If you hang out in junk removal Facebook groups, you’ve probably seen the same post a hundred times, a picture of a garage full of old furniture and the question, “What would you charge for this?” Instead of crowdsourcing guesses, use a free estimate generator that walks you through every cost and keeps your pricing consistent.
The truth is, no one online can give you the right answer, because every hauler’s costs are different. They don’t know YOUR truck payment, YOUR dump fees, YOUR drive time, or YOUR costs. They’re guessing just like you are. Until you know your real numbers, you’re just guessing. And guessing leads to undercharging, burnout, and profit that disappears faster than a dump run.
This guide breaks down how to track your junk removal business the simple way, no college degree, no accountant, just straight talk and real examples.
The Junk Hauler Money Trap
Many haulers think they’re making money when they’re not. You charge $300 for a quick pickup, but after adding $60 for gas, $75 for dump fees, and $100 for your helper, you’re left with $65. And that’s before you count your truck payment, insurance, or your time.
The problem isn’t how hard you work, it’s not knowing what each job truly costs. When you track your numbers, you stop running blind and start running a business, and tools like the SupaHandi estimate generator make it easy to turn those numbers into profitable quotes.
The Four Questions Your Business Should Answer Every Week
Every successful junk removal business, from solo operators to multi-truck companies, can answer these four critical questions:
Question 1: How much did I actually make per job after all costs?
Not revenue. Not what the customer paid you. PROFIT, what you actually get to keep.
Question 2: Which types of jobs make me the most money?
Are couch removals more profitable than full estate cleanouts? Should you focus on construction debris or household junk? Your gut feeling might be wrong.
Question 3: Do I have enough cash to cover this week’s bills, fuel, and workers?
You can be “profitable” on paper but still not have cash to pay the dump fee on Tuesday. Cash flow and profit are different things.
Question 4: What do I own versus what I owe?
Are you building wealth or just trading time for money? Is your business worth more this month than last month?
If you can’t confidently answer these four questions right now, you’re not running a business, you’re just doing jobs and hoping it works out.
Why Tracking Matters (and Isn’t That Hard)
Tracking helps you:
- Know if each job is profitable
- Spot which types of work earn the most
- Set prices with confidence
- Plan for growth instead of panic
You don’t need complicated tools to start, just a clear way to track what comes in, what goes out, and what’s left.
Key Money Words Every Hauler Should Know
Here are the basics, in plain English:
| Word | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | Money you bring in from jobs | 3 jobs at $400 = $1,200 revenue |
| Expenses | What you spend to get the work done | Fuel, dump fees, helper pay |
| Profit | What’s left after expenses | $1,200 – $700 = $500 profit |
| Assets | What you own for the business | Truck, trailer, tools |
| Liabilities | What you owe | Truck loan, credit card debt |
| Balance Sheet | Snapshot of own vs. owe | $20K truck – $10K loan = $10K yours |
| Cash Flow | When cash moves in/out | Big job unpaid = tight cash |
| Fixed Costs | Bills you pay every month | Insurance, truck payment |
| Variable Costs | Costs that change per job | Fuel, dump fees |
| Break-Even | When income = expenses | Need $3K/month to cover basics |
| Overhead | The ongoing costs to keep your business running | Insurance, phone bill, truck maintenance |
Once you understand these, you can read your business like a map.
What It Really Costs You to “Show Up”
Before you even start the truck, you already have costs to cover.
Fixed costs, what you pay no matter how much work you do:
- Truck payment: $500
- Insurance: $200
- Phone and tools: $100
That’s $800/month, or $40/day if you work 20 days.
Variable costs, what changes by job:
- Fuel, dump fees, labor, wear on your truck.
If a job doesn’t pay at least your daily overhead plus job costs, you’re working for free.
How to Know If a Job’s Actually Profitable
Use this simple formula:
Profit = What You Charged – (Job Costs + Overhead)
Example:
- Job Price: $450
- Dump Fee: $80
- Gas: $30
- Helper Pay: $100
- Share of Overhead: $60
- Profit: $180
That’s your real take-home, not your total charge. If that number feels too low, raise prices or cut costs.
Your Business Snapshot: The Balance Sheet
Think of your balance sheet as a picture of your business health. It shows what you own (assets) and what you owe (liabilities).
| Assets | Liabilities |
|---|---|
| Truck ($18,000) | Truck Loan ($10,000) |
| Tools ($2,000) | Credit Card ($1,000) |
| Cash ($1,500) | , |
| Total You Own (Equity) | $9,500 |
When your equity grows, it means the part of the business that’s truly yours is getting bigger. Think of it like this, your truck might still have a loan today, but every month you pay it down, more of that truck belongs to you. The same goes for your tools, savings, and any cash left after paying bills.
That difference between what you own and what you owe is your equity. When that number keeps rising, it shows you’re not just working for today’s paycheck, you’re building something that has lasting value. If one day you sold your business or handed it off, your equity is what you’d actually keep.
Common Money Mistakes That Kill Profit
- Forgetting drive and setup time
- Not paying yourself a wage
- Copying competitor prices
- Ignoring small costs (“just gas”)
- Skipping savings for repairs
- Thinking revenue = profit
Even small leaks sink a business over time. Tracking plugs those leaks.
The 3 Numbers Every Hauler Needs to Know
1. Your Daily Overhead
How much it costs just to open your doors. Example: $1,200/month ÷ 20 workdays = $60/day.
2. Your Cost Per Job
Add up every job expense: fuel, dump, labor, wear, and your time. That’s what it truly costs to complete one job.
3. Your Real Hourly Rate
Profit ÷ total hours worked (including drive time). Example: $3,000 profit ÷ 160 hours = $18.75/hour. If that’s less than what you’d make flipping burgers, it’s time to adjust prices.
From Guessing to Pricing with Confidence
Use this simple pricing method:
(Fixed Cost ÷ Work Days) + Job Costs + Profit Margin = Price
Example:
- $60/day fixed cost
- $120 job costs (fuel, dump, labor)
- Total before profit: $60 + $120 = $180
- Add 30% profit margin: $180 × 1.30 = $234
- Price = $235 (round to $240–250)
Now you’re pricing with math, not luck.
Your 30-Day Tracking Challenge
Week 1: Write down your monthly fixed costs.
Week 2: Track all job expenses (fuel, dump, helper pay).
Week 3: Add everything up and see your real profit per job.
Week 4: Adjust your pricing using real numbers.
By the end of the month, you’ll know exactly which jobs make you money, and which ones to avoid.
The SupaHandi Edge: Tools That Do the Math for You
SupaHandi was built for haulers who want to run their work like a real business without the paperwork headache.
With SupaHandi, you can:
- Track job costs and profit automatically
- Snap photos of dump receipts and let the app total them
- See which job types bring the most profit
- Price new jobs using past data
- Access everything from your phone
No spreadsheets. No guesswork. Just clarity.
👉 Start free with SupaHandi and see your real profit per job today.
Bottom Line: Know Your Numbers, Grow Your Business
You can’t build a business on guesses.
Once you know your true costs, you’ll stop asking “What would you charge?” and start saying, “Here’s my price.”
Tracking doesn’t just protect your profits, it gives you control. When you know your numbers, you stop working job-to-job and start building something that lasts.