TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-bailey?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-in-a-truck-franchisee-john-bailey-toronto-2731947" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Bailey</a> has spent most of his career figuring things out as he goes. He started in the automotive industry, where he worked for more than 20 years, before teaming up with his brother to run a home renovation business. When the 2009 recession forced that business in a new direction, he took it as an opportunity to go out on his own. He wasn’t just looking for another job. He wanted something stable, something with a recognizable name behind it and a system he didn’t have to build from scratch. That search led him to&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-in-a-truck-franchisee-john-bailey-toronto-2731947" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a>, the international, full-service franchised moving company.Sixteen years later, that decision has grown into a five-location operation serving Midtown, Downtown, the Beaches, Thornhill and Vaughan. Bailey runs his teams with a simple mindset: He treats his movers like athletes and puts a heavy emphasis on showing up for customers the right way every time. It’s a big reason why most of his business now comes from referrals. Today, his crews handle everything from everyday family moves to high-profile clients like the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs, while still staying involved in the community through efforts like<a href="https://twomenandatruck.ca/movers-for-moms-program?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=two-men-in-a-truck-franchisee-john-bailey-toronto-2731947" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;Movers for Moms®</a>.1851 Franchise sat down with Bailey to discuss his journey as a business owner with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/twomenandatruck">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a>. Here’s what he had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?John Bailey:&nbsp;I am 63 years old and live in the Scarborough area of Toronto. We opened our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK location at 153 Bridgeland Avenue 16 years ago, and we are moving into our 17th year soon. We run a very team-oriented company culture, and I actually see our business as a sports franchise. Our movers are essentially athletes who lift and move furniture all day.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Bailey:&nbsp;Prior to franchising, I worked in the automotive industry for 21 years. After that, I was involved in a home renovations business with my brother, which eventually grew to serve all of Ontario and Alberta. Around 2009, the recession led to a shift in that home renovations business, so I decided to pursue a different direction. I wanted to do my own thing, separate from working with my brother, so I started with one TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise and have since expanded to five units.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?Bailey:&nbsp;I initially viewed franchising as just buying into an established brand and system, noticing that many large businesses like McDonald’s and Tim Hortons operate that way. Now that I am in it, I highly recommend becoming a franchisee because of the incredible support system available when challenges arise. However, I want people to know that a good brand does not automatically run itself. Starting a new business requires immense effort and hard work; you have to be actively involved in making it grow.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Bailey:&nbsp;I chose TWO MEN AND A TRUCK for the stability and the support system it provides, allowing for communication and problem-solving with other individuals in the system. It has a great brand name, but a key reason for selecting this brand specifically was the ability to work on the business rather than in it. I am most excited by the corporation’s genuine care for its franchisees and their desire for everyone to succeed and achieve a better quality of life.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Bailey:&nbsp;I aim for continued growth and financial stability in my business, and I would be interested in acquiring more territories if they become available. Culturally, my goal is to always exceed customer expectations and create “raving fans” rather than just satisfied customers. That commitment to service has resulted in a consistently high referral rate that often exceeds 96% every year.1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Bailey:&nbsp;We do a lot of exciting commercial work, maintaining contracts with high-profile clients like the Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Maple Leafs. We handle complex, last-minute moves, like shipping a player’s belongings from Florida to Sacramento during the pandemic, which really demonstrates our commitment to finding solutions for any problem. We are also heavily involved in charity events, including the annual&nbsp;Movers for Moms initiative, and for the last five or six years, we have coordinated Christmas shoebox deliveries for women in shelters and in abusive relationships across Toronto.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Bailey:&nbsp;New owners must be ready to work hard and stay closely involved in the business, especially in the early stages. I have always believed in being available when needed, and I still share my cell phone number for direct contact. Hard work is a big part of success.ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is an international, full-service franchised moving company with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 48 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. Each location is independently owned and operated, and together, the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK network has performed more than 10 million moves since its inception in 1985. The moving company has been in Canada for the past 20 years, and more than 30 franchise locations are operating within Canada. In 2024, the Canadian locations moved 26,000 customers while maintaining a 95% referral rating, living up to the brand’s tagline as the Movers Who Care®.&nbsp; TWO MEN AND A TRUCK offers comprehensive home and business moving services, professional packing and unpacking, and storage and junk removal services.

