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Husband-and-Wife Team Grow a Mission-Driven Junkluggers Franchise Focused on Local Service

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How This Stay-at-Home Mom Found Her Calling With The Junkluggers

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SEYMOUR, Conn.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://junkluggersfranchise.com/">The Junkluggers</a> spent 2025 adding new franchise owners and entering new markets, signing eight franchise agreements for eight territories. That growth included new locations in Silver Spring, MD; Windsor Hills, CA; College Station, TX; Saratoga, N.Y.; Orlando West, FL, Rocherster, NY, St. Louis, MO, and Katy, TX.That expansion reflects growing demand for values-driven home services as consumers and businesses seek more environmentally responsible ways to manage clutter and waste. For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-junkluggers/info">The Junkluggers</a>, it also signals a franchise system built for scale without sacrificing its mission.“2025 was about strengthening the foundation and proving that purpose-driven businesses can scale responsibly,” said Brand President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwaltz/">Justin Waltz</a>. “As we head into 2026, we’re focused on smart growth, putting the right owners in the right markets and giving them the tools to win from day one.”The Junkluggers picked up several industry recognitions that reflected its continued growth. The brand moved up to No. 204 on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500">Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500</a> list, improving from No. 218 the year before. It also advanced on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchisetimes.com/top-400-2025/">Franchise Times Top 400</a>, rising to No. 387 after ranking No. 399 previously. During the year, The Junkluggers was also named a finalist for the Zor Awards in the “Throw It Away (Junk Hauling)” category.“These rankings aren’t just about growth; they’re about consistency,” Waltz said. “They tell us we’re building something sustainable, something franchisees can trust long term.”The Junkluggers is built on the idea that junk removal shouldn’t end at the landfill. The brand focuses on donating, recycling, and reusing items whenever possible.Under Waltz’s leadership, the brand has doubled down on what he calls “frictionless franchising,” reducing operational burdens so owners can focus on people and performance.“Our goal is to take friction out of the system,” Waltz said. “When we lower back-end costs and centralize things like booking and support, franchisees can reinvest in their frontline teams — and that’s where real growth happens.”Support includes a national contact center, modern routing and job-management software, and a clear, data-driven operating playbook. Pre-opening training spans four virtual weeks prior to a week in person, consisting of ongoing coaching, marketing resources, and vendor partnerships available after launch.As the junk removal industry continues to grow, The Junkluggers is positioning itself for its next phase of expansion. Priority markets include Central Florida; Houston; Phoenix; Northern California; Milwaukee; Salt Lake City; Indianapolis; Las Vegas; Birmingham, AL; and Jacksonville, FL.“We’re entering 2026 with momentum, clarity, and hunger,” Waltz said. “We know where we’re going, and we’re building a network of owners who want to grow something meaningful in their communities.”About The JunkluggersFounded in 2004, The Junkluggers provides sustainable junk removal services. This team of big-hearted professionals revolutionizes the hauling and removal industry by focusing on eco-conscious, community-oriented practices as they remove your furniture and junk. For more information, please visit www.junkluggers.com. For franchise opportunities, visit <a href="http://www.junkluggersfranchise.com">www.junkluggersfranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;

After Receiving Top Franchise Accolades and Adding Eight New Franchisees in 2025, 

The junk removal franchise under Authority Brands signed eight new territories last year and is planning targeted growth in key markets nationwide.

After Receiving Top Franchise Accolades and Adding Eight New Franchisees in 2025, The Junkluggers Sets Its Sights on Smart Growth for 2026

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For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-jones-28b041222/">Dana</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-jones-a91a86221/">Terri Jones</a>, the path to business ownership didn’t start in an office building. It started at a summer camp for children with cancer. Meeting as counselors, the pair established a foundation of service that has defined their personal and business relationship for 25 years.&nbsp;When they decided to leave their lives in Texas and relocate to Pittsburgh in 2020 to be closer to Dana’s father, they weren't just looking for a change of scenery. They were looking for a way to continue weaving that lifelong commitment to helping others into a sustainable career.The couple found their answer in&nbsp;<a href="https://junkluggersfranchise.com/">The Junkluggers</a>, a franchise dedicated to keeping items out of landfills. Today, as owners of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.junkluggers.com/pittsburgh/">The Junkluggers of Pittsburgh</a>, the Joneses operate four territories and recently expanded their footprint by opening a physical location of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-junkluggers/info">The Junkluggers’</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.junkluggers.com/about-us/remix-market/">Remix Market</a>, a secondhand concept breathing new life into the items they haul.<h2>A Shared Mission</h2>Pivoting from corporate finance and high school education into the world of junk removal might seem like a leap. But for the Joneses, the mission was a familiar one. Dana, who also holds a Master of Divinity, had previously founded a nonprofit in Fort Worth aimed at providing furniture to those in need."We met the owner of Junkluggers through a friend of a friend in Austin," Dana said. "He told us about a company started in Connecticut that did work similar to what we were doing through the church: procuring furniture and home goods for people coming out of shelters or arriving as refugees."The ability to provide high-quality items to local nonprofits while giving employees a second chance at a career resonated with the couple. They opened in October 2021, starting with just one truck and a single employee.<h2>The Power of Partnership</h2>Running a business as a married couple requires a delicate balance of shared vision and divided labor. From the start, the Joneses played to their individual strengths to manage the complexities of running a new business in a new place.Dana handles the daily operations, managing the crews and the fleet of trucks. Terri oversees the back office essentials, including HR, technology and billing. This division of labor allows them to move quickly without second-guessing one another."I don’t know how solo owners do it," Dana said. "We both work full time. It’s nice not having to question whether the other person is doing what needs to be done."Terri noted that while the work is constant, the trust they share is the business's greatest asset. "When you own a business, you bet on yourself — and your partner," she said. "One thing I’ve learned is not to wait until everything is figured out. Roll it out and figure it out as you go."<h2>Growing the Brand</h2>That mentality helped the Joneses successfully launch Remix Market Pittsburgh. What began as the online selling of items from a storage unit quickly became a 12,000-square-foot facility. The Junkluggers sister brand serves as a hub for rehoming furniture and home decor with a portion of proceeds benefiting local nonprofits.The expansion has turned the Joneses into multi-brand franchisees, a growth spurt that has come to involve the entire family. Their children have worked on the trucks and behind the registers, witnessing firsthand the grind required to build a business from scratch in a new city."Whether I was in a conference room in a suit or getting trucks out the door, it’s work ethic," Dana said. "Any success we’ve had isn’t because we’re smarter than anyone else. We just work hard with the idea that five or 10 years of effort will pay off."As they look toward the future, the couple hopes to add more routes and eventually step back into leadership roles that allow their employees to grow. But for now, they’re content building a business that reflects their values."We want to be profitable. But we also want to serve people," Terri said. "That thread has been woven through our relationship for 25 years."About The JunkluggersFounded in 2004, The Junkluggers provides sustainable junk removal services. This team of big-hearted professionals revolutionizes the hauling and removal industry by focusing on eco-conscious, community-oriented practices as they remove your furniture and junk. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.junkluggers.com">www.junkluggers.com</a>. For franchise opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.junkluggersfranchise.com">www.junkluggersfranchise.com</a>.

By combining four Junkluggers territories with a physical Remix Market storefront, the Joneses have turned a career change into a mission-driven operation serving the Pittsburgh community.