{"id":1944,"date":"2025-12-05T19:19:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T19:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/?p=1944"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:10:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:10:54","slug":"pro-septic-service-llc-highest-standards-in-the-great-northern-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/?p=1944","title":{"rendered":"Pro Septic Service LLC \u2013 Highest Standards in the Great Northern US"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the heart of the Wisconsin Central Plain (10 miles from the exact center of the state) is Stevens Point. The vast rural expanse in all directions from the town is defined by the coastlines of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, and the peripheral cities of Minneapolis, MN, Green Bay WI, and Milwaukee, WI. Thriving in this veritable open range between those three distant major markets is <\/span><\/span><\/span>Pro Septic Service LLC<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, owned and operated by Chris Sobczak. The story of his entrepreneurial achievement is fascinating.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s about Sobczak\u2019s success in the industry, and it\u2019s a journey that started at an age among the youngest we\u2019ve ever discovered. We were fortunate to talk with this remarkable business leader recently. Here, Chris shares some of his background, reflections, and professional insights with ALW readers:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Back on the Farm at Age 13 \u2013 A Pro in the Making<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve been doing this type of work since I was 13 years old. I\u2019m 51 now. I grew up on a dairy farm. Coming from a dairy farm background means working from sun up to sun down seven days a week as a way of life. My uncle and his dad were septic system installers. They had a septic service business with one truck. From a young age, I helped them, and I learned a lot from that early experience.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then, I got into pumping out tanks when I was 19 years old. I was pumping for about 2 years for one company, then worked for another one for about 5 to 6 years, and then started my own company when I was 30.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chris Sobczak and Pro Septic Service LLC Today<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Now I have 5 vacuum trucks. We have 3 full-time employees, and we have 2 part-time employees who help with driving when needed. My wife, Amy, runs the office, takes care of all the calls, payroll \u2014 you name it. She does all the technical work. I\u2019m in a truck all day, every day, not sitting with my feet up on the desk [Chris laughs].<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My wife and I built the company together all the way. We started from scratch, from nothing, with one truck and a blue sky and a dream. So, we\u2019re not like companies that have only grown through acquisition. But they don\u2019t have anything on us in quality service and never will. There\u2019s no replacement for our level of passion for service.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Amy runs the office, does the year-end taxes, marketing, retirement accounts, ordering employee uniforms, and everything that needs to be done administratively for the employees. She\u2019s the technical person and I\u2019m the hands-on guy. She takes care of all the emailing, printing work orders for the day, talking to the drivers about any concerns, routing, directions, all of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My 20-year-old daughter, Claire, is also involved with the business. She works for us every summer when she\u2019s home from college. She mostly helps in the office, working with Amy, doing DNR reporting, inspection notices, filing, etc., but even helps in the field if needed, helping take vehicles for maintenance, repairs, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She can do much of what my wife does, booking customers and taking calls, and generally taking some of the pressure off during the busiest times. My goal for her has been to get her CDL and all the proper licensing and other credentials for working in and running the business. Hopefully, after she finishes college, she will become the next successor of the company.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pro Septic Service LLC Business Model<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Pro Septic provides a wide range of services to maintain residential and commercial septic requirements. The company has a highly experienced team and is equipped to manage any size job and any issue. Pro Septic services include:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Residential<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Commercial<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Septic Tanks<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Holding Tanks<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mound Systems<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Plugged Sewer Lines<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Baffle Replacement<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Riser and Cover Installation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Filter Cleaning<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Septic Tank Inspection<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Bacteria Additives<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n

Restaurant Grease Trap<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Car Wash Catch Basin Sand Removal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Industrial Bulk Waste Disposal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

High-Volume Waste Removal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Emergency Lift Stations Pumping for Local Municipalities<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Services for Mobile Home Associations<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Flood Water Removal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

