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How to start a junk removal business in New Brunswick

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what New Brunswick asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In Canadian dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for Canada: researched US figures converted to Canadian dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are Canada's own.

To startCA$4.7k–22kLean to full setup

Per monthCA$4.8k–12kOnce established

Profit margin60–68%Before paying yourself, after dump fees, fuel and insurance

First customer1–4 weeksFrom today

DifficultySimple work, but heavy lifting

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you're strong, organized and like a quick win

Junk removal turns a pickup truck and a strong back into a business. Customers pay you to make their clutter disappear: old couches, moving leftovers, garage cleanouts. You can start with a truck you own and a trailer, then grow into a box truck and a crew.

You'll like it if

You're strong and don't mind heavy lifting
You have a pickup truck or can get one
You like jobs that are done the same day
You're good at fitting things into tight spaces

Think twice if

Lifting heavy furniture is hard for you
You'd rather not deal with dirt, dust or smells
You don't want to drive and tow all day
You need indoor, climate-controlled work

02What it costs

From CA$4,712 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startCA$4,712

What	Cost
TrailerA utility trailer behind your own truck, up to a dump trailer	CA$2,600
Dollies, straps and blanketsAn appliance hand truck, furniture dollies, ratchet straps	CA$770
Tarps, bags and safety gearLoad tarp, contractor bags, gloves and glasses	CA$130
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	CA$112
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus commercial auto	CA$200
Hauler permits and dump accountsWhere your city or state requires them	CA$120
Website and marketingWebsite, truck signs and local ads	CA$180
Cash for dump fees and fuelYour first weeks of disposal and gas	CA$600
Total	CA$4,712

Once you're running: about CA$420 a month, plus about 30% of what you earn. Insurance, phone, software and marketing every month, plus dump fees, fuel and card fees on each job.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per job CA$300 CA$75CA$1,650

Jobs a week 10 125

Monthly costs CA$420 CA$0CA$1,700

Typical in New Brunswick: CA$150–CA$830 per job, 4–16 jobs a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleCA$1.8k–3.6k

Weekends, 3–5 jobs a week

Full-time, on your ownCA$4.8k–9k

8–12 jobs a week, with a helper on big items

GrowingCA$7.2k–12k

A box truck and a small crew

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

See who hauls junk near you, how they price it and where the dumps and donation centers are.
- Search "junk removal near me"
- Note 5 competitors and their prices
- Find dump and recycling fees
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that's easy to remember on a truck. Make sure no one in New Brunswick has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3
Register your business in New Brunswick
1 day to 2 weeks CA$112–CA$262

Most owners start as a sole proprietor and register a business name with their province; incorporating costs more and keeps business debts separate.
- Register a business name: CA$112
- Incorporate in New Brunswick: CA$262
4
Get your Business Number (BN)
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Canada Revenue Agency, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Canada Revenue Agency
- Open a business bank account
5
Sort out HST
1–3 days Free

You must register for HST once your sales pass CA$30,000 a year. The rate is 15%.
- Know when to register for GST/HST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Check hauling permits
1–2 days CA$120–1.2k

Some cities and states license anyone who hauls waste for pay. Ask your city and the local dump before your first job.
- City hauler license
- Dump and transfer station accounts
- Covered-load rules
7
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Commercial auto
- Workers' comp, once you hire
8
Get your gear
1 week CA$3.5k–14k

A trailer doubles what your truck can carry. Add dollies, straps and blankets so you can move heavy things safely.
- Utility or dump trailer
- Appliance and furniture dollies
- Straps, tarps and gloves
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Price by how much space a load takes, with a minimum for single items. See the prices below.
- Single item, half load, full load
- Extra for mattresses, tires, appliances
- Free on-site quotes
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

Customers want a price fast. A site with your load prices and photo quote requests wins the job.
- Website with your prices
- Quote requests with photos
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first 10 customers
1–4 weeks Up to CA$360

Friends, neighbors and local groups first, then realtors and property managers.
- Neighborhood groups
- Realtors and landlords
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Track every job's price, dump fees and time, so you know which jobs pay.
- Customer list
- Invoices
- Costs per job
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in NB

What New Brunswick asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Register a business name

Includes the required Royal Gazette notice. Renew every five years, for a smaller fee.

Service New Brunswick Corporate RegistryCA$112once

Incorporate in New Brunswick

Filed online. Paper filing costs more.

Service New Brunswick Corporate RegistryCA$262once

Business Number (BN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Canada Revenue AgencyFree

Hauling permits and covered loads

Some cities and states license anyone who hauls waste for pay, and most require loads to be covered.

Your city, county or stateVaries

Items with special rules

Fridges and air conditioners, paint, chemicals, tires and asbestos need special handling or separate drop-off sites.

Your local waste authorityVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Utility trailer5x8 to 6x10 feet, behind your own truck

CA$2,550–CA$2,900Must have

Appliance hand truckFor fridges, washers and dryers

CA$370–CA$490Must have

Furniture dolliesTwo to four, carpeted

CA$50–CA$160Must have

Moving blanketsA dozen to protect walls and floors

CA$160–CA$350Must have

Ratchet strapsOne to four, to secure every load

CA$30–CA$110Must have

Load tarpCovers the load on the road

CA$25–CA$65Must have

Contractor bagsHeavy-duty, by the carton

CA$25Must have

Gloves and safety glassesFor broken glass, nails and dust

CA$45–CA$80Must have

Dump trailerTips the load out at the dump

CA$7,250–CA$11,900Later

Used box truckWhen you're ready for a crew

CA$14,300–CA$35,700Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Single item

CA$150 per visit · Under an hour

One bulky item, like a couch or mattress
Loading included
Disposal or donation

Half load

CA$420 per visit · 1–2 hours

Half a truckload
Loading and sweep-up
Disposal, recycling or donation

Full load

CA$770 per visit · 2–4 hours

A full truckload
Loading and sweep-up
Disposal, recycling or donation

Prices for a full truckload in New BrunswickTypical: CA$480–CA$1,200

Average CA$770

CA$0CA$400CA$800CA$1.2kCA$1.6k

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

Most customers search "junk removal near me" when they're ready. A free profile with photos puts you on the map.

Free

Realtors and property managers

Move-outs, estate cleanouts and rentals between tenants need fast hauling. Make it easy to call you.

Partnership

Neighborhood groups

Nextdoor and local Facebook groups are full of people with a couch to get rid of.

Free

Your truck is an ad

A clear sign with your name and number turns every drive into marketing.

Low cost

Reviews

Ask every customer. Fast, friendly and on time gets mentioned in reviews.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Check hauling permits

Week 2

Get equipped

Get a trailer
Buy dollies, straps and tarps
Find dumps and donation centers

Week 3

Go live

Website with your prices
Google Business Profile
Sign on your truck

Week 4

First customers

Aim for 10 jobs
Meet 3 realtors
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to haul junk in New Brunswick?

It depends on where you are. Some cities and states license waste haulers, and dumps may ask for an account. Check with your city and local dump before your first job.

Do I need a box truck?

Not to start. Most people begin with a pickup they own and a trailer, then buy a box truck once jobs are steady.

What can't I take?

Paint, chemicals, fuel, propane tanks and asbestos usually need special handling. Fridges and air conditioners need their refrigerant recovered. Know your local drop-off sites.

How do I price a job?

Most haulers price by how much space the junk takes in the truck, with a minimum charge for single items. Dump fees are your biggest cost, so know them before you quote.

When is it busiest?

Spring through early fall, with extra work around moving season and before the holidays.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources