Survival Tips: Navigating Small-Business Ups And Downs

For three generations, Rhode Island Septic Services has utilized vastly improving onsite technology to provide customers with more efficient pumping and repair work.
Survival Tips: Navigating Small-Business Ups And Downs
Mike Sliney is shown with a 2014 Kenworth vacuum truck in front of the Rhode Island Septic Services office in Exeter, Rhode Island. (Photos by Sean D. Elliot)

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Family-owned Rhode Island Septic Services (RISS) has seen three generations of boom and bust economic cycles since the company was founded in 1954. Owner and president Mike Sliney is weathering tough economic times in the state by diversifying his business into related construction services and the transportation and disposal of municipal sludge, and exploring new avenues for advertising, including radio.

RISS is located in Exeter, about 25 miles south of Providence and a stone’s throw west of Narragansett Bay. The company offers septic service all over Rhode Island and parts of Connecticut. It also offers septic system design and installation, large and small excavation services and construction work.

The company was established as Rhode Island Cesspool Cleaners Inc. by Sliney’s grandfather, Francis. “They built the classic cesspool, which involved excavating a hole, loading a dump truck with field stone and having a stoneworker line the pit with stone,” recalls Sliney. “They soon moved into more modern septic systems.”

A FAMILY BUSINESS

Mike Sliney’s father, John, and uncle, Steve, had worked for the company since they’d been teens, eventually taking over. Mike and his brother, John, followed suit, buying out their uncle in the early 1990s and taking over entirely when John Sr. passed away in 1995.

“My father used to operate a backhoe, and at one point we tried to convince him to purchase an excavator,” says Sliney. “We couldn’t blame him for turning down our idea. He had retirement on his mind and didn’t want to invest that money. But once my brother and I were running the show, we moved into related construction services, such as land clearing and digging foundations.”

Sliney bought out the company five years ago. However, he and his brother jointly own a trucking business, J & M Transfer, operated by John. The company specializes in hauling sludge in near-solid form from municipal sewer plants throughout the state and into Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire for disposal.

Both companies are located on 3.5 acres featuring a 6,000-square-foot building offering combined garage and office space. RISS employs nine people full time, including Sliney and his wife, Cathy. J & M employs six. A full-time mechanic performs double duty for both companies.

RISS relies on three septic service vacuum trucks: a 2000 Kenworth tractor pulling a 1983 Holland Trailer with a 7,000-gallon carbon steel tank and Prevac pump; a 2009 Peterbilt with a 4,000-gallon aluminum tank and Jurop/Chandler pump; and a 2014 Kenworth with a 4,600-gallon carbon steel tank and Jurop/Chandler pump.

J & M operates six trucks – five Macks and an International – outfitted with unbranded 9,000-gallon aluminum tanks bought secondhand and customized for the company’s specific use.

Sliney’s equipment strategy is to keep the fleet updated to promote better reliability. “We have some older trucks in the fleet, so adding a new one will make it easier on our mechanic and make scheduling a little less like a rat race,” he says.

STILL SEES CESSPOOLS

Servicing, repairing and upgrading septic systems, both residential and commercial, provide the bulk of the company’s work. Septic systems remain common in the state. Despite a state-imposed phase-out of traditional cesspools begun in 2007, many remain legal.

Despite the lingering use of cesspools, Sliney says today’s systems are being engineered far better than in the past. The components and technologies available to installers do a good job of treating waste and preventing sediments from reaching the drainfield. The advances are great for the installing industry and the customer, he says.

“Compared to 30 years ago, systems are much better designed today,” Sliney says. “Soil scientists determine high water tables. Two-compartment septic tanks and filters ensure cleaner effluent. Watertight lids prevent infiltration, and use of lids and risers bring access to the ground level and promote better tank maintenance.”

Sliney holds a Class I Designer’s License with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which authorizes him to design repairs or improvements to existing onsite wastewater treatment systems with a flow of less than or equal to 900 gpd. However, it doesn’t allow him to design systems for new construction.

“You’ve not only got to earn education credits needed to design for repair systems, you also need to maintain that classification with additional annual education credits,” says Sliney.

“I can handle the eight annual educational credits required to maintain my Class I, but anything higher is too time-consuming to make business sense for us. We’re already way too busy on repairs and building systems for clients according to designs we’re given.”

CONSTRUCTION WORK

Sliney’s construction business complements his septic work for new building projects. Crews already on the work site to install a septic system can also clear lots, dig foundations and complete most construction-related site work, including installing drain, water and electrical service lines. Owning the equipment also allows him to bid on installing larger commercial septic systems.

The company’s construction garage houses three excavators, a 1997 Kobelco SK200, a 2007 Hitachi Zaxis 135 and a 2012 Takeuchi mini; a 1998 Komatsu D31 dozer; a 2003 John Deere 310 backhoe; a 2008 Volvo L-70E front-end loader; and a 2003 10-wheel MAC dump trailer.

RISS also cleans grease traps, largely for fast-food chains in the area. Again, RISS crews are often required to perform additional work to satisfy local regulations. “In some towns we have to do paperwork each time we do a job, so the restaurants can prove to the town that they’re keeping up with maintenance,” says Sliney.

Winter is the toughest season for the business, cutting into both septic and construction work. “When the ground freezes and the snow piles up it doesn’t make a lot of sense to keep going on some of the work,” says Sliney. “Sometimes we need to cut back the crew between Christmas and into February.”

MORE BUSINESS CHALLENGES

Like most service businesses, word-of-mouth is Sliney’s top calling card, followed by the company website. He’s reduced his investment in phone book advertising, which is no longer drawing the response it used to. He recently signed an advertising contract with a local FM radio station.

“Our company will be mentioned as a sponsor for various programs and we’ll be doing 15-second and 30-second spots that will eventually grow to as long as 90 seconds,” he says.

“The ads will concentrate on the idea that we’re a family-owned pumping business. We believe that for any increase in business on the septic side, excavation work will follow.”

The cost of employee health insurance – high and rising – is also a concern, prompting the company to consider scaling back benefits or asking for a greater employee contribution to the plans.

“Our strategy to overcome these challenges has been to diversify the business wherever we can, building around the central plank of septic work,” Sliney says.

LOOKING AHEAD

Sliney recently passed his 50-year milestone. With no family members expressing interest in taking over the business, he’s weighing his options for the future.

“Our business is based on the relationships we’ve developed with homeowners, real estate agents, property developers, food service businesses, and builders over more than 60 years. I’ve personally known some of our clients for more than 30 years.

“If I stay with the business and get it in the best shape I possibly can, I think it’ll be easy to sell when I’m ready,” he continues. “I’ve got a boat in Charlestown and I keep telling myself that some day I’m going to do a little fishing – but it’s not time for that yet.”



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