Free from Isiah Strong
Learn the junk removal trade. No gatekeeping.
Real costs, real rules and straight answers for anyone starting in junk removal and the waste industry. Tap a hexagon to go step by step.
Start here
Is junk removal right for you?
Junk removal is one of the most accessible trades to start: no degree, no expensive license in most places, and customers in every town. It is also hard physical work with real costs. Be honest with yourself on these:
- You can lift, carry and load heavy items safely, day after day.
- You have, or can get, a vehicle that can legally haul the weight: a pickup and trailer, a dump trailer or a box truck.
- You are comfortable talking to customers, walking a job and giving a price on the spot.
- You can handle an uneven schedule while you build: slow weeks, then busy ones.
- You are willing to learn your local rules for permits, dumping and recycling.
- You are OK starting part-time while you prove there is demand.
If most of that fits, keep going. Each step in the hexagon on the home screen covers one stage, in order. Everything here is free.
No gatekeeping
Myths vs. reality
A lot of what is sold to new haulers is hype. Here is the straight version.
"It's easy money."Dump fees, fuel, insurance and your time all come out of every job. The money is in pricing correctly, staying booked and running a tight operation.
"You need a big truck to start."Many haulers start with a pickup and a trailer. Upgrade when your calendar proves you need it, not before.
"You have to buy a franchise."A franchise sells you a brand and a system. It is an option, not a requirement. Plenty of independents compete well.
"Cheapest price wins."Underpricing burns you out. Customers pay for showing up on time, clear prices and a clean job.
"It all goes to the landfill."A good share of most loads can be donated, recycled or scrapped. That cuts your dump costs and helps your reputation.
"You can haul anything."Refrigerant appliances, tires, batteries, paint and chemicals, electronics and asbestos have special rules. Know them before you accept the job.
"Someone will hand you a six-figure business."Nobody can promise income. What you earn depends on your market, your prices and your work. Be wary of anyone guaranteeing numbers.
Free and open
Courses
Four courses, built from real work in the field. No paywall.
Basics of Junk RemovalWhat the work is, how jobs flow, safetyBusiness Skills & OperationsSetup, pricing, scheduling, moneyMarketing & CustomersGetting found, getting reviews, repeat workAdvanced Topics & ExpansionCrews, more trucks, new services
Lessons are being updated for accuracy. Rules vary by state and city, so always confirm locally.
Step 2
Size up your market
Spend an afternoon on research before you spend money.
Check the competition
- Search "junk removal near me" from your area. List every company, their reviews and the areas they serve.
- Note their minimum charge and how they price: by volume, by item or by the hour. Many post it on their site.
- Look for gaps: slow response, no online booking, weak reviews, neighborhoods nobody covers.
Know your disposal costs
- Find the landfills and transfer stations you would use. Call or check their sites for hours, accepted items and rates (often per ton, with a minimum).
- Find donation centers, scrap yards and recyclers too. They lower what you pay to dump.
Find steady work sources
- Real estate agents, property managers and apartment complexes (move-outs).
- Estate sale companies, contractors and remodelers, storage facilities.
- Homeowners: garages, basements, sheds, single bulky items.
Step 3
Truck & gear
The vehicle
- Common starting setups: a pickup with a utility or dump trailer, or a box truck. Dump trailers save a lot of unloading time.
- Know your limits: payload, the trailer's GVWR and your tow rating. Overloading is unsafe and can get you fined.
- Larger rigs can trigger extra rules. A CDL is generally required at 26,001 lb or more combined weight (with a towed unit over 10,000 lb). Check your state for USDOT and other requirements.
Day-one gear
- Hand truck and an appliance dolly, moving blankets, ratchet straps and a heavy tarp.
- Gloves, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, dust masks, first-aid kit.
- Contractor bags, broom, flat shovel, rake, and a cordless drill and reciprocating saw for breaking things down.
Secure every load
Most states fine unsecured or uncovered loads. Tarp and strap every time, and check again after the first few miles.
Step 4
Get legal
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by state and city, so confirm locally and talk to an accountant or attorney when you can.
- Business structure. Sole proprietor or LLC. Many haulers choose an LLC to separate business and personal liability.
