Junk Removal Franchise vs. Starting Your Own

What five years costs on each path, counting every cost we can source on both sides. Change the revenue to see how royalties grow with your sales.

Preview: figures awaiting verification

Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.

At a glance

Junk Removal: franchise vs. independent
	Franchise (4 brands)	Independent
Franchise fee	$35,000 – $97,500	$0
Initial investment	$96,010 – $359,160	$5,690 – $43,590
Ongoing royalties	7% – 8% of revenue	None
Operating costs (5 years)	$40,555 – $41,755	$40,555 – $41,755
Brand, training, and support	Included	You build your own
5-year total cost	$183,399 – $469,370	$46,245 – $85,345*

Franchise fee
Franchise (4 brands)
$35,000 – $97,500
Independent
$0
Initial investment
Franchise (4 brands)
$96,010 – $359,160
Independent
$5,690 – $43,590
Ongoing royalties
Franchise (4 brands)
7% – 8% of revenue
Independent
None
Operating costs (5 years)
Franchise (4 brands)
$40,555 – $41,755
Independent
$40,555 – $41,755
Brand, training, and support
Franchise (4 brands)
Included
Independent
You build your own
5-year total cost
Franchise (4 brands)
$183,399 – $469,370
Independent
$46,245 – $85,345*

5-year totals assume $57,408–$105,456 in yearly revenue (our forecast presets at full volume), the same sourced operating costs (insurance, software, fees) on both paths, and both the lean and professional independent plans. Franchise investment figures come from each brand's disclosure (FDD Item 7) and already include the franchise fee. * Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.

What franchisees report taking in

From each brand's own disclosure (FDD Item 19), copied exactly. These are gross sales before royalties and costs, not profit, and not a promise of what you will earn.

1-800-GOT-JUNK?
Item 19 reports 2025 Gross Revenue for every U.S. franchise, grouped by years open, per franchise and per subterritory, plus revenue bands and system-wide totals. Most owners hold many subterritories, so totals are large.
- Average annual Gross Revenue, 2025, 72 U.S. franchisees (not affiliate-run) open more than 6 years (not profit)$3,700,612 a year
- Median annual Gross Revenue, 2025, same 72 U.S. franchisees open more than 6 years (not profit)$2,620,872 a year
- Average annual Gross Revenue, 2025, 3 U.S. franchisees open less than 12 months (not profit)$242,191 a year
- Share of all 138 U.S. franchises with 2025 Gross Revenue over $1,000,00081%
College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving
Item 19 reports 2025 Gross Sales, costs and EBITDA for outlets open at least 12 months, grouped by how long they've been open; the figures include moving revenue.
Junk King
Item 19 reports 2025 Gross Sales by quartile for 160 franchises open all year, split into hauling and dumpster revenue, plus average sales per job; 37% reached the average.
- Average annual Gross Sales, 2025, 160 franchises open all year (not profit)$551,635 a year
- Median annual Gross Sales, 2025, same 160 franchises (not profit)$449,606 a year
- Average annual Gross Sales of the top quartile, 2025, 44 franchises (not profit)$1,070,285 a year
- Average annual Gross Sales of the bottom quartile, 2025, 32 franchises (not profit)$166,455 a year
The Junkluggers
Item 19 reports system-wide sales for 2022–2025, 2025 Gross Revenue per franchisee and per territory by quartile, job sizes, the commercial share of revenue, and expense ratios for franchisees who use QuickBooks.
- Average annual Gross Revenue per franchisee, 2025, 63 franchisees open all year (not profit)$733,365 a year
- Median annual Gross Revenue per franchisee, 2025, same 63 franchisees (not profit)$609,012 a year
- Average annual Gross Revenue per territory, 2025, 128 territories open all year (not profit)$335,754 a year

What a franchise does give you

Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.

One of the best-known junk removal names in North America
Central call center and online booking handle incoming jobs
National account customers referred to franchisees
Pre-opening marketing run by the franchisor
Junk removal and moving under one brand, so trucks and crews can do both
Company sales center books jobs for you
Training and proprietary scheduling software
Veteran discount on the franchise fee
Part of Neighborly, a large group of home service brands
Customer care center answers calls and schedules estimates
Junk removal plus dumpster rental as a second service
Veteran and first-responder discounts on the franchise fee
Donation and resale focus that appeals to customers who want less sent to landfill
Remix Market resale of salvaged furniture as a second revenue line
Call center so customers reach a live person
Discounts for veterans and diverse owners

Going independent means

You keep 100% of what you earn after costs — no royalties.
You build your own brand, systems, and customer base.
You need more self-reliance, especially in the first year.

Brand by brand

Five-year cost breakdown
Option	Initial investment	Royalties	Marketing fund	Fixed fees	Operating costs	5-year total	vs. independent
1-800-GOT-JUNK?	$182,300 – $303,500	$22,963 – $42,182	$22,963 – $42,182	$0	$40,555 – $41,755	$268,781 – $429,620	+$222,536 – $372,275
College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving	$138,100 – $232,000	$20,093 – $36,910	$5,741 – $10,546	$0	$40,555 – $41,755	$204,489 – $321,210	+$158,244 – $263,865
Junk King	$121,200 – $236,000	$22,963 – $42,182	$5,741 – $10,546	$18,209	$40,555 – $41,755	$208,668 – $348,692	+$162,423 – $291,347
The Junkluggers	$96,010 – $359,160	$20,093 – $36,910	$5,741 – $10,546	$21,000	$40,555 – $41,755	$183,399 – $469,370	+$137,154 – $412,025
Independent (lean start)	$5,690 – $15,590*	$0	$0	$0	$40,555 – $41,755	$46,245 – $57,345	—

Low figures pair the low end of each cost with low revenue; high figures pair the high ends. Franchise initial investment is each brand's FDD Item 7 estimate and already includes the franchise fee. Marketing fund and fixed fees show $0 where we have no sourced figure for that brand.

* Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.

Costs are only half the picture

A franchise's brand, training, and support can help some owners reach customers faster. Weigh what those are worth to you against the difference above.

Back to the Junk Removal guide · Sources for these figures