Shredding pickup and drop-off service

Small offices, home-based professionals, landlords, churches, nonprofits and local clinics that have too little paper to justify a big contract.

Flat fee per box or bin, monthly pickup plans and one-off clean-out jobs. A plant can pay you or you charge a margin if you subcontract.

• Organizing routes and schedules
• Careful handling of confidential material
• Basic sales and customer service
• Lifting boxes safely

• General liability insurance, and check whether you need cover for the items you hold in transit
• Check zoning and any home occupation rules if you store paper at home, and consider a rented unit instead
• Fire risk and secure storage of paper waiting to be shredded
• Check your city or county for a business license and any waste hauling rules
• Clients may ask for a certificate of destruction and a documented process, so keep records

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your van, locked bins, shredder or subcontracting arrangements, and insurance. These are estimates. Renting a storage unit instead of using your home may add to costs.

Monthly revenue is typically around $600 to $3,500, depending on how many small offices you collect from and how often. This is an estimate, not profit. You could start with about 8 hours a week.

Check general liability insurance, including cover for items held in transit, and zoning or home occupation rules if you store paper at home. Also check city or county business licenses and waste hauling rules, and plan for secure, fire-safe storage.