- Register. Register your business name with your state, and get an EIN from the IRS. It is free from irs.gov, so never pay a third party for it.
- Local license. Most cities or counties require a general business license. Some also require a hauler permit or registration.
- Insurance. General liability, and commercial auto for any vehicle used for the business, because personal policies often exclude business use. Add workers' compensation when you hire, as your state requires.
- DOT. If you cross state lines with a vehicle or combination of 10,001 lb or more, you need a USDOT number. Some states require one for intrastate work too.
- Money. Open a separate business bank account. Track mileage, dump receipts and every expense from day one.
Official links are in the Toolkit.
Step 5
Price it right
Know your cost per job
- Disposal: dump fees, plus item fees for tires, mattresses or appliances where they apply.
- Labor: hours on the job times what you pay yourself and any helper.
- Vehicle: fuel, maintenance, payments.
- Overhead: insurance, phone, software, marketing, spread across your jobs.
Build your price list
- Most haulers price by volume: a minimum, then fractions of a load (1/8, 1/4, 1/2, full).
- Add charges for heavy material (concrete, dirt, shingles), special-fee items and hard access (stairs, long carries).
- Set a minimum charge that covers showing up.
Quote with confidence
Give the price before you load, get a yes, then work. Write it down in the booking. Do not race the cheapest company to the bottom.
Step 6
Get booked with FieldKrow
FieldKrow started as the back office of Strong Junk Removal. Isiah Strong built it to run his own jobs: online booking, quotes, customer texts, scheduling and payments in one place. Now it is open to other haulers.
What it handles
- A booking page customers can use any time.
- Quotes and prices from your own price list.
- Automatic texts: booked, reminders, on the way.
- Your schedule and jobs on your phone.
- Getting paid.
Also do this
- Set up a Google Business Profile with real photos of your truck and jobs.
- Ask every happy customer for a review, the same day.
Step 7
Haul & dump
Sort as you load
Four piles: donate, recycle, scrap and landfill. Every item you keep out of the landfill lowers your cost.
Before you go to the dump
- Check hours, accepted materials, rates and payment methods.
- Expect to weigh in and weigh out. Keep every ticket and receipt.
Items with special rules
- Fridges, freezers, AC units, dehumidifiers: refrigerant must be recovered by an EPA-certified technician before disposal (EPA Section 608).
- Tires, batteries, propane tanks: usually banned from regular trash; take them to approved collection points.
- Paint, chemicals, pesticides: household hazardous waste. Point customers to their local HHW program.
- Electronics: many states ban TVs and computers from landfills. Use a certified e-waste recycler.
- Asbestos or anything you are unsure of: do not touch it. Refer it out.
Step 8
Grow
- Reviews. Your best marketing. Ask every time.
- Partners. Agents, property managers and contractors send repeat work. Show up fast for them.
- Photos. Before and after shots sell your work.
- Know your numbers. Jobs per week, average ticket and cost per load. Raise prices when your calendar is full.
- Hiring. When you add help, set up payroll and workers' comp properly, and train for safe lifting.
- Second truck. Add one when you are turning work away consistently, not on a hunch.
- New services. Cleanouts, light demolition and single-item pickups can grow from the same truck.
Toolkit
Locators & official resources
Landfill locatorDisposal sites near youEarth911 recycling searchWhere to recycle almost anythingHabitat for Humanity ReStoreDonate furniture, appliances, materialsGoodwill locatorDonation drop-off sitesiScrap yard finderScrap metal yards and pricesEPA household hazardous wastePaint, chemicals, batteriesEPA Section 608Refrigerant appliance rulesSBA: register your businessStructure, name, state registrationIRS: get an EINFree, directly from the IRSFMCSA: do I need a USDOT number?Federal trucking rules
Meet the founder
Isiah Strong
Isiah Strong is the owner and operator of Strong Junk Removal and the builder of FieldKrow, the booking and back-office software that started inside his own company.
JUNKMAN Academy is how he gives back to the trade: straight answers, real costs and practical pointers for anyone who wants to start. No gatekeeping, no upsell. The goal is simple: help the next person get into the waste industry and win their share of the market.
Contact
Ask a question
Have a question about getting started, pricing or your market? Send it over.