This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Boston brothers Kirk McKinney, 21, and Jacob McKinney, 19. The McKinney brothers are the founders of Junk Teens, a seven-person junk removal business that recycles, sells and donates “things that can be done” and provides job opportunities to other teenagers of the area. Answers are edited for length and clarity.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Junk Teens. Jacob McKinney, left; Kirk McKinney, right.
What was your day job or main job when you started your side hustle?
When we started our hustle, we were high school students and worked at a grocery store.
When did you start your side hustle, and where did you get your inspiration?
We started our hustle in 2021. Inspiration came when I found some working speakers at a junkyard. I have always been interested in speakers, and my curiosity led me to start collecting various things. Eventually, my room became so full that my mom made me throw everything out – over $1,000 worth of stuff! Instead of throwing it away, I sold the items on Facebook Marketplace. That moment made me realize that I can work for myself, do something I love, so I quit my job and joined.
Related: This Couple’s Weekend Side Hustle Started With a $50 Facebook Marketplace Purchase – Now Making Millions of Dollars a Year: ‘You Don’t Need Money to Get Started’
What are some of the first steps you took to get your side off the ground?
One of the first steps we took was to fully commit to the business. We realized that we cannot manage both work and business at the same time, so we focused on it completely. We told everyone we knew, built up our confidence and became obsessed with making it work – even working on our website for family Christmas. We also worked on creating a story that resonated with our community, which helped us gain support. We invested in trucks and equipment and ensured our presence, taking the necessary risks to get off the ground.
What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered while developing your side hustle, and how did you navigate them?
Yes, there were challenges. Finding staff was difficult, but we grew our social media presence and created a fun brand to attract talent. Getting more jobs required us to stick to our niche and find our unique selling proposition. And when we struggled with time management, we built systems, added structure and learned to delegate.
How long did it take you to see monthly income?
Getting a fixed monthly income was not easy. Garbage removal is unpredictable, and even today, there are slow weeks where we wonder if we will stay in business. But when we focused on one thing and became the best at it instead of chasing multiple side hustles, things settled down.
Related: This 27-Year-Old Started A Side Hustle In Facebook Marketing – Now The Gig Is Earning Over $500,000 A Month
You’ve turned chaos into a full-time business. What does growth and revenue look like now?
In 2021, we earned $120,000 for pickup truck, U-Haul and dumpster rentals. In 2022, we grew to $430,000, added a dump truck and upgraded our pickup. In 2023, we brought in $910,000 with two dump trucks and a van, and we made $1.2 million in 2024, operating with three dump trucks and a van.
What do you enjoy most about running this business?
We enjoy providing real opportunities to other young, ambitious people and seeing the impact we have had on others, especially through social media. We’ve inspired other kids to start their own businesses, and with Junk Teens, we’re channeling our passion for music, creativity and adventure, all while building a strong sense of community, family and purpose.
Related: This Mom Started a Side Hustle on Facebook – Now She’s Making $14,000 a Month and ‘Can Still Work at a Resort in the Maldives’
What is your advice to others hoping to start successful side hustles or full-time businesses of their own?
Our advice to anyone looking to start a side hustle or full-time business is to keep it simple. People tend to overcomplicate things. In trash removal, for example, it’s as easy as picking up the trash, getting paid and driving. Momentum is important — don’t take growth for granted; always build on it. Also, choose a business that matches your interests. For us, we’ve always loved searching through junkyards for cool stuff, and Junk Teens lets us do that every day.
This article is part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series that highlights stories, challenges and triumphs young business owner.
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