Highlights from the interview
- [6:49]: The funny story of Josh’s first day not driving the truck.
- [13:25]: How Junkluggers started systematizing everything — tracking processes by hand in a binder.
- [15:51]: On working with business coaches.
- [19:31]: The door-to-door flyer campaigns that won Junkluggers their first 10 customers.
- [26:09]: The big audacious goal to eliminate landfill waste with Remix Market.
Josh Cohen started his first “real” business almost 15 years ago at the age of 21 and equipped with a stack of homemade flyers and his Mom’s SUV.
This company is Junkluggers, a junk removal and dumpster rental company — with a twist — that contributes to the communities they serve and the environment by donating, recycling, and supporting local causes.
What started as a side hustle in 2004 has grown from a one-person show to an Inc. 5000 company serving 60 markets in 13 states. Since their inception, Junkluggers has also become an emerging franchise brand, with a quickly growing number of franchise partners opening around the country.
Josh Cohen and Junklugger have been ranked as one of the fastest growing companies for the past three years on the Inc. 5000 list and featured in many top media outlets including Inc, Huffington Post, Forbes, Kiplinger’s, Franchise world, Esquire and more.
In this conversation, we discuss:
- Avoiding overwhelm by trying to not do too many things yourself
- Why working with business coaches has been crucial to Josh’s success
- The true value of utilizing an integrated marketing approach
Now, let’s hack…
Josh Cohen
Links and resources from the interview
- The Junkluggers: Junk Removal and Dumpster Rental Alternative
- E-Myth Revisited, by Michael Gerber: This book helped Josh scale by working on the business, not in the business.
- The Highest Calling, by Larry Janesky: Book by one of Josh’s business mentors and founder of Basement Systems
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