At just 16, Carter Grandbois spotted an opportunity that would eventually change his life. While working on a junk-removal crew in Johnstown, Colorado, he noticed his employer carrying a thick stack of cash and began wondering whether he could build a business of his own.
Grandbois discussed the idea with his father, and within days they had bought a trailer. That marked the beginning of Carter’s Junk Away.
Two years later, the 18-year-old reportedly runs a business capable of generating as much as $15,000 (around Rs 14 lakh) in a strong month, according to his profile in Fortune.
A small trailer became a growing operation
Grandbois’s first independent job earned him $500 for around 30 minutes of work, giving him confidence that junk removal could become more than a side hustle.
As demand increased, he moved beyond the original trailer and bought a lightly used Ford F-250 truck. The business now employs a small team of W-2 workers, including friends from his high school.
A local newspaper report from May 2025 had already documented Grandbois running the company at the age of 17, while he was preparing for his senior year.
Data and systems helped him grow
The teenager soon realised that working harder was not enough to make the physically demanding business consistently profitable.
He developed a pricing calculator to provide quicker and more consistent estimates and began tracking information from individual jobs. He also created systems to maintain a steady flow of leads.
These changes have allowed Grandbois to spend more time managing the company rather than personally handling every removal job.
His business now includes coaching
Grandbois has also expanded into business coaching, helping aspiring junk-removal operators with pricing strategies and other systems.
According to Fortune, his coaching business generated about $40,000 in 2026 and now accounts for roughly half of his overall business. His social media presence has helped attract people interested in starting similar service businesses.
Despite his growing responsibilities, Grandbois remains connected to his school life. His journey highlights how a simple service-business idea, combined with technology, organisation and persistence, can develop into a substantial venture at a remarkably young age. #YoungEntrepreneur #CarterGrandbois #JunkRemoval #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #YouthBusiness