Pay yourself right.
Price well. Track costs. Keep the margin.
owner pay vs company revenue
- revenue is all money in
- profit is revenue minus costs
- owner pay comes from profit or payroll
salary ranges by stage
- solo, part-time: low but growing
- solo, full-time: steady with tight routes
- one truck + helper: higher, more stable
- two trucks: owner pay grows with systems
how to pay yourself
- simple draw for a solo owner
- payroll once you hire staff
- set aside taxes as you go
raise take-home
- set a clear price floor
- charge for stairs, heavy items, and rush
- bundle jobs by area to cut drive time
- upsell bagging, light demo, and cleanouts
avoid profit leaks
- underbidding large cleanouts
- free long quotes across town
- no deposit on big jobs
- dump runs in rush hour
related reads: is junk removal profitable, how much do companies make, how companies make money, tools that save time
faqs (people also ask)
- how much do owners make first year?
it depends on job count, prices, and dump fees. keep routes tight. - can i pay myself weekly?
yes, if cash flow allows. track profit first. - what kills owner pay?
low prices, long drives, and no-show jobs. - should i hire a helper?
yes, when you can add more jobs per day at a profit.