Working With Competitors
For many business owners, the idea of working with a competitor feels uncomfortable. The fear of losing business, sharing information, or helping someone who might “take your spot” often stops people from even exploring the possibility. But in the junk removal industry, that mindset can actually cost you opportunities.
In this post, we’ll talk about why connecting with competitors, especially the right ones, can be one of the smartest moves you make, and how collaboration often leads to growth for everyone involved.
The Fear of Working With Competitors
Most people avoid building relationships with competitors because they see them strictly as threats. That’s understandable. But what many overlook is that the junk removal industry, as a whole, is surprisingly tight-knit.
If you spend time in industry groups or forums, you’ll notice something interesting: competitors are often willing to share advice, help each other out, and collaborate when it makes sense. That openness is one of the strengths of this industry and something worth leaning into.
Why Collaboration Works in Junk Removal
Junk removal businesses regularly encounter situations where collaboration is not just helpful but necessary.
Large jobs, tight deadlines, or high-volume cleanouts can exceed the capacity of a single company. When that happens, having trusted relationships with other local operators can turn a problem into an opportunity.
Rather than turning down work, businesses can team up, split jobs, and grow together.
A Real-World Example of Collaboration
Recently, we connected two junk removal operators in the same local area. One was already a client of ours, and the other had reached out to work with us. Due to exclusivity in the area, we couldn’t take on the second business—but instead of leaving it there, we introduced them to each other.
That connection quickly proved valuable.
Within weeks, one of them was contacted by a property manager for a large number of cleanouts that needed to be completed in a short timeframe. The job was too big for one company to handle alone, so they partnered up—and both benefited from the opportunity.
This is exactly how collaboration with competitors can work when relationships are built the right way.
The Right Mindset Matters
It’s important to understand that working with competitors only works when it’s mutually beneficial. If you approach a relationship looking to take without giving, it won’t last.
Successful partnerships are built on:
Trust
Mutual respect
Shared value
There is plenty of work to go around. When both sides understand that, collaboration becomes far easier and far more productive.
Who You Should Be Connecting With
Not all competitor relationships make sense. Timing and positioning matter.
Here are a few general guidelines:
- If you’re just starting, avoid partnering with someone who is also desperate for work
- Look for businesses slightly ahead of you that may be fully booked or scaling
- Alternatively, if you’re well-established, consider helping someone on a lower tier by providing value and guidance
For most people who are new or mid-level, the best relationships tend to be with operators who are one step ahead—experienced enough to provide insight, but still open to collaboration.
Learning Through Collaboration
Another often-overlooked benefit of working with competitors is learning.
Businesses that are fully booked or operating at a higher level often have systems, processes, or strategies you haven’t implemented yet. Building a genuine relationship with those operators can expose you to new ways of doing business that help you grow faster.
In many cases, these businesses are happy to share because they don’t have the capacity to take on more work anyway—and may even be looking to pass overflow jobs to someone they trust.
- Scheduling & Rescheduling
Virtual assistants can also help manage:
- Reschedules
- Schedule monitoring
- Customer lists and confirmations
This is especially helpful if you don’t have a full scheduling platform and need someone to keep everything organized behind the scenes.
- Social Media Management
Many junk removal businesses struggle with social media—not because it doesn’t work, but because they don’t have the time or interest.
A virtual assistant with a social media background can:
- Create and schedule posts
- Post consistently on business pages
- Help with reels and short-form content
Social media is another “lower-cost” task that, when done consistently, can generate significant business over time.
How to Know If You Need a Virtual Assistant
The best way to decide is simple:
Write down everything you do in a typical day.
Then label each task.
If you notice you’re spending hours on tasks that:
- Don’t generate revenue
- Don’t require your expertise
- Feel productive, but don’t move the business forward
Those tasks should be delegated.
Your time should be spent on growth, strategy, and revenue—not busy work.
A Note on Virtual Assistant Quality
Don’t assume virtual assistants are untrained or unqualified. In our own business, we’ve worked with several VAs who are some of the most capable, loyal, and hardworking people you’ll find.
Lower pay rates do not equal lower quality.
That said, even highly qualified virtual assistants are not a good fit for junk removal sales calls due to the complexity of pricing and customer conversations.
Getting Help Finding the Right Virtual Assistant
If hiring a virtual assistant is something you’re considering, there are companies and networks that:
- Fully train virtual assistants
- Match them to your business needs
- Set up multiple interviews (often 8–10 candidates)
This allows you to find the right fit instead of guessing.
If you ever need a referral or connection, I’m happy to help.
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Final Thoughts
Working with competitors doesn’t weaken your business—it can actually strengthen it when approached with the right mindset. Collaboration can open the door to more opportunities, larger jobs, shared resources, and long-term relationships that benefit everyone involved. When you focus on bringing value, being genuine, and building real connections, those efforts often come back in unexpected and positive ways. If you’re not actively building relationships with others in your local industry, you may be missing valuable opportunities that could help your business grow.