Their recipe for success has been simple. Take a fragmented business, add clean shiny trucks that act as mobile billboards, uniformed drivers, on-time service and up-front rates, and then mix in with a culture that is young, fun and completely focused on solid, healthy growth. He has managed to retain 100% ownership and bootstrapped the business solely out of cash flow — something that is very rare these days.Although this is a simple business, they couldn’t possibly have grown this quickly without technology. Taking a low tech business and putting a high tech spin on it allowed them to rapidly distinguish themselves from their competition. All calls come into a central 1-800-GOT-JUNK? call center where they do all the booking and dispatch for their franchise partners. Franchise partners then assess all of their real time reports, schedules, customer info, etc., off of JUNKNET, their corporate intranet. This allows franchise partners to get into business quickly, and to focus solely on growth — working on the business vs. working in the business.
1-800-GOT-JUNK? will do about $32 Million in 2004 — not a bad return on a $700.00 investment! Brian’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is $100 million and 250 franchise partners by Dec 31st, 2006. He says confidently, “We will get there.”
Dan Sherrman on August 8th, 2004 at 5:25 pm
I called these guys once. They wanted to charge an arm and a leg to retrieve some of my junk. I took it to the dump myself instead. Saved LOTS. So, I guess they’re convenient for old ladies and invalids, but I can’t imagine an able bodied person spending that much money to get rid of their junk.
With that said, from the entrepreneurial aspect of the spectrum, I totally admire this business and the founder of it. I love the “signs on the phone pole” method of marketing. Although, there are many that don’t and actually get pissed at you for doing it (I know from experience.) I think if it’s done responsibly and in moderation (not to mention with professional signs) it has a place in the advertising spectrum.
I hope they go to $1 billion. God speed, 1-800-JUNK guys.