In pairing bold branding with a solid legal foundation from Spadea Lignana, co-founders Chad and Kyle Riddersen have turned a fragmented trade into a high-energy franchise opportunity that’s scalable.
When Chad Riddersen and Kyle Voss looked at the septic industry, they saw more than just waste management. They saw a fragmented market of mom-and-pop shops, a lack of professional standards and a massive opening for a national brand. Voss, a former Marine captain and professional football player, provided the operational grit. Riddersen brought the marketing expertise from his agency, Deviate Labs. Together, they transformed a single pump truck into a high-energy business that is now poised to become the first national franchise of its kind.
The branding is the first thing people notice. Moving away from the muted colors of traditional service companies, Epic Septic uses a military-inspired font and a color scheme reminiscent of a high-performance energy drink. The trucks actually serve as rolling billboards. They feature the brand’s cheeky slogan “We ain’t hauling chocolate milk.” It’s a bold approach, and it has helped to create a cult following in their home base of Austin, Texas, virtually overnight. Continually driving the branding with refreshing new ideas, the pair has hosted touch-a-truck events while producing a brand-specific energy drink called Septic Shock.
But the goal was to turn a local Austin success into a scalable reality. To do that, Riddersen and Voss knew they needed the partnership of a powerhouse legal foundation. By working with Spadea Lignana, the duo moved beyond the handshake phase. Epic Septic has built a rigorous, compliant framework that’s designed to take the brand across America.
Building a Million Dollar Box on Wheels
The local success story to scalable franchise model transition happened fast. Real fast. Within 90 days of launching their first truck, Epic Septic reached a million-dollar run rate. This trajectory helped convince the founders they had something worth bottling. And, by forming a national partnership with Mack Trucks, the brand further crafted a streamlined system that allows new operators to step into a business-on-wheels model with strong equipment and established relationships with vendors.
The goal was actually to create a professional lane for people looking to move into the trades. This is particularly appealing to a new wave of professionals desiring stability in an era of technological change.
“What’s happening now is a lot of white-collar talent is living in fear of AI,” Riddersen said. “Working in a trade with real, hands-on work, and putting yourself in a position to monetize atoms instead of bits, is appealing compared to relying on something AI could replace quickly.”
Finding the Right Partners
The collaboration proved essential. The Franchise Disclosure Document serves as a vital legal foundation for any and every franchise partnership. And, for a brand growing as fast as Epic Septic, getting the FDD and initial franchise agreements dialed in was absolutely critical. The firm helped the founders think through long-term scenarios that an excited entrepreneur might overlook, such as how to structure territory agreements to allow for future flexibility.
“My mind goes to how everyone wins together. But the document focuses on what happens when things go wrong,” Riddersen said. “But Spadea Lignana’s ability to see 50 feet down the road, five miles down the road, even five light-years down the road, has just been incredibly valuable.”
Beyond the technical drafting, the founders valued the firm’s specific focus on representing franchisors. Working with Tom Spadea and his team provided a level of credibility that resonates with franchise brokers and sophisticated investors alike.
“Spadea has really put us in a position to feel confident that we’re getting things right from the start rather than doing a poor man’s version and getting raked over the coals later by real lawyers,” Riddersen said. “We wanted to work with the best right out of the gate.”
The Search for the Next Generation of Tradesmen
As the Epic Septic brand prepares for its official launch, the focus has shifted. Now the priority lies in finding the right partners to sit in the driver’s seat. As a business on wheels, the brand touts lower overhead than traditional brick-and-mortar concepts, appealing to a specific set of ownership-minded individuals.
Riddersen identifies three distinct prototypes for the ideal Epic Septic operator. The first is the military veteran, much like Voss, who possesses the discipline and operational skills that translate perfectly to high-stakes service. The second is the experienced multi-brand owner looking to diversify their portfolio with a complementary trade.
The third category, however, is a sign of the times: the white-collar professional looking for a tangible escape from daily technological threats amidst an increasingly digital grind.
“One prototype is definitely the tech worker worried about AI replacing their job,” Riddersen said. “But speed to revenue is also important for us. We’re working on stocking inventory of vacuum trucks so franchisees can get operational quickly.”
By providing a strong model, complete with the legal backing of Spadea Lignana and the technical support of industry veterans, Epic Septic is lowering the barrier to entry for those ready to think bigger.
A Dream Team for the Future
It’s an exciting new chapter. And, to lead it, Epic Septic has also brought in Josh Cohen as CEO. Cohen previously built Junkluggers into a massive success. His experience in truck-based franchising also complements the legal framework Spadea Lignana has established. This combination of veteran leadership, legal protection and disruptive branding has positioned Epic Septic to fill a void in a brown-collar industry that was long overdue for a reputation refresh.
By focusing on professionalism and trust, Epic Septic is proving that even the most overlooked industries can be transformed into premium franchise opportunities. With the legal infrastructure now in place, the company is ready to take its high-energy model nationwide.