We\u2019ve got some pretty big commercial contracts with some large clients, like stores throughout the Fox Valley and the bigger markets. We have routes set up for clients who get routine service. But, the key to our success is that we are very well diversified. Not only are we a septic pumping service, we\u2019re also a grease trap, commercial work, car wash, and pit cleaning service.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pro Septic Service Team<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Our employees are all local guys right from my community. My longest-term technician, Rich, has been with me for 14 years. My other full-time technician, T.J., has been with me for 4 years. One employee, Brody, started working for us as a young teen who lived down the road. We just got him his CDL.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019re always looking for new technologies and better tools out there to make things easier on the technicians, like the lid pullers and jacks we\u2019ve added. This year has probably pounded us harder than we ever have been. A big contractor needed us for a lengthy job that stretched us. But our team did what it took to make sure all our customers got the same top-quality service that they have always depended on us for.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone has been so busy that I\u2019ve switched to having a mobile washing and detailing company come in regularly to clean and detail the trucks. Image and cleanliness and top-notch equipment is Rule Number One for me. All our technicians wear uniforms, and I don\u2019t go for sleazy slogans on trucks. Our slogan is \u201cA class above the rest.\u201d That\u2019s the professional standard we work to uphold.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t just hire anybody. We would not be here today if not for this team. The company was built by all of us together, and it works like a well-oiled machine because of the skills and hard work, honesty, reliability, and dedication of the people on this team.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Most Difficult Year<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

This year was challenging, but actually our hardest was probably 2018. Rich (who is my longest time employee) had just gotten done pumping a septic tank, and a car on the highway came head on, which sent him into a ditch. He was stuck in the over-turned truck for an hour and a half, until he was airlifted to the hospital. He had a couple of surgeries. He eventually made a full recovery and he has been with me for 14 years.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But, looking back on the work side of that nightmare, we were only a two-truck operation at that time. The situation put us on our knees. We went from a strained two-truck operation down to one-truck with one employee in rehab and out of commission. So, it was all on me to keep us from going under. But we never missed a beat, never lost a customer. We did what we had to do to keep things rolling.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

TREBCO helped us out for a few days during the worst time, while we were focusing on the injured employee. Imperial industries also stepped up and helped us get the replacement truck as soon as possible, within months.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The lady who hit our truck had no insurance and she took out a several hundred-thousand-dollar vehicle. My insurance ultimately covered it all. We meet with our insurance company yearly to go over our coverages to make sure everything is good and that we\u2019re well covered. But with all that Rich went through and what it took to keep the business running without him, it was brutal. I wouldn\u2019t wish that kind of disaster upon anybody.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pro Septic Service Equipment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

All our tanks are made by Imperial Industries<\/a>. They\u2019re 30 minutes from my shop, and they\u2019re a one-stop shop. One call does it all. I call them, and things get taken care of. I\u2019ve been with Imperial since the beginning, and they\u2019ve always been good to me.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Two local auto service shops do all of our maintenance. We don\u2019t do any of it in-house. They are both excellent. They know what we need and what we expect, so I stick with them. I\u2019ve been with my tire guys for my trucks for 20 years. I consider them friends too. The same way with my truck repair centers. I\u2019ve been with all my vendors forever. If you\u2019re good to me, I\u2019ll never leave you.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As far as I\u2019m concerned, I offer excellent, top-notch, old-fashioned service. My word is my word. A handshake does it. My vendors know that\u2019s how I roll, and so do my customers. With my vendors, it\u2019s just like with my customers. We don\u2019t lose a lot.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

22 Years of Business Growth, 37 Years of Industry Perspective<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Since we started the company on April 1, 2004, growth has been steady. As far as plans for more growth, I think we\u2019re good where we are now, but I said that three trucks ago. With the stricter emissions regulations, climate conditions, and other impacts, you almost need to have a spare truck sitting around for repairs, or downtime if a Check Engine light comes on. Parts aren\u2019t always readily available. That said, we have no big plans to scale up.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Am I happy? That\u2019s the magical question. The way things run in this business, it\u2019s very hard on a family. There have been huge family sacrifices. My wife and I rarely go on vacation together, because one of us stays to man the office and oversee the operation. It\u2019s a 7-day-a-week job. So, are we happy? I\u2019m 150% <\/span><\/span><\/span>in<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span> on my business. I\u2019m 51 and have no plans to retire. I would feel guilty leaving my customers without quality service. So, as long as my health and everything else holds up, I wouldn\u2019t just walk away.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Back on the farm, cows needed to be milked even when it was Christmas, Easter, or when you had the flu. That\u2019s kind of how I run things here. I\u2019m up at 3:45 a.m. every day. Every truck rolls out of the shop by 5:00 in the morning. If I try sleeping in on a Sunday, I\u2019m wiped out for the rest of the day. I\u2019m pacing without something to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Growth of a Great Northern Rural Service Brand\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Before starting my own business, as I said, I worked for a couple of other companies where I had major responsibilities. So, I had a lot of experience before I ventured out on my own. I ran businesses before I started my own. I came into ownership very well trained. I knew the ins and outs. It took me till I was 30 years old to make that leap. I didn\u2019t just jump into it. I finally decided \u2014 I can do this.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Today, one of those former employers, Ed Trzebiatowski, the Owner\/Operator of TREBCO Services, is a very close friend. We\u2019ve known each other for 35 years. We help each other and cover for each other, as needed. We usually talk at least once daily. He\u2019s like family. It\u2019s good to have that relationship of mutual support with a competitor. You know that one of them has always got your back.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

