Franchisor Stories
Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: The Junkluggers is an eco-conscious junk removal franchise that helps customers donate, recycle, and responsibly dispose of unwanted items.
The Junkluggers is a junk removal franchise that focuses on eco-conscious hauling, donation and recycling services for homes and businesses. The brand helps customers clear out unwanted items while reducing landfill waste, offering a feel-good, community-focused alternative in the junk removal industry. With nearly two decades of experience and the backing of Authority Brands, The Junkluggers provides franchise owners with an established model designed for growth, sustainability, and long-term success.
The Junkluggers was founded in 2004 in Fairfield County, Connecticut, by Josh Cohen. He started the business using his mom’s SUV and a small storage closet in his father’s office. The company began franchising in 2012 and was acquired by Authority Brands in 2023.
Mission: To make eco-conscious junk removal the standard, not the exception.
Vision: To help keep items out of landfills by donating, re-purposing, and rehoming as much as possible.
The Junkluggers focuses on sustainability and community service. It combines efficient junk removal with a mission to reduce landfill waste. The brand emphasizes donating and recycling, offers reliable service, and works with non-profit organizations to extend the life of household goods.
The Junkluggers offers an established business model with ongoing training, marketing support and individualized business coaching. Franchisees benefit from a national call center, advanced business management software and guidance from a dedicated corporate team. The franchise is scalable, community-driven and backed by the resources of Authority Brands.
Prime territories are available in 48 states in the U.S. (with the exceptions of Washington and Hawaii). A protected territory includes a population of approximately 400,000 individuals defined by postal ZIP codes.
Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a The Junkluggers franchise ranges from $96,010 to $359,160. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down as follows:
| Type of Expenditure | Min | Max |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Initial Training Fee | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Service Truck (Including Signage) | $4,600 | $85,500 |
| Real Estate Rent | $0 | $23,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $0 | $10,000 |
| Supplies, Equipment & Hand Tools | $1,300 | $3,600 |
| Insurance | $2,750 | $34,500 |
| Travel & Living Expenses While Training | $500 | $4,000 |
| Computer System | $500 | $6,300 |
| Pre-Opening & Grand Opening Marketing | $4,000 | $12,000 |
| Permits & Licenses | $110 | $7,225 |
| Professional Fees | $1,500 | $10,635 |
| General & Administrative Costs | $750 | $4,400 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $25,000 | $100,000 |
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee for a territory of 400,000 individuals is $50,000. For territories with a population of more than 400,000, the franchise fee will be increased by $0.12 per person. The Junkluggers offers discount programs for conversion franchises, existing franchisees, military veterans and active military personnel, first responders, individuals of the LGBTQ+ community, minority and women applicants.
Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, The Junkluggers franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
| Royalty Fee | 7% of gross revenue/week from junk removal services |
| Ongoing Contribution to Charity | 1% of gross revenue/week from remix services |
| Brand Fund Contribution | 2% of gross revenue/week from junk removal services 1% of gross revenue/week from remix services |
| Local Marketing and/or Cooperative | $6,000 for the first 3 months Greater of 10% of gross revenue or $4,000 thereafter |
| Call Center Fee | 5% of gross revenue/month from junk removal services |
| Technology Fee | $350/month |
| GPS Tracking Software | $35/vehicle/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 65 franchisees operating for the entirety of FY 2024 reported the following gross revenue:
| Tercile | Average | Median | High | Low |
| Top Third (22) | $1,346,540 | $1,042,920 | $3,623,199 | $770,253 |
| Middle Third (21) | $612,045 | $599,244 | $767,701 | $488,165 |
| Bottom Third (22) | $318,800 | $329,255 | $479,431 | $120,658 |
| Total (65) | $761,391 | $599,244 | $3,623,199 | $120,658 |
Pre-opening training lasts about five business days and includes both in-person and online sessions at the Connecticut office. Topics cover marketing and sales, customer interaction, operations, record keeping and vehicle maintenance.
The Junkluggers provides an onboarding and launch checklist, national marketing resources, vendor partnerships, budgeting and accounting guidance, and an in-house call center for customer service and appointment scheduling.
Franchisees receive access to advanced software to franchisees build, manage and succeed with their business.
No prior junk removal experience is required. The franchise provides franchisees with the established systems and necessary training to open The Junkluggers.
Franchisees are expected to be actively involved in daily operations, including team management and community outreach.
The Junkluggers offers financing options to assist prospective franchisees in managing the initial franchise fee. Specifically, the company may allow candidates to finance up to 75% of the franchise fee and any applicable additional population fee, subject to approval. This internal financing option provides flexibility for those who may not have the full amount available upfront.
Additionally, The Junkluggers is recognized as an SBA-approved franchise, which can facilitate access to Small Business Administration loans for qualified franchisees. While the company does not have formal partnerships with specific third-party financing institutions, franchisees may explore external financing options independently.
For veterans, The Junkluggers provides a 30% discount on the initial franchise fee through their partnership with VetFran, supporting honorably discharged service members in becoming franchise owners.
Prospective franchisees are encouraged to consult with financial advisors to explore all available financing options and determine the best approach for their individual circumstances.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb8wRcyffGY
“We did decide on The Junkluggers. It checked every single box, from sustainability to being community-oriented to the people at the headquarters to the other franchise owners. The culture was solid and it really hit all my passions and checkpoints.”
- Lucy Mejia, Franchise Owner — Atlanta Metro East
The junk removal franchise market is forecasted to grow from $2.41 billion in 2025 to $6.12 billion by 2034, with a steady CAGR of 9.6%. The industry includes companies providing residential and commercial junk removal, electronic waste disposal and debris cleanup services.
The Junkluggers operates in the same space as other major junk removal franchises such as 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, College Hunks Hauling Junk and Junk King. What sets The Junkluggers apart is its deeper commitment to sustainability. The brand prioritizes donation and repurposing before disposal, aiming to keep as many items as possible out of landfills.
Fill out and submit the online form on The Junkluggers franchise website to get the process started.
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