Joel Libava
The franchise junk removal industry is about to get shaken up.
JunkStart, a San Antonio-based franchisor, just announced an aggressive expansion plan targeting 100-125 franchisees. Their angle?
They’re the only franchise brand charging customers by weight instead of volume.
Why Pay-By-Weight Matters
Most franchise junk hauling companies use volume-based pricing. That means they eyeball your pile of stuff and give you a guestimate.
From a recent JunkStart Press Release:
JunkStart founder and CEO Daniel McCarty saw a better way. “If landfills can be profitable charging by weight, so can we,” he stated. “We’re putting a halt to ‘guestimate’ pricing.”
The company launched in 2022 and started franchising in summer 2025. Their trucks feature patent-pending weighing systems built into larger truck beds. That way, customers get straightforward pricing without the guesswork.
The JunkStart Franchise Business Model Advantage
Here’s where JunkStart stands out from typical junk haulers.
Most competitors generate revenue primarily from residential customers. JunkStart flips that model. They earn over 50% of their revenue from business-to-business contracts.
That’s a significant strategic difference. Commercial contracts typically provide more predictable, recurring revenue than one-time residential pickups.
Investment Requirements For This Franchise Junk Removal Opportunity
Let’s look at the numbers:
Initial franchise fees range from $65,000 to $97,500. You’ll need $200,000 in liquid capital. Initial training costs $10,000. Total startup investment falls between $222,500 and $394,000.
The royalty structure runs 8% of gross sales monthly.
Who They’re Looking For
McCarty isn’t searching for casual business owners. He wants empire builders.
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“What we’re looking for are aggressive owners willing to take charge of their territories, build reliable teams, and scale up their operation to include multiple trucks and locations,” McCarty explained.
The company’s stated goal? Become the franchise industry’s leading junk removal service.
That’s ambitious for a brand that just started franchising months ago. But disrupting established pricing models gives them a competitive edge.
The Market Opportunity
The waste management industry operates on decades-old pricing conventions. JunkStart believes that creates opportunity for innovation.
Their strategy combines transparent pricing with larger truck capacity and commercial contract focus. Whether that formula translates to franchisee success remains to be seen.
But the timing may be right. Consumers increasingly demand pricing transparency. Business customers want predictable costs.
Bottom Line?
JunkStart represents a fresh approach in an established industry. Their pay-by-weight model eliminates pricing ambiguity. Their B2B focus provides revenue stability.
Whether they achieve their aggressive growth targets depends on attracting franchisees who embrace their revolutionary pricing strategy.
For prospective franchisees considering junk removal franchises, JunkStart offers a different value proposition than traditional volume-based competitors.
The question: Will weight-based pricing resonate with enough customers to justify the franchise investment?
(Main image/logo courtesy of JunkStart’s website)
About the Author
The Franchise King®, Joel Libava, is a leading franchise expert, author of "Become a Franchise Owner!" and "The Definitive Guide to Franchise Research." Featured in outlets like The New York Times, CNBC, and Franchise Direct, Joel’s no-nonsense approach as a trusted Franchise Ownership Advisor helps aspiring franchisees make smart, informed decisions in their journey to franchise ownership. He owns and operates this franchise blog.
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