{"id":402316,"date":"2026-07-17T15:20:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402316\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T15:20:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:20:08","slug":"top-junk-king-franchise-owner-expands-to-la-pasadena-inland-empire-pasadena-star-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402316\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Junk King franchise owner expands to LA, Pasadena, Inland Empire \u2013 Pasadena Star News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The way David Donovan tells it, he wasn\u2019t looking to acquire more Junk King franchises when an opportunity landed in his lap.<\/p>\n

Junk King, a 21-year-old national junk removal brand under the umbrella of home services parent company Neighborly, has grown to include more than 170 independently owned and operated locations across North America since launching its franchise expansion in 2010.<\/p>\n

Donovan, 39, already owned the Denver and South Denver franchises, with the Denver location ranking among the system\u2019s top performers. A two-time Junk King Franchise of the Year recipient, he serves as a franchise adviser.<\/p>\n

During a leadership summit in Canc\u00fan this past winter, Junk King President Paul Tis mentioned that a major national account needed a service provider in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, why didn\u2019t you ask me to help?\u201d Donovan recalled, half-joking.<\/p>\n

What began as an offhand remark quickly turned into action. Donovan dispatched trucks and crews across state lines to temporarily fill the service gap. That stopgap effort led to a permanent expansion.<\/p>\n

He acquired three territories \u2014 Los Angeles, Inland Empire and Riverside \u2014 on May 1 before adding Pasadena on June 16, which serves Glendale and Burbank.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnically, all these are brand new,\u201d he said. \u201cThere was a Junk King in Glendale for 15 years, but it closed last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Expanding into the Southern California market meant more than adding trucks and crews. It also required navigating some of the nation\u2019s toughest environmental regulations, including CalRecycle\u2019s organic waste reduction rules governing how haulers sort and recycle materials.<\/p>\n

Southern California News Group recently spoke with Donovan about expanding into the region, navigating environmental regulations and the economics of running a junk removal business.\u00a0\u00a0The interview has been edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n

Q: How did you get into the junk removal business?<\/p>\n

A: My wife and I were expecting our second child. I wanted a more dependable schedule because my hours were all over the place when I did sales, so I approached my father-in-law. He asked if I wanted to come run his business, Junk King.<\/p>\n

Honestly, I fell in love with junk removal. It\u2019s a fun job.<\/p>\n

I ran it for him for six and a half years, and then my wife and I purchased the franchises from him.<\/p>\n

Q: Southern California is one of the most expensive places to operate a truck fleet, from fuel to labor costs and strict environmental regulations. Which of those posed the biggest challenge to your bottom line?<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0All of the above, honestly.<\/p>\n

Labor is quite a bit higher. Fuel costs are about 35% more. We recycle, repurpose and donate up to 60% of what we pick up \u2014 that\u2019s our goal as a company \u2014 but the other 40% is total trash, and disposal fees here are twice what they are in Colorado.<\/p>\n

Q: Do customers choose Junk King because of its goal of recycling 60% of what it collects, or are there other factors more important to them?<\/p>\n

A: Typically, clients choose us for speed of service. Price is another.<\/p>\n

But the environmental side also matters to customers, knowing what they\u2019re having removed is not going to end up in a landfill or dumped in an alley. When you call us, you\u2019re getting a very local experience, and I think that\u2019s what separates us from our competitors. We also have that national brand recognition so our standards are higher than someone you found on Facebook Marketplace.<\/p>\n

Q: Where are you seeing the most demand in our region so far? Are people primarily clearing out old junk, preparing for a move or tackling other specific projects?<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0All of the above. No two appointments are the same. Sometimes it\u2019s a full house cleanout, sometimes it\u2019s an office cleanout, and sometimes it\u2019s just a sofa because a client bought a new one.<\/p>\n

Q: What are Southern Californians throwing away the most compared to your clients in Denver?<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0So far, it\u2019s pretty similar: furniture, yard debris and appliances are the most common things we pick up.<\/p>\n

Q: Is there anything you won\u2019t haul?<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Hazardous materials: oil, paint, asbestos and anything bio-related.<\/p>\n

