The Junkluggers

For millions of households and businesses, the cycle of buying, storing and eventually clearing out has become a constant. Downsizing boomers, fast e-commerce habits and the push for greener living have all converged to transform junk removal from a sporadic chore into a reliable, values-driven service. That shift is creating a powerful opportunity for entrepreneurs who want a business that does well by doing good. It’s the world&nbsp;<a href="https://junkluggersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Junkluggers</a> — the junk hauling franchise under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Authority Brands</a> umbrella — was built for.<h2>A Better Junk Removal Experience, Designed for People and the Planet</h2>The Junkluggers isn’t simply about hauling things away — it’s about rehoming, repurposing and reducing landfill waste through an eco-minded operating model. Customers feel good because items are donated or recycled whenever possible, partner nonprofits receive usable goods and franchise owners build trust — and repeat business — by delivering a service that matches today’s environmental expectations. Under President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwaltz/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Justin Waltz</a>, a former franchisee with nearly two decades in the category, the brand has doubled down on a “frictionless” approach that removes barriers for both customers and owners.“Frictionless franchising is key,” Waltz said. “We focus on reducing backend costs so franchisees can invest more in their frontline employees — the people who actually drive revenue.”&nbsp;For owners, that looks like a national contact center handling bookings, modern software to manage routes and jobs, and a clear, data-driven playbook so operators can focus on growth and customer care. “Even in highly commoditized businesses, customer care is more important than ever,” Waltz said. “It’s not always about the product — it’s about how you make people feel in the moment.”<h2>From a Mom’s SUV to a Mission-Driven Network</h2>The Junkluggers story started in 2004. Founder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/junkluggerjosh?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Cohen</a> launched the company in Fairfield County, Connecticut, using his mom’s SUV and a storage closet in his dad’s office. The idea? Pick up unwanted items and do everything possible not to throw them away. As demand grew, the mission crystallized — make eco-conscious junk removal the norm, not the exception — and franchising followed in 2012.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.franchisetimes.com/dealmakers/authority-brands-adds-the-junkluggers-to-growing-platform/article_95bbf544-00ec-11ef-a3d2-cfabf602711a.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">In 2023, The Junkluggers joined Authority Brands</a>, bringing the resources and maturity of a leading multi-brand platform while preserving the founder mentality that made the concept special from day one.“The brand dies when you pull out the founder mentality,” Waltz said. “Franchisees buy into a business for two main reasons: the culture and the business opportunity. When you combine founder mentality with strong financial backing, the business can be very successful, as it keeps the franchisee’s well-being as the north star.”Today, The Junkluggers operates over 150 locations and is actively awarding protected territories of roughly 400,000 people across 48 states. The model is built for accessible, responsible scale: trucks that serve as rolling billboards, a recognizable neon-green brand, centralized booking to keep calendars full and a community-first donation network that turns every job into a feel-good story.&nbsp;Average gross revenue for the 65 franchisees operating the full fiscal year 2024 was $761,391, with top-tercile operators averaging $1,346,540,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-junkluggers-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025-2728658">according to the brand’s FDD</a>. For the right owners, the combination of brand awareness, operational efficiency and local partnerships creates a strong foundation for multi-territory growth.<h2>A Distinctive Model in a Crowded Space</h2>Junk removal has big names, but The Junkluggers stands out where it matters: waste diversion and customer experience. “We divert nearly 50% more waste from landfills than anyone else,” Waltz said. That philosophy shows up in the day-to-day — from curated recycler relationships to donation receipts that reassure customers their items found a second life. It also shows up in how the brand builds the business around the owner. Waltz calls it “betting on the jockey, not the horse” — clear marketing plans, ongoing training and systemwide initiatives that push additional work to franchisees and shorten the ramp, especially in the critical first 18 months.The approach resonates with owners like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-mejia-junkluggers?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lucy Mejia</a> in Atlanta Metro East. “We decided on The Junkluggers because it checked every single box — sustainability, community orientation, the people at headquarters and the other franchisee owners,” she said. “The culture was solid, and it really hit all my passions and checkpoints.” Her team now partners with numerous recyclers and more than a dozen donation organizations, turning eco-values into everyday operations customers can see.From discovery to launch, the pathway is structured and supportive. Pre-opening training runs about five business days and covers marketing, sales, customer interaction, operations, record-keeping and vehicle maintenance. After opening, owners get individualized coaching, national marketing resources, vendor partnerships and the ongoing lift of an in-house contact center.<h2>Why Now?</h2>The macro trends are unmistakable.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalgrowthinsights.com/market-reports/junk-removal-franchise-market-115275?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Analysts project the junk removal market will grow from $1.6 billion in 2025 to $2.7 billion by 2033</a>. Waltz points to multiple tailwinds: an aging population downsizing their homes, ever-rising storage unit volumes, an “Amazon mentality” of frequent buying and tossing, and a cultural pivot toward eco-friendly services. “We’re the hungriest company in this space,” he said. “We’re evolving, we’re innovating and we’re here to dominate the industry.”That urgency is paired with openness. “Franchisees have often risked their life savings,” Waltz said. “Their feedback is invaluable. Many of the best ideas in franchising came from owners on the front lines. We’ll never shy away from that collective voice.”&nbsp;Looking ahead, the brand is hoping to grow in several key markets across the country, including Central Florida; Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Cincinnati, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Salt Lake City, Utah; Indianapolis, Indiana; Birmingham, Alabama; Jacksonville, Florida; and Las Vegas, Nevada.If you’re looking for a business that aligns purpose with profit — one that transforms a universal need into a community-minded service and a sustainable enterprise — The Junkluggers delivers. With prime territories available, an established platform under Authority Brands, and leadership intent on removing friction at every turn, there may never be a better time to join.“We’re here to stay, and we’re coming for our competitors,” Waltz said. “If you want to be part of a forward-thinking, eco-conscious company that’s changing the world one truckload at a time, I’d love to hear from you.”The estimated initial investment ranges from $96,010 to $359,160, including a $50,000 franchise fee for a standard territory. Learn more about franchising with The Junkluggers:<a href="https://junkluggersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-junkluggers-franchise-opportunity-2730764" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;https://junkluggersfranchise.com/</a>.

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The Junkluggers Franchise | Eco-Focused Junk Removal Backed by Authority 

1851 Franchise

With sustainability at its core, The Junkluggers blends purpose and performance to create a modern franchise opportunity that puts community impact and operational simplicity on the same truck.

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Junkluggers Franchisees Win the Fast-Growing, Eco-Focused Junk Removal Market With Mission, Momentum and a “Frictionless” System Built for Scale

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

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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The Junkluggers Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data 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>.

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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.

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

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Junkluggers Franchisees Win the Fast-Growing, Eco-Focused Junk Removal Market With Mission, Momentum and a “Frictionless” System Built for Scale

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