Local Family Expands Franchise Legacy With TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK®

Jen Christensen’s franchising journey began with a strong family connection and a desire to create a lasting legacy. Originally coming from a career in pharmaceuticals and media, Christensen was introduced to the world of franchising by her in-laws, Bob and Marg, who owned several TWO MEN AND A TRUCK*® franchises. After her father passed away and the family farm was sold, Jen and her husband Kevin felt compelled to build something that would honor their family’s memory. They decided to expand their involvement with the brand, opening a franchise in Cookeville, Tennessee, while also joining forces with her brother-in-law Cory and mother-in-law Marg to oversee additional territories in the Quad Cities, Peoria and Rockford, Illinois.

Expanding into TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK® was a strategic choice driven by changing consumer demands and the couple’s background in sales and marketing. “We chose TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK because it’s tailored to this generation's expectations — offering online self scheduling and fast, immediate service,” said Christensen. With a focus on search engine optimization (SEO) and a strong online presence, Jen believes this approach will be key to driving growth. “The key is to be easily found online and to have strong Google reviews,” she said, emphasizing the importance of digital visibility in today’s market.

1851 Franchise recently sat down with Christensen to discuss her franchising journey with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and now TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK. Here’s what she had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Jen Christensen: I own a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise in Cookeville, Tennessee. My husband, mother-in-law and brother-in-law own the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchises in the Quad Cities, Peoria and Rockford, Illinois. Before getting into franchising, I worked for Tandem Diabetes, an insulin pump company, for three years. Prior to that, I spent about 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry, and before that, I was an evening news anchor.

My exposure to franchising came from my in-laws, Bob and Marg Christensen, who owned several TWO MEN AND A TRUCK locations. We were part of the decision-making process when he initially got involved with the brand. When my father passed away two years ago, followed by the passing of my grandparents and the sale of our family farm, I wanted to do something that would create a legacy for my dad and honor Kevin’s dad. We chose to expand with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK because of our existing experience with the brand.

Right now, my husband Kevin and I are running TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, but my mother-in-law Marg and my brother-in-law Cory are also co-owners.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Christensen: Initially, I thought franchising might be risky, and I didn’t anticipate just how much problem-solving and time commitment would be required. But one aspect I didn’t fully appreciate before starting was the positive impact we could have on people’s lives — helping employees build a future, especially the younger team members who come in to work on the junk side. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see their development, personally and professionally. That part has been a very pleasant surprise.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Christensen: We chose TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK because it’s tailored to this generation's expectations — offering a best in class on-line experience with true problem solving service. It aligns well with how people operate today, relying heavily on technology for convenience. Investing in a brand that meets this demand seemed like a smart move.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Christensen: Since we were already handling a lot of junk removal, and understand how to be successful, I’m optimistic that we can hit the ground running in our markets. It’s a matter of shifting our approach and getting new people on board that are passionate about helping  people clear their unwanted clutter fast.

I’m a big advocate for a strong on-line presence, because I believe that’s how most people find services today. While traditional marketing is still important, the key is to be easily found online and to have our customers tell everyone how great our services was via Google reviews. That strategy worked well for us in Cookeville, and I believe it will help us grow quickly here as well.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Christensen: My husband and I both come from sales and marketing backgrounds, and we’ve been focused on incorporating more of that into both the moving and junk sides of the business. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is already positioned as a sales and marketing company, and we’re excited about that. It feels like a great fit for us.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Christensen: Be prepared for hiring and firing — it’s just part of the process. Not everyone will be a good fit or as dedicated as you need them to be, and that’s okay. You have to be ready to make tough decisions because keeping the wrong people can jeopardize your entire business. Expect some disappointment but know that it’s all part of finding the right team.

ABOUT TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK:

Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is a full-service junk removal company that is committed to conquering your clutter. From furniture pickup and removal, getting rid of appliances, debris cleanouts, and more, TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK will do it all, so you don’t have to. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is part of ServiceMaster® Brands, a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, and bioremediation industries. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under seven brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.5B in system-wide sales. TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK is the sister brand of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK which is a national, full-service franchised moving company with each franchise being independently owned and operated. Currently, there are more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 47 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has performed more than 9.5 million moves since its inception in 1985.

ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:

Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is a national, full-service franchised moving company with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 47 U.S. states, Canada, Ireland, and the UK. Each location is independently owned and operated and together, the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK network has performed more than 10 million moves since its inception in 1985. In 2024, Franchise Business Review named TWO MEN AND A TRUCK a top franchise and a top 100 franchise for women. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK also ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list and was named #1 in the Moving/Junk Removal Services category. The moving company also ranked No. 12 on Entrepreneur's top franchise under $150k. In 2021, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was acquired by ServiceMaster® Brands which is a leading franchise provider of needs-based residential and commercial services in the restoration, cleaning, moving, and bioremediation industries. ServiceMaster was founded as one of America’s first franchise businesses and does business under seven brands today across 50 states and nine countries that generate more than $3.5B in system-wide sales. For franchising opportunities, visit franchise.twomenandatruck.com.