Q: What does it look like logistically for your crews to sort everything they pick up?<\/p>\n

A: When crews finish an appointment, we\u2019ll see how much space they have and try to send them to another job that fits the remaining space in the truck.<\/p>\n

On one job, we might pick up appliances, furniture and yard debris. We stack items in a way that keeps everything segregated. Appliances go to one side or toward the end of the truck, donation items go in the middle, and yard debris to dispose of or recycle goes at the very back.<\/p>\n

Q: How does Junk King base its rates?<\/p>\n

A: Our truck can fit 12 standard refrigerators, so we use refrigerators as a unit of measurement when we\u2019re explaining how the service works. We charge by volume and how much space items take up in the truck.<\/p>\n

Q: What\u2019s the most memorable item you\u2019ve hauled away, and what happened to it?<\/p>\n

A: So, I\u2019m a big motorcycle guy. I was hired to haul away a Russian motorcycle, a Ural with a sidecar. The client used to take his dog around in it. He couldn\u2019t ride it anymore.<\/p>\n

Once someone hires us to haul away something, it becomes the property of Junk King. However, the client in question signed the title over to us.<\/p>\n

I actually restored it.<\/p>\n

Q: I hear some of your employees made the move with you to Southern California. What\u2019s your secret to retaining dedicated employees?<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0The company culture. Several people in my Denver operation have been with us six to eight years. I brought two of my team members from Denver to Southern California, so they live here now, too. Most of my team would follow me anywhere \u2014 unfortunately, because I get a lot of harebrained ideas. I\u2019m like, \u2018We should do this!\u2019 (Laughs)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Honestly, we\u2019re very much a family. In Denver, we have family dinner once a month with the whole team. That\u2019s just how I\u2019ve always run the business.<\/p>\n

Q: Before the junk removal business, you worked in the hospitality industry. Did that experience shape your management style and the kinds of people you hire?<\/p>\n

A: Restaurant workers come from all walks of life, and it\u2019s the same in junk removal. One of my managers worked in car sales. I have guys who were electricians, crew foremen, roofers and landscapers. We\u2019ve even hired people who used to work in software.<\/p>\n

Q: Why do you think people make that kind of switch?<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0It\u2019s funny. Often, I\u2019ll end up hiring someone looking for something in between jobs, and they end up staying because they\u2019re like, \u201cThis is so fun! Why would I want to do anything else?\u201d<\/p>\n

One of my operations managers, who I brought with me from Denver, just raised his hand.<\/p>\n

Q: Do you have plans to keep expanding your franchise business?<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0Yeah, absolutely. I\u2019d love to continue growing in this space, but just as important is being part of the communities we serve. In Denver, we participate in the Halloween parade on South Broadway every year. The Denver Housing Authority is a big client of ours \u2014 we\u2019ll help with anything they need. We\u2019ve also done toy drives for the Denver Children\u2019s Home. We love doing stuff like that.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here in front of one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here in front of one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here inside one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here in front of one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here inside the company\u2019s office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"David<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here inside one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 8<\/p>\n

David Donovan, a longtime Junk King franchise owner in Colorado, recently acquired the company\u2019s Pasadena, Los Angeles, Riverside and Inland Empire territories, shown here in front of one of the company\u2019s trucks outside their office in Pomona on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a>
\nAbout David Donovan<\/p>\n

Hometown:\u00a0Temple City<\/p>\n

Title: Junk King franchise owner in Southern California and Colorado<\/p>\n

Education:\u00a0Studied photography at the Art Institute of Colorado<\/p>\n

Background:\u00a0Former editorial portrait and culinary PR photographer. Before that, ran bars and did business development for liquor brands.<\/p>\n

Business philosophy: Every first-time client receives a \u201cVIP for Life\u201d refrigerator magnet offering 10% off future Junk King services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want someone to just call us once,\u201d Donovan said. \u201cWe want to be their go-to junk removal provider.\u201d<\/p>\n

Information: www.junk-king.com\/locations\/losangeles<\/a>, www.junk-king.com\/locations\/riverside<\/a>, www.junk-king.com\/locations\/inland-empire<\/a> and www.junk-king.com\/locations\/pasadena<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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