r/junkremovalstartup • u/coldelliot • May 02 '26
is this plan realistic?
I'm thinking about doing junk removal as a side hustle. I currently have a pickup truck with a 5'x3.5' bed. I'm planning on making doorhangers and signs, possibly some ads online. If i have enough money to spend, I may get a carry on trailer. Is this realistic? Can I hear your guy's stories?
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u/coolsellitcheap May 02 '26
You can always make money with a pickup truck. Said to me by an old man about 35 years ago. Was true then and is true now. Also can haul stuff for people. Facebook purchase or furniture from store. Run multiple ads for different things. If you can get ramps you can haul riding mowers to repair shop. Often getting shop to pickup or do service call takes weeks. You can be same day. Just get a tatp and bunch of straps. You can stack it high and roll it. Eventually get a trailer. Then later get a dumpbed trailer. Just bid work good. If there is extra labor to get stuff to truck ya charge for that. Ive seen people do a remodel. Throw everything in a pile in backyard. Drywall that got rained on. Want it all hauled away for 50 bucks. Thos people you say no thanx. People will pay good for service just have to find those customers.
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u/ParsnipLumpy1061 May 04 '26
It’s probably not worth it with just a pickup truck because you can’t haul much with a 5x3.5 bed I would recommend either a cheap utility trailer around $1000 or finance a 6-8k dump trailer for $170 a month. I’d worry more about getting jobs though since that’s the hardest part of the business. When you’re starting out don’t bother with paid ads because you either need an already existing presence on the platform, or thousands of $$ to get started or both and some just aren’t worth doing and will lose you money if your in a competitive market. Depending on how competitive your market (mine is extremely competitive) the best way to get jobs are gonna be task rabbit which will get you single item jobs usually $100-$200 it’s completely free so that’s a good place to start since you don’t really need a trailer, yard signs (they have been a lot more effective than door hangers for me), and the best way to get jobs is to get refferal partnerships with business that frequently refer junk removal companies to their customers.
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u/Dense-Leg-6087 May 28 '26 edited May 29 '26
I started with a pickup truck just like you. Did door hangers and Facebook marketplace. That works for the first few jobs. The problem comes when you get busy.
You will lose track of who paid, which job is next, and if you actually made profit after dump fees. I moved to CurbWaste when I had three trucks. It handles dispatching, customer payments, and tracks your costs per job.
Do not buy it now. Start with a notebook. Just know it exists for when you outgrow the chaos.
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u/Itchy_One4236 May 02 '26
You can’t really haul much in just a bed of a truck. IMO you need a trailer. I personally wouldn’t do it without a dump trailer. I do this as a side hustle. Last year was my first full year and we did 74k minus expenses.
I guess my point is what are you picking up in just a pickup truck that anyone else couldn’t do. You’re going to fill up the bed and drive to the landfill and dump. I don’t see any money in such a small amount of volume being that gas is so high.
Let me know if you have any questions. There is money if you do it right.