TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK of Lake County opened August 29, marking a second growth lane for longtime TWO MEN AND A TRUCK owner Scott Brutosky. After more than two decades in moving, he sees junk removal as a cleaner answer to staffing while giving his team more chances to build customer relationships and drive sales.
“Staffing is the toughest issue in small business today,” he said. “The junk side lets us build deeper partnerships with the people on those trucks, with more of a sales and relationship focus. That could make staffing a bit easier than in the moving business. It’s also energizing to do something new.”
Brutosky says the move was a logical extension inside a brand he trusts and one he expects to scale. “The decision to add junk was essentially a no-brainer. The franchisor has a strong product, and I believe junk can become an even better part of the portfolio over the long term for owners already in the system.”
1851 Franchise sat down with Brutosky to discuss his franchising journey with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and his decision to pivot into junk hauling with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Scott Brutosky: I’ve lived in 11 states and lived and worked overseas on several expat assignments. I’m married with two stepchildren and two grandchildren. I value honesty and straightforward communication. I’m naturally introverted, but I enjoy talking in depth about subjects that interest me. From a customer service standpoint — whether you’re at a large corporation or handing a single order at a counter — the goal is the same: make sure the customer leaves happy and do your best to go above and beyond. Kindness and patience matter.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Brutosky: We originally approached franchising as an investment. I kept a full-time, demanding corporate role for about 20 years after we bought in. My last position was vice president of global supply chain and distribution at a four billion-dollar company. I oversaw areas like warehousing, transportation, logistics and trade compliance.
I spent most of my career at two companies — one in Houston and then 29 years at another based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
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?
Brutosky: Like many people, I didn’t fully appreciate what small businesses deal with, including the pros and cons of a franchise system. We wanted a well-run investment with solid support, and we found that. The biggest surprise has been how open and transparent my peers in the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK system are. Over 23 years the network has evolved from mostly operators who started as movers and drivers to a broader mix that includes people with diverse business experience. That’s improved the overall operation.
Owning a small business is hard. At a 30,000-employee company, there are many different departments with lots of different expertise to handle things, but in a small company you wear a lot of hats. Franchises aren’t all the same, there are good and bad franchises, but in our experience, TWO MEN AND AND A TRUCK’s fellow owners share information freely. That openness is a real advantage.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Brutosky: A family member was looking for business investments and naturally gravitated to franchise opportunities. I did my due diligence on TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and found a resale in Lake County, Illinois. It was already set up — four years of history, trucks, basics and a manager — so it felt like a safer bet. We bought it in 2003.
On TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK: It brings a different set of challenges and opportunities. Staffing is the toughest issue in small business today. The junk side lets us build deeper partnerships with the people on those trucks, with more of a sales and relationship focus. That can make staffing a bit easier than in the moving business. It’s also energizing to do something new, and I didn’t want to watch someone else take the opportunity in our market.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Brutosky: We plan to expand. Our two franchise agreements aren’t on the same renewal cycle. Lake County came up first, and the brand separated junk from moving to help junk perform as a distinct business. Our second franchise, West Cook County remains tied to our moving business and won’t be available for about a year and a half. Short answer: yes, we intend to grow and would like to reach the level of the larger competitors in junk.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Brutosky: The decision to add junk was essentially a no-brainer. The franchisor has a strong product, and I believe junk can become an even better part of the portfolio over the long term for owners already in the system.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Brutosky: Do your due diligence. Talk to as many owners in the system as you can to understand how open they are and how they view the franchisor. Get a clear picture of what you’re signing up for. And remember, not all franchises — or franchisors — are the same. Pick the system that fits your goals and values.
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. The company handles furniture pickup, appliance removal, debris cleanouts, and more, offering a hassle-free experience for residential and commercial customers. With over 70 locations across 23 U.S. states, the brand operates as a franchise-based business, and each location is independently owned and operated. 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, a trusted moving company founded in 1985, which operates 430 locations in 48 U.S. states, as well as in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
SPONSORED
After 20-plus years of franchising with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, Brutosky is pivoting to junk hauling with TMAJT with plans to scale towards the market’s top competitors.
TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK of Lake County opened August 29, marking a second growth lane for longtime TWO MEN AND A TRUCK owner Scott Brutosky. After more than two decades in moving, he sees junk removal as a cleaner answer to staffing while giving his team more chances to build customer relationships and drive sales.
“Staffing is the toughest issue in small business today,” he said. “The junk side lets us build deeper partnerships with the people on those trucks, with more of a sales and relationship focus. That could make staffing a bit easier than in the moving business. It’s also energizing to do something new.”
Brutosky says the move was a logical extension inside a brand he trusts and one he expects to scale. “The decision to add junk was essentially a no-brainer. The franchisor has a strong product, and I believe junk can become an even better part of the portfolio over the long term for owners already in the system.”
1851 Franchise sat down with Brutosky to discuss his franchising journey with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and his decision to pivot into junk hauling with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK. Here’s what he had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Scott Brutosky: I’ve lived in 11 states and lived and worked overseas on several expat assignments. I’m married with two stepchildren and two grandchildren. I value honesty and straightforward communication. I’m naturally introverted, but I enjoy talking in depth about subjects that interest me. From a customer service standpoint — whether you’re at a large corporation or handing a single order at a counter — the goal is the same: make sure the customer leaves happy and do your best to go above and beyond. Kindness and patience matter.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Brutosky: We originally approached franchising as an investment. I kept a full-time, demanding corporate role for about 20 years after we bought in. My last position was vice president of global supply chain and distribution at a four billion-dollar company. I oversaw areas like warehousing, transportation, logistics and trade compliance.
I spent most of my career at two companies — one in Houston and then 29 years at another based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
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?
Brutosky: Like many people, I didn’t fully appreciate what small businesses deal with, including the pros and cons of a franchise system. We wanted a well-run investment with solid support, and we found that. The biggest surprise has been how open and transparent my peers in the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK system are. Over 23 years the network has evolved from mostly operators who started as movers and drivers to a broader mix that includes people with diverse business experience. That’s improved the overall operation.
Owning a small business is hard. At a 30,000-employee company, there are many different departments with lots of different expertise to handle things, but in a small company you wear a lot of hats. Franchises aren’t all the same, there are good and bad franchises, but in our experience, TWO MEN AND AND A TRUCK’s fellow owners share information freely. That openness is a real advantage.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Brutosky: A family member was looking for business investments and naturally gravitated to franchise opportunities. I did my due diligence on TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and found a resale in Lake County, Illinois. It was already set up — four years of history, trucks, basics and a manager — so it felt like a safer bet. We bought it in 2003.
On TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK: It brings a different set of challenges and opportunities. Staffing is the toughest issue in small business today. The junk side lets us build deeper partnerships with the people on those trucks, with more of a sales and relationship focus. That can make staffing a bit easier than in the moving business. It’s also energizing to do something new, and I didn’t want to watch someone else take the opportunity in our market.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Brutosky: We plan to expand. Our two franchise agreements aren’t on the same renewal cycle. Lake County came up first, and the brand separated junk from moving to help junk perform as a distinct business. Our second franchise, West Cook County remains tied to our moving business and won’t be available for about a year and a half. Short answer: yes, we intend to grow and would like to reach the level of the larger competitors in junk.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Brutosky: The decision to add junk was essentially a no-brainer. The franchisor has a strong product, and I believe junk can become an even better part of the portfolio over the long term for owners already in the system.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Brutosky: Do your due diligence. Talk to as many owners in the system as you can to understand how open they are and how they view the franchisor. Get a clear picture of what you’re signing up for. And remember, not all franchises — or franchisors — are the same. Pick the system that fits your goals and values.
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. The company handles furniture pickup, appliance removal, debris cleanouts, and more, offering a hassle-free experience for residential and commercial customers. With over 70 locations across 23 U.S. states, the brand operates as a franchise-based business, and each location is independently owned and operated. 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, a trusted moving company founded in 1985, which operates 430 locations in 48 U.S. states, as well as in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
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