This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Boston-based brothers Kirk McKinney, 21, and Jacob McKinney, 19. The McKinney brothers are the founders of Junk Adolescencewith seven figures waste removal business that reuses, resells and donates “as many items as possible” and provides employment opportunities for other local teenagers. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Junk Teens. Jacob McKinney, left; Kirk McKinney, right.
What was your day job or main occupation when you started your side hustle?
By the time we started ours side hustlewe were high school students and we also worked in a grocery store.
When did you start your side hustle and where did you find the inspiration for it?
We started our own side hustle in 2021. The inspiration came when I found a pair of working speakers in the dump. I have always been passionate about speakers and curiosity led me to start collecting different items. Eventually, my room became so messy that our mom made me throw everything out – over $1,000 worth of stuff! Instead of throwing it away, I sold the items Facebook Market. That moment made me realize that I could work for myself, doing something I loved, so I quit my job and went all in.
What were some of the first steps you took to get yours side hustle from the ground?
One of the first steps we took was to fully commit to the business. We realized that we couldn't manage a job and a business at the same time, so we focused entirely on it. We told everyone we knew, built up our confidence, and became obsessed with making it work – even working on our website over family Christmas. We also worked on creating a story that resonated with our local community, which helped us gain support. We invested in trucks and tools and established our presence, taking risks needed to get off the ground.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while building your side hustle and how did you navigate them?
There have certainly been challenges. Finding employees it was tough, but we grew our social media presence and built a fun brand to attract talent. Getting more jobs required us to stand our ground and find our own unique selling proposition. And when we struggled with time management, we created systems, added structure, and learned how to delegate.
How long did it take you to see consistent monthly income?
Achieving a steady monthly income was not easy. Garbage removal is unpredictable, and even today, there are slow weeks when we wonder if we'll make it stay in business. But once we focused on one thing and became better at it, instead of doing multiple side hustles, things became more sustainable.
You've since turned your side hustle into a full-time business. What do growth and revenue look like now?
In 2021, we made $120,000 with just one pickup truck, U-Haul, and dumpster rental. By 2022, we grew to $430,000, adding a dump truck and upgrading our pickup. In 2023, we brought in $910,000 with two dump trucks and a pickup, and we're projecting $1.2 million in 2024, operating three dump trucks and a pickup.
What do you enjoy most about running this business?
We enjoy providing real opportunities for other young people, 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 through Junk Teens, we can fulfill our passions for music, building, and adventure, all while creating a strong sense of community, family, and mission.
What is your advice to others hoping to start successful side hustles or their own full-time businesses?
Our advice to anyone looking to start a side job or a full-time business is to keep it simple. People often complicate things. In garbage removal, for example, it's as easy as picking up the garbage, getting paid, and leaving. Momentum is key – don't take growth for granted; always build on it. Also, choose a business that matches your passions. For us, we've always loved rummaging through the trash for cool finds, and Junk Teens lets us do that every day.
This article is part of our ongoing Young Entrepreneur® series highlighting the stories, challenges and triumphs of being a new business owner.