Cleanout and waste hauling for contractors

Run a truck and a helper to clear renovation debris and property cleanouts for contractors and landlords.

Refuse collection truck emptying wheelie bins on a residential street.
Startup costC$15k to C$60k
Monthly revenueC$6k to C$25k
Time needed30+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • C$15k-60k
  • Full-time
  • Out and about
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.

What it is

A full-time hauling service with a larger truck or dump trailer and a helper. You take on construction debris, estate and tenant cleanouts, and regular pickups for businesses and property managers.

Your first three steps

  1. Visit local contractors and property managers to ask what hauling they outsource and what they pay now
  2. Price a used dump trailer or cube truck, and get quotes for commercial vehicle and liability insurance
  3. Check provincial and municipal waste hauler rules, then set up accounts with nearby disposal sites and recycling facilities
Who pays

Renovation contractors, property managers, landlords, real estate agents, estate lawyers and small businesses.

How it makes money

Per job or per load, with repeat contracts for regular pickups. Margins depend on dump fees, fuel and how many jobs you fit into a day.

Skills that help
  • Safe heavy lifting and loading
  • Driving a larger vehicle
  • Quoting jobs and building relationships with repeat clients
Watch out for
  • Check provincial commercial vehicle registration and safety rules, which may depend on the vehicle's weight
  • Check whether you need a waste hauler permit or licence in your municipality or province
  • WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire help, with rules that vary by province
  • Asbestos, hazardous materials and some construction waste have strict handling rules, so check what you can accept
  • Commercial general liability insurance and cargo or equipment cover
  • Vehicle costs and repairs can be high, and winter slows renovation work in many areas

Deep research report · Canada

Everything you need to start: cleanout and waste hauling for contractors

Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a cleanout and hauling business?

As an estimate, startup typically costs around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your truck or dump trailer, insurance and equipment. Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $25,000, depending on contracts and how many jobs you take.

What licences and rules should I check for waste hauling?

Check provincial commercial vehicle registration and safety rules, which may depend on vehicle weight, and whether you need a waste hauler permit or licence. Asbestos, hazardous materials and some construction waste have strict handling rules, so check what you can accept.

What costs and risks come with hiring help and running a truck?

Check WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire help, as rules vary by province. Also check commercial general liability and cargo or equipment cover. Vehicle costs and repairs can be high, and winter slows renovation work in many areas.

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