Set a minimum charge, then price quarter, half, three-quarter and full loads from your real costs for each size. ProfitDrawer's junk removal guide prices a quarter-load garage cleanout: 2 people for 1.5 hours at $30 an hour ($90), a $45 dump fee, $17.50 of driving and $15 of overhead, for $167.50. Adding 20% gives $201, rounded up to $205 for a quarter load. Example numbers only.
Repeat the same math for each load size with your own numbers:
- Labor: people x hours x hourly pay, including the dump run.
- Dump fee: what your local site charges for that volume.
- Driving: the example uses 25 miles round trip at a rough running cost of $0.70 a mile.
- Overhead share: insurance, phone and marketing per job.
- Margin: the example adds 20% for taxes and slow weeks.
Bigger loads take more time and cost more to dump, so a full load is not simply four times a quarter load. Work each one out.
Many haulers also add a fee for very heavy items or items with special disposal fees, such as mattresses or tires. Check what local haulers advertise so your prices sit in a sensible range. The free price per job calculator does the math for any load.
Source: How to Start a Junk Removal Business (Truck, Pricing and First Jobs) · Updated
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General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the rules for your state and your situation.