This Side Hustle Q&A features Boston brothers Kirk McKinney (21) and Jacob McKinney (19). The McKinney brothers are the founders of the company Trash teenagersa seven-figure junk removal company that reuses, resells and donates “as many items as possible” and provides job opportunities for other local teenagers. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Junk Teens. Jacob McKinney, left; Kirk McKinney, right.
What was your day job or major occupation when you started working on the side?
When we started our side business, we were highschool students and also worked at a food market.
When did you begin your side business and where did you discover the inspiration for it?
We started our operations in 2021. Inspiration got here when I discovered a working pair of speakers in a landfill. I have at all times had a passion for loudspeakers and my curiosity led me to gather various items. Eventually my room became so cluttered that my mom told me to throw every little thing out – over $1,000 price of stuff! Instead of throwing them away, I sold them on Facebook Marketplace. That moment made me realize that I could work for myself, doing what I loved, so I quit my job and gave it my all.
What were the first steps you took to interrupt away from the game?
One of the first steps we took was to totally commit to the business. We realized that we couldn’t manage work and business at the same time, so we focused entirely on it. We told everyone we knew, gained confidence and became obsessed with making it work – even working on our website over the family Christmas. We also worked to create a story that may resonate with our local people, which helped us gain support. We invested in trucks and tools and established our presence by taking the risks needed to begin the business.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in building your side team and how did you overcome them?
Of course, there have been challenges. Finding employees was difficult, but we strengthened our social media presence and built an interesting brand to draw talent. Getting more jobs required us to persist with our area of interest and find our unique selling proposition. And when we had time management issues, we created systems, added structure, and learned to delegate.
How long did it take for you to attain stable monthly income?
Achieving stable monthly income was demanding. Junk removal is unpredictable and even today there are slow weeks where we wonder if we are going to stay in business. But when we focused on one thing and became the best at it, reasonably than juggling multiple side hustles, things became more stable.
You have since turned your side hustle into a full-time business. What does growth and revenue appear like today?
In 2021, we made $120,000 just from renting a pickup truck, U-Haul, and a dumpster. By 2022, after adding a dump truck and upgrading our pickup truck, we were at $430,000. In 2023, we brought in $910,000 operating two dump trucks and a pickup truck, and we project to bring in $1.2 million in 2024 operating three dump trucks and a pickup truck.
What do you enjoy most about running this business?
We like to offer real opportunities to other young, ambitious people and see the impact we have had on others, especially through social media. We have inspired other kids to begin their very own businesses, and through Junk Teens we will pursue our passions for music, building and adventure, all while creating a strong sense of community, family and mission.
What is your advice for others seeking to start a successful side hustle or their very own full-time business?
Our advice to anyone seeking to start a side hustle or full-time business is to maintain it easy. People often overcomplicate things. For example, with junk removal, it’s so simple as picking up the trash, getting paid, and driving away. Pace is key – don’t take growth for granted; at all times build on that. Also, select a business that aligns with your passions. We’ve at all times loved rummaging through trash bins for cool finds, and Junk Teens allows us to do just that every day.
This article is a part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being… young business owner.