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I need info on the Roll Off business

191K views 94 replies 52 participants last post by  erica_elukegreene 
#1 ·
This is my first post ever, although I have been an outsight observer of this sight for a while. I have some questions about starting a business but I am just now at the beginning stages, basically just getting information.

My father has been the manager of a local landfill since it opened in 1995 and I worked there part-time while in college. So I have a "working knowledge" of the roll-off business but no real experience.

Hopefully my questions will lead to some informative discussion.
1) Is there any money in this for a small business. (dually, roll off trailer, about 5 small containers, and not much cash!)
2) Is anyone else in this business?
3) Is it possible to make money servicing the small contractor or do the big companies own this market?
4) Do you dispose of your own waste or do you currently use this kind of service? What have your experiences been?

Thank you for reading this long rambling post!
 
#2 ·
If I had to choose another business to go into it would be garbage by far. Being in construction has openned my eyes to the money to be made.

Home Depot just got into that business locally here, but once again they want homeowners business and not contractors based upon the details of their procedures that is obvious.

The secret of this biz I believe is not in the large roll offs but in the 3-5 yarders which are the sweet spots. Keeping the prices low enough to make it a no brainer - should I pay $125 for a dumpster or spend gas, labor and frustration turning my truck into a dumpster and running crap to the dump.
 
#4 ·
Smart biz to enter if market is not saturated and u have the capital + willing to re-invest profits. A guy here started with 3 20yd dumpsters and a hauling rig. Worked his butt off, built it up and 6 years later they made him an offer he couldn't "refuse".

24 million $.


what's for sure?
Death, taxes, and garbage!
 
#8 ·
Concrete and rubble sometimes can have a flat rate because the dump sites charge per load.

I can get rid of 20 tons of concrete rubble for less than $100 dump fee plus trucking.

If it goes to the same dumpsite (sanitary) as typical construction debris it is $56.00 per ton, a whooping $1,120 tipping fee.

I know a guy that has small dumpsters, (5 - 20 yard cans, runs them in and out with single axle trucks) he is always busy, I don't know what kind of money he makes, but here it has become a nitch market. I see more guys hauling small cans all the time.

Lot of renovation work here, let's say you are doing only a kitchen or bath reno, the small can is all you need and the truck won't ruin the driveway or run over the HO's landscaping.

If you have the market I would say go for it.

One of the bigger dumpster haulers here has set up some kind of reclamation facility that they haul the cans to, then sort the debris into recyclables and waste. I would assume they make money on the sale of steel, aluminum etc.
 
#21 ·
****

One of the bigger dumpster haulers here has set up some kind of reclamation facility that they haul the cans to, then sort the debris into recyclables and waste. I would assume they make money on the sale of steel, aluminum etc.

I was thinking the same thing!!! LOTS of money in garbage, especially if you are recycling.
The guy that started Blockbuster Video sold that company and started a trash/recycling company (my friend is a geologist and works at the recycling plany)

... I bet they make more money in trash than renting videos!!

... I also heard a funny quote about the garbage man being the most important person in your life... If you don't think he is, just ask him to skip your house for a few weeks, then see how you feel about him!
 
#12 ·
With that setup look to the remodlers who do not want a large rolloff(20yrd) on their job site for lack of room. Having the smaller trailer will also help you get into small yards for access to the rear where bigger rigs cann't go. I just bought my own dump trailer and I am saving alot of $. Also look at new ways of doing it. Here in Tampa I can dump fill dirt, yard scrapes(clearing for new sod), and concrete for free at a yard that recycels it. If you offer this type of pick up for a cheaper rate because you can find somewhere like this to dump you may have a nice niche. This is how I'm saving money, for a little of my time over the past 2 months I've dumped about 4 load of dirt and 10 of concrete for free. Maybe even try picking up scrap metals if you can find that kind of demo. On a job that is mixed maybe drop 2, one for wood and one for concrete. If the market here had not taken a dive I'ld do it now that I've got the basics down.
 
