follow up with the ones who said "maybe later"

She spent 3 full days making calls. Results:

• 87 calls made
• 12 people answered
• 3 appointments booked
• Cost: $450 in wages for 3 days of work

ROI: Negative. Dave gave up on manual reminders.

The Automated Solution

We built Dave an automated reminder system that does what his assistant couldn't—at scale, consistently, without getting tired or quitting.

How It Works

Every month, the system automatically:

1. Identifies customers who haven't been serviced in 3+ years
2. Sends a friendly SMS reminder: "Hi [Name], it's been 3 years since A-1 Septic pumped your tank. Prevent costly backups—book now: [link]"
3. If no response in 5 days, sends a follow-up with a seasonal angle (spring cleaning, pre-winter prep, etc.)
4. If still no response in 10 days, sends a final "last chance" message
5. Customers can book directly via the link, which opens a booking calendar

The whole thing runs automatically. Dave doesn't have to think about it.

The Results: From Forgotten to Fully Booked

After 6 months of automated reminders:

📊 35% Response Rate

Unlike phone calls that go to voicemail, 35% of SMS reminders get a response (booking, reply asking questions, or "not yet").

📈 25+ Pump-outs Per Month from Reminders

Dave went from 200-250 annual pump-outs from existing customers to 300+ from reminders alone.

💰 $15,000+ Additional Monthly Revenue

At $425 per pump-out and 35+ additional bookings per month: that's $14,875 in "found money" from past customers who would have forgotten about him.

⏱️ Zero Time Investment

Unlike the manual attempt that cost $450 and 3 days for 3 bookings, the automated system runs 24/7 with no human intervention.

The Unexpected Benefits

Dave discovered some side benefits he didn't expect:

1. Predictable Scheduling

Instead of frantic emergency calls that disrupt his schedule, Dave now books 3-4 routine pump-outs per day. His trucks are always busy, and he can plan routes efficiently.

2. Fewer Emergency Calls

Proactive maintenance means fewer "my basement is flooding" emergency calls. Customers who respond to reminders rarely have catastrophic failures.

3. Referrals From Happy Customers

When customers book routine service, they're happy. Happy customers tell neighbors. Dave's referral rate increased 40% because customers now associate his company with "easy, proactive service" rather than "emergency crisis response."

The Numbers That Matter

Let's talk about Dave's ROI:

• Automated reminder system cost: $147/month
• Additional revenue generated: $15,000+/month
• ROI: 10,000%+

But here's the kicker—Dave told us he would have paid 10x more and still been thrilled with the results. Why? Because he'd tried everything else and nothing worked.

"I was skeptical about automated texts. I thought people would be annoyed. But the response has been incredible. Customers thank me for reminding them. One lady said she had no idea it had been 4 years and was so glad I reached out before she had a problem. This system pays for itself in the first day of every month."

Could This Work for Your Business?

Automated follow-ups aren't just for septic companies. Any service business with repeat customers can use this:

• HVAC: Annual maintenance reminders, filter change alerts
• Plumbers: Water heater flush reminders, annual inspections
• Mobile Mechanics: Oil change reminders, seasonal maintenance
• Locksmiths: Security check reminders, re-keying for new homeowners

The question is: How much money are you leaving on the table from past customers who've simply forgotten about you?