Valet Trash Service
Collect garbage every night — and get paid like clockwork
Valet trash operators collect bagged garbage from apartment residents' doorsteps five nights a week and haul it to the complex's dumpster. Property managers love it (amenity that attracts tenants). Residents love it (never drag a bag to the dumpster). You collect $9–$15 per unit per month from the property management company under a recurring contract. A 300-unit apartment complex generates $3,000–$4,500/month in revenue — one worker, 2–3 hours a night, five nights a week.
Avg Revenue
$200K
Profit Margin
48%
Acquisition Multiple
1.5x - 2.75x
Startup Cost
$5K - $30K
Difficulty
2/5
How It Works
You sign contracts with apartment property managers — typically 1–3 year agreements at $9–$15/unit/month. Residents place bagged trash outside their door by 8 PM. Your collector walks the hallways with a wheeled bin (known as a 'bin buggy') 5 nights/week, collects each bag, and deposits into the complex's central dumpster. Startup gear is minimal: a van or truck, rolling bins, and branded uniforms. Scale by adding more complexes.
Revenue Range
Real Acquisitions in This Category
SBA 7(a) change-of-ownership loans · NAICS 561790 · Other Services to Buildings and Dwellings
Deal Size Distribution
Deal Flow Over Time
Financing Profile
Recent Comparable Deals
| Closed | State | Loan | Implied deal | Jobs | Franchise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | IL | $3.0M | $3.5M | 24 | — |
| Nov 2025 | MN | $75K | $88K | 2 | — |
| Nov 2025 | OH | $3.2M | $3.8M | 21 | — |
| Nov 2025 | OH | $125K | $147K | 21 | — |
| Sep 2025 | FL | $285K | $335K | 4 | — |
| Sep 2025 | MA | $250K | $294K | — | — |
| Aug 2025 | TN | $305K | $359K | 2 | — |
| Aug 2025 | OH | $865K | $1.0M | 4 | — |
| Aug 2025 | UT | $350K | $412K | 4 | Painter1 |
| Jul 2025 | WI | $1.3M | $1.5M | 25 | — |
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
- +Recurring B2B contracts — revenue is locked in months ahead
- +Night-only labor frees operators for day jobs or other businesses
- +Extremely low startup costs — a van and some bins gets you started
- +Property managers actively seek reliable vendors; word-of-mouth referrals are easy
Cons
- -Manual, unglamorous labor — workers needed 5 nights a week year-round
- -Margins compress if you hire employees vs. operating solo
- -Client concentration risk: losing one large complex is painful
Best For
Owner-operators looking for immediate recurring income with low startup capital
Operating Costs
Fuel, insurance, and labor are the main costs. Owner-operator running 1–2 complexes personally can keep margins above 60%. Adding employees drops margins to 35–45% but allows scale to $200K+/year revenue.
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
Valet trash routes occasionally list here under cleaning/janitorial services
Small valet trash routes frequently sell direct via local FB groups
Franchise model for scaling a valet trash operation with brand support
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
- route
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Buy price
- $300K–$550K
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
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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
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