During my startup, it was pretty easy for me to build relationships. People knew me by name or by face. I made connections with people. I knocked on doors, but word of mouth was what helped us most. That\u2019s how I grew it, how I made it. [Though Chris recalls a smooth transition in developing relationships for his new business, he likens the startup years, overall, to the experience of fighting for his life clawing his way out from under the cracked ice with bloody fingers when he fell in while ice fishing alone at about age 18.]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One of my accounts today is a big service company. They called me once, and I helped them in a pinch, and they were so impressed with how we did it in a pinch that they stuck with me. We take on a lot of very big jobs and very big accounts. But clients change. Businesses get sold. New customers come in from out of state.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These days, you don\u2019t have that advantage of being friends in our hometown with all our customers. A lot of that has gone by the wayside. You\u2019re dealing with more management companies now. We still have those long-time customers we\u2019ve kept through the relationships we\u2019ve built with them. But, I will still sell sometimes. I say that when things are good, just don\u2019t always think it\u2019s going to last forever.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Pro Septic Service Customer Education Program<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The <\/span><\/span><\/span>Dos and Don\u2019ts<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span> on our website are also printed in our pamphlets that we hand out to every customer. We\u2019re constantly <\/span><\/span><\/span>educating our customers<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> on their septic systems and on a good service plan for their specific needs. If we come to their property and find it\u2019s very thick and there\u2019s a lot of garbage, sludge, and scum getting out to the drainfield, we know the customer needs to make changes in the care of their system.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Our county requires a pump-out every three years. However, the customer may need to have it done every two years or every year, depending on their usage, environmental factors, and other considerations. I\u2019m a big advocate of every-year pumping. My parents did that. I recommend that customers get that waste and sediment out of there as frequently as needed to take the best care of the system and keep it functioning smoothly.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Current Challenges in the Region<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

