Jacob Espinoza, president and founder of Top Junk Premium Junk Removal in Fresno, put himself through nursing school by hauling waste. He later returned to the industry full time. Photo by Frank Lopez

In just the last few years, one might have noticed several junk hauling businesses launching in the area.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows the employment rate for the junk removal industry grew by 6.04% in 2022 compared to 2018. The industry generates an annual payroll of $10 billion and employs 481,400 people in the U.S.

Whether due to families downsizing their living situation, remodeling or sprucing up during lockdown, local junk haulers are enjoying higher demand for their services.  

Competition is good

Jacob Espinoza, president and founder of Top Junk Premium Junk Removal in Fresno, launched his business in April 2022. 

Espinoza first got into the junk hauling business as a side hustle in 2015 when he was living in San Jose while attending nursing school. 

He graduated in 2020, just in time for Covid-19.

Motivated by his wife, who saw how stressed he was working as a nurse and reminded him of his success with junk removal in the past, Espinoza decided to make a change. 

When he first started his business, he didn’t realize the junk hauling industry was so vast. He pictured it more as providers offering a service in their neighborhood. 

“I realized there is actually a pretty large demand for this,” Espinoza said. “Even if you have your own truck, you can only take so much in your own bed. You can go rent a trailer, but the costs of doing all that versus the cost of having someone doing it for you started to click for me.” 

Espinoza said there’s a fairly low barrier to entry in this business, with a small junk hauler able to start a business with just a pickup and a trailer — possibly foregoing the necessary documentation or registration. In fact, many start out that way, he added.

That’s a sticking point for established professionals who complain about actors who do not carry liability insurance or a business license, Espinoza said. 

However, as part of the natural business cycle, many of these junk haulers underprice their services and fail to raise the capital to upgrade or maintain their equipment, he said. 

For those who stick it out, recent demographic trends appear to be in their favor.

Top Junk has seen a rise in commercial clients downsizing their offices, allowing employees to work from home. 

Espinoza has also seen more seniors downsizing their homes, moving in with family or into an assisted living facility. 

The recent growth of the local junk hauling industry, and even the increased competition, is good for all haulers to raise awareness of the serve, he said.

Trying new marketing

Jorge Gonzalez, 22, started Junky Junk in Fresno straight out of high school about four years ago.

In the beginning, his older brother would let him borrow his pickup, and he’d use a trailer that his family had for their party rental business. 

Along with seeing a need for the service locally, Gonzalez said the startup capital wasn’t too prohibitive. 

The first year of the pandemic was good for business, with people stuck at home doing renovation projects and cleaning out unwanted items, allowing Gonzalez to purchase a new trailer and bigger truck. 

Gonzalez said he knows a few real estate investors who recommend him to homebuyers and house flippers, which keeps him busy year-round.

Starting out, he would advertise on Craigslist and Facebook, but they became less effective over time. He is experimenting with different avenues.

“I’m trying to hit Instagram right now to get new customers, and I’m trying to get into Tik-Tok more — especially since I have more competition now,” Gonzalez said. 

He eventually wants to buy a larger garbage bin for bigger jobs. His brother is working on getting a demolition license, with Junky Junk providing the cleanup for those jobs. 

Weather factors

Mr. Clean Junk Removal of Fresno was founded by owner Brice Havens three years ago. 

Havens, who has a 15-year background in advertising and marketing, was inspired by some of his clients doing junk removal in the Bay Area. He saw an opportunity to do the same in Fresno.

“Business was good at the start of the pandemic,” Havens said. “I applied my marketing background to some of the stuff with the junk removal and we came out rocking.” 

This year has been slower for Mr. Clean Junk Removal, with Havens citing economic worries and heavy rain.

Now with good weather and people wanting to be in their backyards, business is picking up, he said. 

Havens believes so many haulers are starting up lately with the idea that it’s an easy buck to be made, but it requires hard work, he said, including working when no one else wants to — including weekends.