#14 ·
If you can get into it, go for it. like already stated there is money to be made. About 8 years ago we bought a Ford F650 with roll offs. We only have one truck with 8 dumpster or different sizes. It has saved and made us a good amount of money. they are mostly for our jobs, but we also rentals. We have a regular F550 stakebody dump that sits in the yard for hauled back debris. We also purchased 2 Roof buggies. These are great tools to have. Really cuts down on a lot of labor cost. We also bought some small trailers and bought and mounted spot a pots on them. We just pay for a service to clean them out. That is another business that makes money.

spencer
 
#16 ·
This is my first post ever, although I have been an outsight observer of this sight for a while. I have some questions about starting a business but I am just now at the beginning stages, basically just getting information.
Seeing as we have not heard from him in a while, I'd bet that he was shown just how profitable this business is. :eek:


The roll off companies areound me have been chaning hands real quick being as the Feds keep going after them.:whistling Lots of Name Changes Here.

There are a few smaller guys though. One Large Construction Firm here started doing their own Roll Offs a number of years ago. Now, just about anyone who is anyone has either a Dump Trailer or a Roll Off. Heck, I even have a 6x10 dump trailer. For about 3-4k you have a nice size trailer. And around here we pay $800 for a 20 yd dumpster. Dosen't take long to recoup your $4k especially if you are still billing out the customer at those rates. :clap:

I have never paind more than $100 to dump my trailer and I have had it loaded to the top of the racks. :rolleyes: Like someone else said, the dump trailers don't damage the driveways and I can pull them out before someone else decided to fill them up on a mid night dump. A 20 yd, I would end up with all sorts of crap in there if I didnt cover it up completely with ply wood.:censored:
 
#20 ·


Can this really be quicker than tarping and a little clean up? Seems VERY LIMITED. Hell, if you can get that in there, I could easily get my 6x10 dump trailer in there and still have a hundred other uses for it.

I see this going the way of some other obscure attachments I found on this site. Like a Pick Up Truck Front Front Mounted grader, Dump and backhoe?

I remember seeing on This Old House, a guy invented a machine to tear off roofing from a truck. It looked like a boom truck with a dumpster and special claw on it. He sat in the seat and did the tear off and loaded the dumpster in one shot. And by tear off, I mean, complete tear off, not just shingles.
 
#22 · (Edited)
They went on Strike in NYC a couple of times. Not in the Winter...IN THE SUMMER. Talk About SMELL! It got nasty QUICK!

I use to recycle cardboard back in the day when it was worth something, then so many got into it, the price dropped to nothing.

Recycling is a HUGE Business. But then again, so are the price tags on the Equipment, DEC Compliance, Insurance etc.

There are two companies in this area that were shut down by the local government. They got tired of the mess.
 
#23 ·
Speaking of trash????

No doubt trash is big business... After all this discussion on garbage, I'm seriously considering making this part of my business.



BTW, does anyone know anything about 1 800 Got Junk? They are a national franchise and you see them on those home improvement shows all the time. I looked at their website a little, they are obviously making a crap load of money!
 
#25 ·
1800-Got Junk

You have to have $100,000 in liquid, but they also clain if you dont make $100K your first year, they will give you your money back.

I'm in the Dallas, TX area. The big trash companies around here have the area all sewn up. Unless you go very rual, but thats a good 50 miles before I could even get to an area to leave my cans at. I figure the start up to buy cans, a trailer and something big enough to pull it woul dbe way outside the money I have.
 
#26 ·
the roof buggy is an awesome tool to have. you would never be able to move a small dumpster around as easily and quickly as the buggy. It also goes up about 12' and slides out about 10'. therefore you can extend it over someones garden and only have to pick up a small amount of trash that missed. Then when its full you drive it to the dumpster and dump it in. it saves many many man hours in cleanup.

spencer
 
#27 ·
How can I determine how much I will be charged at the dump? Sorry for such a silly questions but thinking about getting into this business and got a couple of general questions. I want to know how much I will be charged. If I call the dump do I just ask for rates? Should I ask for someone in sales, a manager? Just curious. I really wany into this business. but, how do i determine how much i will be charded at the dump?
 
#28 ·
My local landfill charges by the ton. You should just call your landfill and ask how much they are going to charge you. Every landfill has different rates so no one here can tell you for sure. You will need to call to find out. You can also call a local company offering these services and ask them what their prices are so you have an idea of what to charge.
 
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