Residential Junk Removal Service
Fast-growing waste removal targeting homeowners, properties, and estate cleanouts
A residential junk removal service removes unwanted items from homes, garages, basements, and properties. Revenue comes from job-based pricing ($150-500 per job for small loads, $500-2000+ for estate cleanouts). Market is growing 8% annually ($15B in 2025, projected $27B by 2033). Success depends on fast response times, professional crew, and local pickup density to minimize drive time.
Avg Revenue
$250K
Profit Margin
28%
Acquisition Multiple
2.5x - 3.5x
Startup Cost
$5K - $25K
Difficulty
2/5
How It Works
Acquire a used pickup truck or box truck ($3-8K). Set up online booking (simple website or Thumbtack/TaskRabbit integration). Accept removal jobs from homeowners; quote on-site or by photos. Pick up items, sort (donate, recycle, landfill), and dispose responsibly. Revenue scales by adding crew (second truck + labor), geographic expansion, or contracts with property managers and real estate agents for bulk cleanouts.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 562111 · Solid Waste Collection
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | OH | $518K | $609K | 3 | Dumpster Dudez |
| Nov 2025 | PA | $500K | $588K | 7 | The Junkluggers |
| Nov 2025 | IN | $400K | $471K | 20 | — |
| Nov 2025 | NC | $1.3M | $1.5M | 6 | — |
| Nov 2025 | IN | $1.9M | $2.2M | 20 | — |
| Sep 2025 | ID | $15K | $18K | — | — |
| Sep 2025 | ID | $150K | $177K | — | — |
| Jul 2025 | MI | $1.7M | $2.0M | 16 | Bin There...Dump That |
| Jul 2025 | MI | $50K | $59K | 16 | Bin There...Dump That |
| May 2025 | IN | $444K | $522K | 4 | — |
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA dataset, filtered to acquisitions (loans where business age is "Change of Ownership"). Implied deal size assumes an 85% loan-to-purchase ratio, a common SBA change-of-ownership structure. Charge-off rate shown only when 10+ loans have resolved (paid in full or charged off). Interest rates reflect last 24 months only. Actual deal values vary with equity injections, seller financing, and working capital terms.
Pros
- +Recession-resistant: people always need junk removed (especially estate cleanouts)
- +Low capital to start: used truck + basic tools + insurance
- +High customer satisfaction: visible, tangible work done same-day
- +Referral business: one good job leads to neighbors and repeat customers
- +Recurring contracts: partner with property managers, estate attorneys, real estate agents
- +Scalable: add second truck, hire crew, expand geographically
- +Growing market: 8% annual growth; major consolidators (GFL, Waste Management) actively acquiring small operators at 2.5-3.5x EBITDA
Cons
- -Labor-intensive: physical work, customer interaction, driving required
- -Vehicle and equipment maintenance: trucks wear fast with heavy loads
- -Liability and insurance: property damage, injury, disposal compliance
- -Disposal costs: landfill fees, recycling partners, hazmat considerations (batteries, chemicals)
- -Seasonal variation: summer peak (moving), winter slower (holiday travel)
- -Geographic clustering required: long drive times to distant jobs kill margins
- -Customer acquisition cost: $100-150/customer typical; need retention focus
Best For
Hands-on entrepreneurs in suburban/exurban areas with high density of properties and estate activity; can eventually hire/delegate to scale
Operating Costs
Major costs: truck payment/depreciation (15-20% revenue), labor (30-35%), fuel (8-10%), disposal/landfill fees (5-10%), insurance & permits (3-5%), marketing (5-10%). Solo operator: $90-150K annual owner earnings. Two-truck operation: $250-400K SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings). CAC $100-150 but refocusing on SEO and referrals can reduce to $60-80.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Real owner earnings for junk removal businesses at scale
Recent acquisitions and market consolidation trends in waste removal
Established junk removal franchises and independent operators for sale
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Buy price
- $625K–$875K
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
Some links may be affiliate links. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.
Ready to Buy? Start Here →
Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
Some links may be affiliate links. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.
Get the full breakdown in your inbox
Weekly boring business breakdowns
Get notified when high-margin businesses hit the market