The Most Recession Proof Business Ever!

#ad I'm proud to have Bizee sponsor this video. Their platform makes launching and managing an LLC straightforward, and it’s a service I genuinely believe in and recommend to anyone ready to start their business. https://bizee.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=content_sponsorship&utm_campaign=upflip From a marketing firm to managing mountains of garbage, Fred Tomlin and Sherrod Hunter discovered an overlooked opportunity in the waste management industry. What started as a simple observation about valet trash services in a luxury apartment complex has grown into an innovative waste management brand serving more than 20,000 doorsteps nationwide. The journey wasn’t straightforward. Their initial valet trash service struggled to gain traction, but adding junk removal services catapulted their business to new heights. Today, they’re reshaping the industry with their Junk Shot app – the only junk removal service that lets customers snap a photo of their waste for an instant quote. Their franchise network now includes 22 locations, with the longest-running franchisee reaching $1M in annual revenue after four years. Fred, an Army veteran turned corporate escapee, and Sherrod, whose entrepreneurial path began at age nine cleaning a lemonade stand’s parking lot, have built a franchise system designed to help others pursue independence from the corporate world. In this episode, discover how these former marketing professionals spotted opportunity in an overlooked industry, how they leveraged technology to improve the garbage removal experience, and why their franchise partners are thriving in both valet trash and junk removal services. Learn to choose the right franchise for you with our FREE quick-start training 👉 https://learn.upflip.com/how-to-choose-the-right-franchise-masterclass OR… 🎓 Join UpFlip Academy to “copy-paste” the top million-dollar service businesses you can start in weeks and profit from in months - https://links.upflip.com/academy-yt More UpFlip Official Resources: 🏪 FREE REPORT → The 10 BEST and WORST Businesses to Start In 2026 (Under $5K) - https://next.upflip.com/10-biz-ideas-248 🎙️ Follow the UpFlip Podcast - https://links.upflip.com/podcast-yt 📩 Join the UpFlip Newsletter - https://links.upflip.com/newsletter-yt 👉 Start your own trash removal franchise - https://franchise.upflip.com/junk-shot-app/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Start 00:31 - Guys from the Yellow Pages 01:04 - Taking the leap of faith… finally! 02:05 - Scary first days 03:17 - First biz model? Total FLOP 04:03 - Want different? Do different. 04:48 - Meet CAREY 05:23 - Mutual mystification 06:29 - Quitting? Not in this story 07:21 - Right in the belly of the beast 08:06 - Franchisee profit projection 09:06 - Trash duty… in a Cadillac?! 11:45 - Cold pitch like a pro 12:56 - What it takes to make serious money 13:27 - Fan blitz 14:51 - “Bigger trucks, better pricing” 16:03 - Job revenue breakdown 16:38 - Get out there and start TODAY 17:01 - Let’s talk numbers 17:53 - The winning edge 19:40 - Check out the Junk Shot App! 20:25 - Additional services offered 21:13 - What efficient really looks like 21:33 - All it takes is one B2B client 22:02 - $500 marketing budget? Let’s go! 23:13 - Turning complaints into loyalty 23:44 - Best and worst months 24:12 - A 9–5 “friendly” hustle? 25:01 - Costly mistake 26:09 - A double win-win 26:54 - Other people’s junk = $$$$ 27:30 - The perfect duo 29:24 - Welcome to “the” classroom 29:41 - Trash-parency 30:38 - Secret sauce to 60% margins 31:13 - Close rates & average tickets 31:58 - The customer is NOT always right 32:33 - Pivoting for the better 33:43 - Build on solid foundations 34:13 - Recurring revenue 35:46 - From feedback to opportunity 36:43 - Biggest contract ever landed 37:15 - The only patented junk app in the USA 38:20 - Think your start. Think your finish. 39:32 - Outro #trash #waste #garbage