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Franchisee John Bailey Celebrates 16 Years in Toronto

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After losing a business in the 2009 recession, Bailey found a new path, and sixteen years in, his leadership and commitment to service continue to shape the way he runs and grows his business.

 How John Bailey Rebuilt After the Recession and Grew to Five TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Locations

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Marks 40 Years of Success

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TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Marks 40 Years of Success With New Signings, New Franchisees and System Growth

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20 Years and 30,000 Moves Later: Meet TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Canada’s Longest-Tenured Owners

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LANSING, Mich. —&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK®</a>, a fast-growing junk removal franchise, has been named to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/fastest-growing-ranking">Top New and Emerging Franchises list by Entrepreneur magazine</a>, a distinction that recognizes standout brands that have begun franchising within the past five years and are demonstrating strong early growth.Entrepreneur builds the list using its Franchise 500 evaluation, which reviews more than 150 data points, including costs, growth, franchisee support, brand strength and financial stability. The Top New and Emerging Franchises list focuses on brands that began franchising in 2020 or later and have started gaining traction in the market.“Watching the system grow like this has been exciting,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshacka">Randy Shacka</a>, president of TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK. “We built the brand to be straightforward for owners, with the support they need behind them, while giving customers a reliable option for junk removal.”TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, now operating more than 70 locations across 23 states, has found its stride by making junk removal simple, handling everything from old furniture and appliances removal to major cleanouts for homeowners and businesses alike.Being part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.servicemaster.com/">ServiceMaster Brands</a> family gives the company a serious edge, drawing on a long history of franchise know-how and resources. ServiceMaster, which has been around since the early days of franchising, manages several service brands across the country, bringing in over $3.5 billion in sales across its entire system.TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK also builds on the trusted reputation of its sister company,&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK</a>, which has been a leader in the moving industry since 1985 and operates hundreds of locations worldwide.To learn more about franchising with TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com">https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com</a>.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 more than 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 $3.5 billion in systemwide 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.

With more than 70 locations in 23 states, the junk removal concept continues to expand its footprint and gain industry recognition.

