Part 1: Case Studies & Industry Research
- Greenrise Erosion Control Background: Started with residential straw mat and silt fence installs in Tennessee, Greenrise now services commercial and DOT jobs across multiple states.
Strategy: Early success came from approaching local builders with reliable, on-time installs and repairs.
Tactics: They focused on growing repeat business through fast turnaround times and being the “clean-up crew” after storms.
Lesson: Responsiveness \= recurring contracts. Builders hate dealing with inspectors giving fines for failed BMPs (Best Management Practices).
- Compliance First (North Carolina) Niche: Provides erosion control inspections and repair services. Known for same-day emergency fix crews.
Growth tactic: Scaled fast by becoming the default “guy” for project managers. Started with small builders, then grew to state contracts.
Lesson: One “free” fix \= a client for years.
- Southern Erosion & Sediment Control (Texas) Startup costs: Less than $7,000: used truck, 2,000 ft of silt fence, trenching machine, handheld compactor.
Pricing: Average $2.75–$4.00/linear foot of silt fence, plus mobilization and trip charges.
Expansion: Added hydroseeding, matting, and fence rental over time.
Part 2: Tactical Business Plan Business Concept A mobile, lean, recurring-service erosion control company that proactively inspects, installs, and repairs silt fences, straw wattle, and other standard sediment control measures on active construction sites.
- Target Market Small to mid-size residential builders
Commercial developers
General contractors
Excavation and grading subcontractors
- Services Offered Service Avg Revenue Frequency Silt Fence Installation $3–$4/linear ft Per lot or per site Fence Repair / Reinforcement $150–$300 Every major rain Straw Wattles + Stakes $35–$50/roll Initial install Builder Compliance Video Report $50–$75 Monthly Cleanup / Final Stabilization $500–$1,000+ Project end
- Sales Strategy (from the TikTok!) The Trojan Horse Playbook:
Drive/walk/bike around new neighborhoods under construction
Find broken or sagging erosion control
Fix a small section proactively (cost: \<$20)
Film the fix: “Hey, saw this washed out section. Didn’t want you to get a city fine. Patched it up. Let me know if you want full service.”
Outreach Script (SMS/Email):
“Hey Mike, I do erosion control in [City]. I was out by your build at [Subdivision] and saw your fence washed out. Patched it up, no charge. Video attached. Let me know if I can handle erosion for your sites going forward—quick turnaround, great pricing.”
- Startup Equipment List Item Cost Used pickup truck $5,000 2-man crew tools $500 Hand auger or trencher $1,200 2,000 ft of silt fence $1,600 Stakes + zip ties $300 Business cards + signs $100 Total ~$8,700
- Pricing Breakdown Silt Fence Install: $3.50/ft average
Wattle Install: $40/roll
Repair Visit Fee: $150 base + $3/ft fixed
Monthly Builder Retainer: $300–$500 for small builders \= guaranteed site checks
- Recurring Revenue Structure Option A: Per-job install billing
Option B: Monthly site management retainer (e.g., $500/month per subdivision \= walk/inspect/fix all erosion devices weekly)
Option C: Compliance package (photo documentation and city compliance submissions)
- Go-to-Market Plan (First 30 Days) Week 1–2:
Set up LLC, insurance, and vehicle
Buy 2,000 ft of silt fence and start scouting new neighborhoods
Week 3:
Film 3–5 proactive fix videos
Contact 10–15 builders personally
Post video content to Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn
Week 4:
Offer 1-month free erosion control inspection to new clients
Set goal to close first 2 monthly retainers @ $400–$600 each
- Financial Projections (Year 1) Revenue Source Monthly Est. Annual Est. Builder Retainers (4x) $2,000 $24,000 Per-Foot Install Projects $4,500 $54,000 One-Off Repair Calls $2,000 $24,000 Total Revenue $102,000 Expenses (Fuel, Labor, etc) ~$25,000 Net Profit (Yr 1) ~$77,000
- Risk Management Weather: Build in trip/cancellation fees for rainy days
City Requirements: Stay current on erosion BMPs and inspection codes
Labor: Train backup 1099 workers to handle overflow during growth
- Expansion Opportunities Hydroseeding
Landscaping stabilization
Street sweeping and trash pickup (add-on services for the builder)
Final Thought This business hits a perfect combo:
City-mandated \= recurring
Low barrier to entry \= fast start
Local, visible \= easy to sell
Hard, dirty, unsexy \= low competition