We\u2019re here walking the walk. We\u2019re very passionate about what we do. The challenges we\u2019ve taken on and things we\u2019ve accomplished in our career can seem unbelievable to people who haven\u2019t had that kind of experience. We\u2019re here for our customers, like this morning, fired up at 3:30 am to help with an urgent need, after finishing up last night at 8:00 pm. But that\u2019s not an example of how things are done for unknowing customers elsewhere in our area. We deal with problems created for them all the time:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Septic service scams: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>Through the years, poor-quality operators have always been in our rearview mirror, undercutting, trying to take customers and trade secrets. But, one big thing in our area now that we\u2019re fighting is that some plumbers found some loophole in the codes that allows them to <\/span><\/span><\/span>not<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span> pump, or just to inspect without pumping and have the customers come out and just sign off. So, they never clean the filters or inlet baffle, where the sewage comes in from the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then, they end up calling us as backup. The inspectors sign off to meet the county requirements, and the customers are not getting <\/span><\/span><\/span>anything<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span> for what they\u2019re paying them. A customer last week had an inspection a year ago, and now sewage is backed up in their basement, in their finished basement, on the rugs. Every customer that has told us they did that inspection option has said they never should have done that and that they will never go that route again.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Our biggest dilemma right now is trying to educate people about this. These guys don\u2019t offer any other service, just inspection. The situation started ramping up about three years ago, and this year it\u2019s really gotten out of control.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Inexperienced Operators: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>We learned through years on the job. Now, some newer operators watch a YouTube video and think they know what they\u2019re doing. People trust them to do a professional, high-quality job, but things that go on now without the customers knowing any better are increasingly causing serious consequences to many septic systems and homes. The unqualified technicians are leaving a lot of sludge in the tanks, leading to sewage backups into finished basements, damaged equipment, damaged drainfields, and other costly problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Disposal Resource Shortages<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Another big issue for us has become disposal location shortages. The treatment plant facilities were built 30 to 50 years ago. They were built for a certain capacity of waste stream at that time. Those plants are aging, and the cities that use them have grown. So, now more waste is coming into the plants. The cost to renovate those facilities is astronomical. Treatment plants in big cities have a lot of money. But out in areas like mine, small cities with only 20 to 30 thousand people have very limited money, and the sewer plant is the last place the money goes.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We used to be able to take as much as we wanted to the treatment plants, but now they have to treat their rate payers\u2019 sewage as their priority. Though they want to work with everyone who needs it, they have to restrict the loads from us area outliers. It\u2019s a common problem. In northern Wisconsin and in many places throughout the country, it\u2019s even worse. Some operators are having to drive as much as 300 miles for disposal. We\u2019re fortunate to have land app licensing, so we\u2019re much better off than other operators.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Advice for Industry Newcomers from Chris Sobczak, Pro Septic Service LLC, Stevens Point, WI<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Learn it before you get into it. Don\u2019t just buy a truck and hop into it. There\u2019s so much more to it. It\u2019s one thing to run a truck and pump. But you\u2019d also better know where you\u2019re going for disposal sites, and have a second, and a third, and a fourth option for it. You\u2019d better know how to do your accounting, know the DNR regulations, how to get licensing, and how to troubleshoot the gamut of odd problems. You need to make sure you have <\/span><\/span><\/span>enough<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span> insurance. It\u2019s a very important part of a business. There are a lot of uninsured and underinsured motorists out there.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot more to know to build a successful company that stands the test of time. It\u2019s a constant battle. But if you love what you do, you\u2019ll probably want to keep doing it. I\u2019ve told my family that on my grave stone, I want it to say, \u201cI wish I could have pumped one more.\u201d [Chris laughs with his contagious hearty laugh.]\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On the Pro Septic Company<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a big question: how does a company owner remain steady in facing the many unique entrepreneurial challenges of his industry in this particular locale? First, factor operating in the veritable wilderness of central Wisconsin, the northern US climate conditions, limited waste disposal resources, great travel distances, high costs of heavy equipment, relentlessly long hours, and the staggering physical and financial risks of operating in the daunting region.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then, as Chris Sobczak has reflected, the question becomes, \u201cAre we happy?\u201d (He\u2019s referring to himself and his team, the people in the literal trenches with him.) The answer appears to be <\/span><\/span><\/span>YES<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span>. He seems to be very happy, maybe one of the happiest business owners we\u2019ve met across the national septic services industry.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the half dozen or so times we\u2019ve spoken with Chris over the past three months, he\u2019s been consistently upbeat and always exhibits that admirable quality of seeming moderately amused with what\u2019s happening around him.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But did he ever get that elusive vacation? We\u2019re glad to report that just the following week after our first meeting with Chris, he answered our call from a deer blind in Saskatchewan, and we talked to him while he was on vacation there! He sounded very happy indeed. (He brought home a big 10-point buck from that trip.)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But applying Chris\u2019s question of happiness more broadly: Do we recommend his strenuous work life for new entrepreneurs entering the industry in such exacting markets? Uh, not for the average human. It\u2019s not for the easily discouraged. But, if you\u2019re made of that rare stuff, equal to the team under the direction of Chris Sobczak and their rugged and smart strategic business leader, then go ahead into the open country up north to pursue a happy life in the industry. Our advice: Be extraordinarily well prepared.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For information about Pro Septic Service LLC, Stevens Point WI, you can call (715) 342-8020, or visit <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span>prosepticservice.com<\/u><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the heart of the Wisconsin Central Plain (10 miles from the exact center of the state) is Stevens Point. The vast rural expanse in all directions from the town is defined by the coastlines of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, and the peripheral cities of Minneapolis, MN, Green Bay WI, and Milwaukee, WI. Thriving …<\/p>\n

Pro Septic Service LLC \u2013 Highest Standards in the Great Northern US<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1950,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlight"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1944"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1948,"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1944\/revisions\/1948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanliquidwaste.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}