Mobile scrap metal buyer and hauler

You pay sellers such as contractors, landlords, small manufacturers and households. Scrap yards and metal processors pay you for sorted loads.

You buy at one price per pound and sell at a higher price to the yard. Sorting metals well and building steady sources of clean material improves your margin.

• Telling metals apart (copper, brass, aluminum, stainless, steel)
• Negotiating fair prices
• Lifting and loading safely
• Basic record keeping

• Many states and cities require scrap dealers to register or be licensed, so check before you start buying
• Rules often require recording seller ID and details of what was bought, and some limit cash payments or certain items such as catalytic converters
• Never buy suspicious items like utility cable, street signs or unmarked catalytic converters, as you could face legal trouble
• General liability and commercial vehicle insurance, and check whether your personal auto policy covers hauling
• Metal prices change often, so your margin can shrink between buying and selling
• Heavy lifting and sharp or contaminated material, so use gloves, boots and safe handling

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your vehicle, equipment, storage space and insurance. Metal prices change often, so your margin can shrink between buying and selling.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $5,000, depending on how much scrap you collect, the metals involved and the prices you get from yards. That is revenue, not profit.

Check whether your state or city requires scrap dealers to register or be licensed. Check rules on recording seller ID and purchases, cash payment limits and items like catalytic converters, and avoid suspicious items such as utility cable or street signs.