A junk removal business is one of the simplest home service businesses to start. You need a way to haul, a strong back, a place to dump and a phone that rings. People also call it a trash removal business or a junk hauling business; it is the same work: you show up, load what the customer points at, and take it away so they never think about it again.
The hard part is not lifting. It is pricing loads so every trip pays, and getting enough calls that the truck goes out full most days. Here is how to start, in order.
1. Decide what you will haul first
Start with household junk: furniture, mattresses, appliances, boxes, yard waste and garage clutter. That is most of the calls and it needs no special permits. Leave these for later, when you know your dump rules and your costs:
- Construction debris like drywall, tile and roofing, which is heavy and often priced by weight
- Hot tubs, sheds and playsets, which need tools and a crew of two or three
- Hazardous material like paint, chemicals, oil and asbestos, which most dumps will not take from you at all
Write down what you will not take. Customers will ask, and "no" is a fine answer for paint cans and propane tanks.
2. Handle the paperwork
- Register the business with your state. An LLC is common and costs $50 to $500 depending on the state
- Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and takes ten minutes online
- Check local rules. Some cities and counties want a business license, and some require a hauler permit or registration to dump commercially
- Get insurance. General liability for damage at the customer's home, commercial auto for the truck, and workers' comp once you hire. Budget $3,000 to $7,000 a year for the first two
- Open a business bank account so your money is separate from day one
3. Get something to haul with
Most owners start one of three ways:
- A pickup truck and a 14 foot dump trailer. The cheapest real setup. The trailer holds about 12 to 15 cubic yards and tips at the dump, which saves 20 minutes of unloading per trip
- A used box truck or a stake bed with high sides. Holds 15 to 20 cubic yards and looks like a real company on the road
- A pickup alone. Fine for the first weekend jobs, but a pickup bed is only about 3 cubic yards, a quarter of a real load
Read junk hauling business: truck or trailer before you buy, and junk removal business startup cost for the full budget.
4. Find out where the junk goes
Before your first job, call the landfill and the transfer stations near you and ask:
- What do you charge per ton, and is there a minimum?
- Which items carry extra fees: mattresses, tires, refrigerators, TVs?
- Do you take yard waste, metal or concrete separately and for less?
Then find a scrap metal yard (they pay you for appliances without refrigerant, water heaters and metal frames) and two or three donation centers that take decent furniture. Every item you donate or scrap is an item you do not pay to dump. Our guide to junk removal dump fees covers how to build these costs into your price.
5. Set your prices before the phone rings
Most junk removal companies price by volume, in fractions of a truck: a minimum for a single item, then quarter, half, three quarter and full loads. A common starting point in many US markets:
- Single item or minimum: $75 to $150
- Quarter load: $150 to $250
- Half load: $300 to $450
- Full load: $450 to $800
Check what the companies around you show online, then set yours from your own costs. Our guide on how much to charge for junk removal walks through the math.
6. Get your first customers
- Tell everyone you know, and ask realtors, property managers and moving companies. They see junk every week
- A Google Business Profile with your service area, hours and photos of real jobs
- A website with prices by load size, so people who find you at night can see what it costs and book
- Answer every call. Junk removal customers call two or three companies and book the first one that picks up
Our guide on how to get junk removal customers goes deeper.
7. Set up simple systems early
Write down every job: the address, what you hauled, the load size, what you charged and what the dump cost. After 30 jobs you will know your real average ticket and your real cost per load. Send the invoice before you leave the driveway and take cards. It is much easier to start with a system than to fix the mess at 300 jobs.
How long until it pays
A two-person crew doing three jobs a day at a $300 average ticket brings in about $900 a day. After dump fees, fuel and labor, many owner operators keep 30 to 45 percent of that. The ones who grow fastest look professional from the start: a lettered truck, a real website with prices, fast replies and a clean driveway when they leave.
Frequently asked questions
Is a junk removal business profitable?
It can be. Many owner operators keep 30 to 45 percent of revenue after dump fees, fuel and labor, as long as they price by the load and keep the truck busy.
Do I need a license to start a junk removal business?
Usually a state business registration and sometimes a city business license. Some counties also require a hauler permit to dump commercially, so call your local landfill and city hall.
Is a trash removal business the same as junk removal?
For most owners, yes. Trash removal and junk hauling are other names for the same one-time pickups. Recurring garbage collection is a different, regulated business.