Daniel Tom is a 31-year-old entrepreneur who runs Bay Area Sanitation, managing nearly 2,000 portable toilets distributed across events and construction sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The company handles rentals, maintenance, weekly cleanings, restocking supplies, and waste removal, operating with a fleet of 12 trucks.
Tom acknowledged to CNBC Make It that his line of work often triggers an initial negative reaction. When he mentions his business, many people respond with disgust. However, their perception tends to change once they learn about the business model and its revenue.
Bay Area Sanitation launched in 2023 with a single truck and 100 units, and it became profitable in its first year. Since then, the company has grown steadily.
In 2024, it generated more than $3 million in revenue, and in 2025, that figure rose to $4.3 million. Most of its income comes from long-term rentals, with monthly rates starting at 160 dollars, while services for one-time events typically range between 239 and 399 dollars.
A stable business
Tom points out the irony of building his company near some of the world’s largest technology firms. Amid growing concerns about artificial intelligence, he believes his work fulfills an unavoidable human need and describes his model as a “low-tech, , AI-proof business.”
Tom entered the industry while attending college, working part-time for a portable toilet company. After seven years as a sales manager, he decided to start his own business.
He currently employs 19 people, with labor costs accounting for about 30 percent of revenue. Although his annual salary is around $120,000, he says he reinvests most of the profits to fuel growth, aiming to reach 5,000 units and $10 million in annual revenue within the next five years.
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