The Junkluggers

For more than two decades,&nbsp;<a href="https://junkluggersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Junkluggers</a> has been redefining what it means to “take out the trash.” What began in 2004 as founder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/junkluggerjosh/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Josh Cohen’s</a> small side hustle in Fairfield County, Connecticut — using his mom’s SUV to pick up unwanted items and donate them instead of tossing them — has evolved into a national franchise system with over 150 locations and the backing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.authoritybrands.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Authority Brands</a>. Today, The Junkluggers stands out in the booming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalgrowthinsights.com/market-reports/junk-removal-franchise-market-115275?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$1.6 billion junk removal market</a> as the premier eco-conscious option for entrepreneurs seeking purpose and profit in equal measure.Under the leadership of Brand President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwaltz/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Justin Waltz</a>, a former franchisee himself with nearly 20 years of experience in junk removal, The Junkluggers is scaling with a clear mission: to help owners build sustainable, community-driven businesses while making a real environmental impact. Here are the top five reasons why now — in 2026 — is the perfect time to join this fast-growing franchise.<h2>1. A Mission That Matters: Sustainability and Community Impact</h2>The Junkluggers isn’t just a hauling company — it’s a movement. Each truckload represents an opportunity to rehome, repurpose and recycle items instead of sending them to the landfill. “We divert nearly 50% more waste from landfills than anyone else,” Waltz said. “We’re innovating the world of junk removal by being eco-minded, customer-centric and data-driven.”This sustainability-first approach resonates deeply with today’s consumers. Franchisees like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-mejia-junkluggers?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lucy Mejia</a> of Atlanta Metro East say that mission-driven appeal is what drew them in. “The culture was solid, and it really hit all my passions and checkpoints — sustainability, community orientation, the people at headquarters, and the other franchisee owners,” she said. “We partner with more than a dozen donation organizations and recyclers — people can feel good about where their things are going.”<h2>2. A Frictionless Franchise Model Designed for Growth</h2>For Waltz, one concept guides everything: frictionless franchising. “We focus on reducing backend costs so franchisees can invest more in their frontline employees — the people who actually drive revenue,” he said.The Junkluggers model includes a national call center that manages bookings, advanced routing software for efficiency, and centralized marketing and data tools that make running the business simpler and more profitable. “The more efficient the franchisee can be, the more profitable they are,” Waltz said. “We provide clear marketing plans, ongoing training and real-time data that help owners perform at a higher level.”That support starts before opening day and continues well after. From five days of pre-opening training to individualized coaching, vendor partnerships and systemwide lead generation, The Junkluggers gives owners everything they need to focus on growth.<h2>3. Established Financial Performance and Scalable Territories</h2>For owners who want low overhead with real upside, The Junkluggers posts solid figures. According to its&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/the-junkluggers-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025-2728658">2025 Franchise Disclosure Document</a>, franchisees operating the full fiscal year averaged $761,391 in gross revenue, and the top third averaged $1,346,540.Each protected territory encompasses roughly 400,000 people, giving operators room to expand without oversaturation. The estimated initial investment ranges from $96,010 to $359,160, including a $50,000 franchise fee — making it one of the most accessible entry points in the Authority Brands portfolio.“Franchisees buy into a business for two main reasons: the culture and the business opportunity,” Waltz said. “When you combine founder mentality with strong financial backing, the business can be very successful.” In other words, they’re “betting on the jockey, not the horse.”<h2>4. A Brand Positioned for Massive Industry Growth</h2>The junk removal industry is on the rise — projected to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globalgrowthinsights.com/market-reports/junk-removal-franchise-market-115275?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">grow from $1.6 billion in 2025 to $2.7 billion by 2033</a>. Waltz points to major macroeconomic tailwinds fueling that expansion: downsizing baby boomers, the rise of e-commerce-driven clutter, the growing number of storage units nationwide and the eco-conscious mindset of modern consumers.“We’re the hungriest company in this space,” Waltz said. “We’re evolving, we’re innovating and we’re here to dominate the industry.”With the resources of Authority Brands — one of the largest multi-brand home services franchisors in the world — The Junkluggers is scaling smarter and faster while preserving its founder-driven culture.<h2>5. A People-First Culture That Drives Success</h2>At its core, The Junkluggers is a people business — not just in how it treats customers, but in how it empowers franchise owners. Waltz’s leadership philosophy centers on franchisee feedback and collaboration. “Franchisees have often risked their life savings,” he said. “Their feedback is invaluable. The best ideas in franchising come from owners on the front lines.”That franchisee-first culture continues to attract passionate operators like Mejia, who see The Junkluggers as more than just a business — it’s a legacy. “To have my kids watch me growing a successful business means the world to me,” she said. “Helping the community and educating people that we can do better — that’s my ultimate goal.”With a mission that aligns with today’s values, a frictionless system built for scale and the backing of Authority Brands, The Junkluggers is redefining what’s possible in junk removal. The brand is actively expanding in key markets 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.“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.”For more information, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://junkluggersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-5-reasons-to-buy-a-junkluggers-franchise-2026-2730765" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://junkluggersfranchise.com/</a>.

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Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Junkluggers Franchise in 2026 | Sustainable Junk Removal Opportunity

1851 Franchise

The eco-conscious junk removal brand backed by Authority Brands offers a mission-driven business model, strong financials and frictionless support for franchisees.

This brand page has been paid for by THE JUNKLUGGERS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Top 5 Reasons To Buy a Junkluggers Franchise in 2026

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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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Top 5 Reasons To Buy a Junkluggers Franchise in 2026

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