Junk Removal Job Profit Calculator

Most successful junk removal businesses target 30-50% net profit per job after all costs. For a $350 average job, that means $105-$175 profit. If you're below 20%, focus on raising prices or reducing costs. Top operators achieve 50%+ margins through efficient routing and dump fee negotiation.

Pricing depends on your costs, but most operators charge $150-$500 per job based on volume and difficulty. Calculate your breakeven price first, then add your target profit margin. For a 1/4 truck load, $150-$200 is typical; full truck loads range $400-$600. Always price by the load, not the hour.

Negotiate volume rates with your landfill or transfer station - many offer 10-20% discounts for regular customers. Consider sorting materials: donate usable items, recycle metals (which may pay you), and only dump true trash. Some operators save $20-50 per load through smart sorting.

Helpers make sense when jobs require heavy lifting, second-story access, or when you can complete more jobs per day. If a $18/hour helper enables one extra $350 job per day, that's $260+ extra profit. Calculate the breakeven: helper cost must be less than the additional revenue they enable.

After all costs, experienced operators earn $50-$100+ per hour. Beginners often make $25-40/hour while learning efficiency. If your effective rate is below $30/hour, you're underpricing or have efficiency issues. The goal is $75+ per hour for sustainable growth.

The best leads come from Google Business Profile (free), Nextdoor, and referrals. Paid leads from LoadUp, Junk King franchises, or Google Ads typically cost $15-$50 per job. If you're paying over 15% of job revenue on leads, invest more in SEO and reviews to build organic traffic.