How Gen Z Brothers Turned High School Jobs Into A $3 Million/Year Business

Kirk and Jacob started Junk Teens in 2021 when Kirk was a high school junior and Jacob was a freshman. The business began after Kirk realized people would pay them to take junk to the dump, leading them to purchase their first pickup truck for $4,000. Initially operating as K and J removal, they offered various services including landscaping and moving before niching down to junk removal, which they found most scalable and profitable despite being highly competitive. The brothers experienced consistent slow growth, reinvesting all profits back into the business and maintaining a debt-free approach by paying cash for all equipment. By 2026, they operate five trucks with a sixth on the way and employ about 25 people, completing over 5,500 jobs in 2025. Their business model focuses on properly disposing of items through reselling and donating rather than just profiting from removal. The brothers balanced running the business with attending school, often sacrificing sleep and working weekends, eventually transitioning from field work to oversight roles. They outgrew their parents' driveway and rented a warehouse to better handle resellable items and donations. Both brothers chose to continue college despite the business demands, believing education provides value beyond business skills. Looking ahead, they aim for $5 million in sales and plan to scale through additional locations, franchising, or licensing while maintaining their focus on community giving and environmental responsibility.