While everyone’s chasing “passive income,” there’s real money in hauling away people’s junk. I’m talking $200-$500 a day in your pocket if you’re willing to get dirty. Here’s how to start with nothing but a vehicle and some hustle.
What You Actually Need to Begin
Forget the fancy equipment – if you’ve got any of these, you’re in business:
- A pickup truck (obvious)
- A minivan with the seats removed (surprisingly effective)
- A buddy with a trailer (split the profits)
- A strong back and a weak sense of smell
Pro Tip: Rent a U-Haul for $20/day when starting out. One job will cover the cost.
Finding Your First Jobs (No Experience Needed)
- Facebook Marketplace Goldmine
Post: “HAULING ANYTHING – $50 and up” with a pic of your vehicle. You’ll get messages within hours from people desperate to get rid of:- College kids’ abandoned furniture
- Divorced dads’ ex-wife’s crap
- Hoarder relatives’ “treasures”
- The Dumpster Diver Special
Offer $50 “you load, I haul” specials for garage cleanouts. Half the time they’ll pay you to take “junk” that’s actually resellable. - Real Estate Agent Hookup
Message every agent in town: “I can clear out foreclosures in 24 hours.” They’ll love you forever.
The Hidden Profit in Other People’s Trash
Smart haulers make more from reselling than hauling. Always check for:
- Metal: Appliances = free money at scrap yards
- Furniture: A quick sanding and paint job can turn a “junk” dresser into $150 on OfferUp
- Tools: Dudes will pay stupid money for rusty old wrenches
- Vintage: That “ugly” lamp could be mid-century modern gold
True Story: My buddy made $800 last month from a “free” haul-away job just by spotting and reselling a vintage bicycle and 3 working power tools.
What to Charge (Without Getting Screwed)
- By the truckload: $150-$300 depending on how nasty it is
- By the item: $50 per mattress, $20 per chair
- “Oh Hell No” Fee: Add 50% for:
- Animal infestations
- Mold situations
- Anything involving human waste
The Dark Side of Junk Hauling
- You will encounter smells that haunt your dreams
- People will try to pay you in “exposure” or homemade jam
- 90% of “perfectly good” furniture is actually trash
Survival Tip: Keep Vicks VapoRub in your glove compartment for really bad jobs. Smear it under your nose.
When to Say No
- If the client seems meth-adjacent
- If the pile includes “mystery liquids”
- If they offer to pay in collectible coins or firearms
The Beautiful Part
This business scales stupidly easy. Start solo, then hire day laborers when you get busy. Next thing you know you’ve got a crew and you’re the one sitting in the truck bossing people around.
Final Thought: There’s never been a better time to get into junk. Americans have more crap than ever and less desire to deal with it. Be the solution, get paid.