Best Junk Removal Franchise in 2026: An Honest Comparison

Updated November 2026 with each brand’s 2026 investment figures.

The best junk removal franchise depends on your capital, whether you want one service line or two, and how much brand support you want. Two Men and a Junk Truck and The Junkluggers have the lowest entry cost, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? the best-known junk-only name, and College Hunks Hauling Junk® is the one brand built to run junk removal and moving in the same territory.

What are the best junk removal franchises in 2026?

The five most established junk removal franchises selling territories in 2026 are 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Junk King, The Junkluggers, Two Men and a Junk Truck and College Hunks Hauling Junk. Here is how they compare, using the Item 7 investment range each brand reports in its 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD):

Ranges can change between filings, so confirm them in each brand’s current FDD. College Hunks figures come from Item 7 of the 2026 CHHJ Franchising, L.L.C. FDD.

Which junk removal franchise is the cheapest to open?

Two Men and a Junk Truck has the lowest starting investment of the major junk removal franchises, from $88,210 in its smaller “Mod” markets, followed by The Junkluggers from $96,010 and Junk King from $121,200. A College Hunks Hauling Junk franchise for the junk removal concept alone starts at $138,100.

Lowest entry cost is not the same as best fit. A smaller territory costs less to open and also caps how many trucks the market can keep busy, so check what each range includes (vehicles, working capital, opening marketing) before calling one cheaper.

How do junk removal franchise fees compare?

Junk removal franchise fees fall into two groups: the one-time initial franchise fee in Item 5 of the FDD, and the ongoing royalty, brand fund and technology fees in Item 6. Ongoing fees deserve the closer read, because they apply every month for the full franchise term.

For College Hunks Hauling Junk, the initial franchise fee is $35,000 for one concept in a standard zone, or $32,500 per concept ($65,000 total) when you open junk removal and moving together. Ongoing fees are a 7% royalty, a 2% brand development fee and a 1% technology fee, plus local advertising. Brands layer fees differently, so compare Item 6 of each FDD side by side.

What actually separates these franchises?

Beyond price, four differences shape what owning each one is like day to day:

• One service line or two. Junk King, The Junkluggers, Two Men and a Junk Truck and 1-800-GOT-JUNK? are junk removal businesses. College Hunks Hauling Junk runs junk removal and College Hunks Moving® from one office in one territory.
• Territory size. Junk King’s own franchising site describes territories built on markets of roughly 450,000 to 650,000 people. A College Hunks zone covers approximately 300,000 to 400,000 people, which opens up mid-size and smaller markets.
• How jobs reach you. At College Hunks, the National Sales & Loyalty Center takes orders, schedules appointments and routes jobs to owners by zip code (FDD Item 1). Ask every brand how its call center works.
• Coaching and support. Ask each brand who you work with after opening. College Hunks owners work with two coaches: a Marketing Coach and a Franchise Business Coach.

Where does College Hunks Hauling Junk fit?

College Hunks Hauling Junk fits the buyer who wants two service lines inside one franchise. It is not the lowest-cost entry; a smaller Two Men and a Junk Truck or Junkluggers territory starts lower. It offers junk removal and moving under one brand, in one territory, on one technology stack, with each concept running its own truck.

The brand dates to 2003, began franchising in 2007, and had 159 franchised outlets at the end of 2025 (FDD Item 20). It ranks #383 on Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500 and has appeared nationally on Shark Tank and Undercover Boss. Businesses that are at least 51% veteran-owned get $7,500 off the initial fees for both concepts ($3,750 per concept), and more than 15% of College Hunks locations are veteran-owned.

How do you choose the right junk removal franchise?

Choose a junk removal franchise by matching five things to your situation, in this order:

• Your capital. Most candidates bring at least $75,000 in liquid capital and around $200,000 in net worth.
• Your market. Check which brands still have open territory where you live.
• One line or two. A focused junk removal business, or one operation that also does moving.
• Financing. Many buyers use an SBA 7(a) loan or a retirement rollover; know what you qualify for first.
• The FDD and current owners. Compare Items 5, 6, 7, 12 and 19 directly, and call owners from the Item 20 list.

Frequently asked questions

Which junk removal franchise is the best?

There is no single best junk removal franchise. For a single-service junk business at a lower entry cost, look at Two Men and a Junk Truck, The Junkluggers or Junk King. For one operation that runs both junk removal and moving, College Hunks Hauling Junk is the brand built for it. For a head-to-head on cost, territory and model, see our College Hunks vs Junk King comparison and College Hunks vs 1-800-GOT-JUNK comparison.

Does College Hunks do both moving and junk removal?

Yes. College Hunks Hauling Junk runs junk removal and moving in the same territory from one office, with each concept using its own trucks. That two-in-one model is its main difference from the junk-only brands.

How much does a College Hunks franchise cost?

A College Hunks Hauling Junk franchise costs $138,100 to $232,000 for the junk removal concept alone, or $193,100 to $345,500 for junk removal and moving together, per Item 7 of the 2026 FDD.

Do junk removal franchises promise a certain income?

No. Reputable franchisors do not promise earnings. Any financial performance information a brand shares appears in Item 19 of its FDD, along with the assumptions behind it.

Do junk removal franchises come with a defined territory?

Most established junk removal franchises award a defined territory, usually drawn on population rather than map size. Item 12 of each brand’s FDD sets out the boundaries and any exclusivity, so read it before comparing territories.

How long does it take to open a junk removal franchise?

Plan on several months. For College Hunks Hauling Junk, Item 11 of the FDD sets 110 to 140 days from signing to opening, with opening required within 150 days.

Do you need junk removal experience to own one?

No. Most junk removal franchises recruit owners from outside the industry and provide the operational training. Leading and keeping a crew matters more than hauling experience.

See where College Hunks fits for you

If a two-in-one moving and junk removal franchise sounds like the right fit, the next step is a conversation about your market and your capital. Request information and we’ll help you see if you qualify, or start with the full junk removal franchise cost breakdown, what it takes to qualify and available territories.

Related reading

• How to start a junk removal business, the independent route step by step.
• Is a junk removal business profitable?, where the margin comes from and what eats it.
• Best home services franchises to own in 2026, costs compared across the category.

Competitor figures are the 2026 Item 7 ranges each brand reports and may change; verify current numbers in each brand’s FDD.

Financial information shared in this content is drawn from Item 19 of the 2026 CHHJ Franchising, L.L.C. Franchise Disclosure Document (Issuance Date: April 30, 2026, as amended August 26, 2026). See Item 19 for material assumptions, the underlying data set, and full required disclosures. Past performance does not guarantee future results. New franchisees may earn less.

This information is not an offer to sell or solicitation to buy a franchise. A franchise offering can only be made through the delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document. Certain states regulate the offer and sale of franchises; if you are a resident of one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state.

College Hunks Hauling Junk®, College Hunks Moving®, and the H.U.N.K.S logo are registered trademarks of CHHJ Franchising, L.L.C. © 2026 CHHJ Franchising, L.L.C. All rights reserved.