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ST. LOUIS, Mo.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandatruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.twomenandajunktruck.com/">TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK®</a> brought franchise owners and corporate leaders together for the company’s 2026 Annual Conference, held Feb. 21-24 at the Marriott Grand in St. Louis, Missouri. The multi-day event focused on collaboration, recognition, and strategic planning as the brand prepares for the upcoming busy moving season.“TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has always been about empowering our franchise owners to grow strong businesses while serving their communities,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyshacka/">Randy Shacka,</a> president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. “Annual Conference gives us the opportunity to come together, celebrate the achievements across the system and share the strategies that will help our franchises continue to grow, even in a changing market.”This year’s theme, “Gateway to Growth,” was inspired by the conference’s host city and its historic significance as the gateway to the American West.“We were in St. Louis, which is home to the Gateway Arch, and historically it served as a staging point for explorers and pioneers. Our conference represents a gateway to growth for the system and our franchises”, said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikishook/">Riki Shook</a>, marketing and communications director.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>A Week of Learning and Collaboration</h2>Throughout the four-day event, franchise owners participated in keynote sessions, breakout workshops, and networking opportunities designed to help them strengthen their operations and prepare for the busy season ahead.“A lot of the focus this year was on innovation and technology, looking at where the system needs to be from a sales, marketing and operations perspective,” Shook said. “We really focused on tools for growth and where the moving industry is going as a whole.”The conference also featured a vendor marketplace with record participation from partners providing technology, marketing and operational services to franchise owners.“Having our annual conference at the beginning of the year really sets the stage for the rest of the year,” Shook said. “Franchise owners get to connect with peers, talk about what’s working in their markets and share best practices.”<h2>Recognizing Franchise Excellence</h2>A highlight of the conference was the annual awards ceremony, which recognized franchises and team members for operational performance, leadership, and community impact.During the conference, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK recognized franchises that reached major revenue milestones through the brand’s Million Dollar Club, which celebrates locations achieving significant levels of annual gross revenue.“We also had a new award this year, the Heart of the Brand Award,” Shook said. “That one was really to reinforce the ‘movers who care’ mindset and the support system that franchise owners build within their local teams.”The 2026 award winners included:<ul><li>Founders Award: Berkeley, California — Mark Snyir and Tanya Nickel</li><li>Safety Award: Lubbock, Texas</li><li>Business Moves Revenue Award: St. George, Utah — Justin Phillips and Kirk Phillips</li><li>Boxes and Packing Revenue Award: Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida — Britt Lanier and Susan Lanier</li><li>Interstate Annual Gross Revenue Award: St. Louis, Missouri — Naim Gasanov, Doug Haber, John Judson, Tom Schopp, Joel Trost and Steve West</li><li>Multi-Family Award: Columbus, Ohio — Justin and Stephanie Clarey</li><li>Crated Moving Award: Springfield, Virginia — Martin Pollack</li><li>Sales Order Growth Award, Under 18 Months: Huntington Beach, California — Komal and Santanu Bandyopadhyay</li><li>Sales Order Growth Award, Over 18 Months: College Station, Texas — Jay Mellentine and Christine Thomas</li><li>Highest Single Unit Gross Revenue Award: St. Louis, Missouri — Naim Gasanov, Doug Haber, John Judson, Tom Schopp, Joel Trost and Steve West</li><li>Highest Multi-Unit Operating Unit Gross Revenue Award: Minneapolis South, Minnesota — Nick Bailey</li><li>International Move Hero: Sam Hellem - Colorado Springs, Colorado&nbsp;</li><li>Heart of the Brand Award: Taylor Suman — Fort Worth, Texas franchisee</li><li>Newsmaker Award: Twin Cities — Nick Bailey</li><li>Achievement In Excellence Program (AIE) No. 1 U.S. Metro Market: Charlottesville, Virginia — Nathan Bocock and Bryan and Rebecca Feldman</li><li>AIE Program No. 1 Mod-Market: Idaho Falls, Idaho — Terry Bruns, Lucas Keefe and</li><li>Exceptional Customer Service Award: Gainesville, Florida — Mark and Saundria Golden, Chris Hardoin and Anyse Medwedeff</li><li>Humanitarian Award: Grand Rapids North, Michigan — Heidi and Kyle Norcutt</li></ul><h2>Looking Ahead</h2>As the brand prepares for the busy summer moving season, leadership emphasized the importance of refining strategies now so franchise locations are positioned for success when demand increases.“The strength of our brand has always come from the dedication of our franchise owners and the teams they build in their communities,” Shacka said. “When we come together to share ideas, celebrate success and prepare for the year ahead, it reinforces the culture that has driven this brand for 40 years and positions our entire system for continued growth.”ABOUT TWO MEN AND A TRUCK:&nbsp;Headquartered in Michigan, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK is an international, full-service franchised moving company with more than 430 locations and 3,000 trucks operating in 47 U.S. states in addition to Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Each location is independently owned and operated, and together, the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK network has performed more than 10 million moves since its inception in 1985. In 2026, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was featured on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, where the brand was ranked No. 1 in the Moving/Junk Removal Services category. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was also named a top franchise by Franchise Business Review and was featured on the Best National Moving Company List by Newsweek. In 2021, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK was acquired by ServiceMaster® Brands, which is 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. For franchising opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://franchise.twomenandatruck.com">franchise.twomenandatruck.com</a>.

Photo of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK annual conference

The brand’s “Gateway to Growth” conference brought franchise owners, corporate leaders and industry partners together in St. Louis to celebrate achievements and prepare for the year ahead.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Celebrates Franchise Growth and Leadership at 2026 Annual Conference

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How John Bailey Rebuilt After the Recession and Grew to Five TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Locations

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