When Erik Andersen left behind a decades-long legal career, he didn’t expect his next chapter to involve hauling couches instead of cases. But when his cousin and business partner, Rikki Forgwe, invited him to join the family’s TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® operations, Andersen saw a way to build something lasting — and community-focused.

With their second TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK location now open in McHenry, Illinois, Andersen and Forgwe are growing what began as a family effort to help people through life’s biggest transitions. To Andersen, junk removal isn’t only about clearing space, it’s about finding new purpose for the things people leave behind. From hosting warehouse sales to donating furniture and home goods, the duo is focused on keeping reusable items out of landfills and helping their neighbors in the process.

After years in the courtroom, Andersen has found joy in something far more hands-on — seeing families breathe easier after a move or cleanup, knowing they helped turn a stressful task into a positive experience. For him, that’s what success looks like now.

1851 Franchise spoke to Andersen about his franchise journey with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK and his plans for the future. Here’s what he 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?

Erik Andersen: I was a trial lawyer for about 25 years and needed something new. When the pandemic came along, my cousin and partner, Rikki, had been running two moving franchises for some time. The old owner always told him, “When I’m ready to sell, you get first dibs.” Rikki brought me in, and we bought the two moving companies.

We’d always wanted to do junk removal, but it took time to get our footing on the moving side and get established. Once we did, we started the junk business. We bought a new, larger building in North Aurora and doubled our space in McHenry, which allowed us to expand into junk removal.

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?

Andersen: My perception of franchising was very different. As a lawyer, when I represented a franchisor or franchisee, the goal was always to keep them as separate as possible so one wouldn’t be liable for the other.

What’s been great about working with the TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchises is that it’s the opposite. Other franchisees root for you to succeed and help you out. The home office has struck a great balance — supportive but still giving you the freedom to do things your own way.

Especially with the junk side, they’ve been very helpful. I was lucky to come into moving with an established business, but getting the junk removal off the ground was new. The franchise has been really supportive and has a solid playbook to help you get started.

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

Andersen: For me, it was my partner, Rikki, and the opportunity he gave me. Rikki knew the business, and going into business with a family member you love and trust made it an easy decision. The franchises were already well established in our communities — TWO MEN AND A TRUCK had been here for about 20 years between the two locations — and I could see it was a successful business.

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

Andersen: What I hope to achieve is to be a one-stop shop for families and community members who are transitioning — whether they’re moving or just doing a spring cleaning. What really got us into junk removal was seeing a need. We’d be helping someone move, and they’d say, “I don’t want 20 percent of my furniture. Can you help me?” At the time, I had to say no and watch them call another junk removal company. There’s such a natural connection between moving and junk removal, and it was frustrating not to offer the full range of services our customers needed. I want to change that.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Andersen: We’re trying hard not to take everything to the dump and rehome items instead. We’re having a sale this weekend where we’ll be giving away a lot of old furniture and knickknacks. I have a large warehouse that’s basically turned into a thrift store. What we don’t sell, we plan to donate. We’re trying to connect with local organizations that can make use of extra furniture and household goods.

It does save us money on disposal fees, but more importantly, many customers care about where their belongings end up. They want to know their family heirlooms aren’t going to waste.

It’s a challenge finding outlets to donate or store items. Most people in this business take everything straight to the dump so they don’t have to handle it again, but we’re trying to do better. We want to make a difference by repurposing, rehoming and upcycling what others might call junk. The saying is true — one person’s trash is another’s treasure. Every load has at least one piece worth saving.

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

Andersen: My advice would be to talk not just to the franchisor but also to other franchisees. If you can find a franchise like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, where both the franchisor and other franchisees support you and work together, then the franchise model is a great one to be part of.

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.