Is junk removal a good business?

[red324]

It seems like people charge a lot for this type of service. To me it seems like you would get burned easy. If it's junk it's not worth much, so it's like once it's gone good luck getting paid, but I suppose that goes for anything.

[WindAtMyBack]

You would need to combine it with something else, like handyman work, tree trimming, etc. Junk removal might pay OK if you do it right, but I don't think you'll get enough business just doing that to make a living.

You also want to find the right customers who are wiling to pay for your time. A lot of people expect stuff like that to be done for next to nothing. You won't make any money hauling a load of junk away for $30-40. You need to count your time going to the site, loading it up, hauling if off, then heading home or to the next job - plus the costs of a trunk and maintenance, fees for dumping, etc.

If you are concerned about getting paid, you can put everything in writing. If they don't want to pay, they'll probably change their mind real fast when you put a lien on their house.

[KrakenAttackin]

It seems like it can be a good business, especially if you are willing to do the work to sort through the items discarded. Many people throw away things that have significant value to those willing to do the work.

[MORPHEUS_12]

Just an observation. Here in the mid-Atlantic of the US we have more damn waste, junk disposal companies. It seems overkill to me. Also with hoarding and unmedicated mental illness running rampant, you are going to get those hoarding cases where they have to call in a junk disposal team. As you may or may not be aware but it costs money to throw something away. Many communities like in CA recycle a LOT of stuff that would have ended up in a landfill 30 years ago. It would certainly not be my first business venture.

[jennifer_bloom]

Junk removal is expensive due to transportation costs, labour costs and land storage costs, and safety precaution costs.

[jamesgoldman]

No, I looked at it for a while
Waste processing costs were the killer

I've kept to the money earning metals trade