From Layoff to Opportunity with Junk King Franchise Ownership

For Luke Wren, joining Junk King® wasn’t just about starting a business — it was about creating something meaningful with his two older brothers.

“I joined Junk King back in October of 2021,” he says. “During COVID, in 2021, I actually got let go from my job. My brothers — they’re nine and ten years older than me — started talking with me about what to do next.”

What began as a tough moment quickly became a turning point. “How they tell the story now is they felt bad for me,” Luke laughs. “They were like, ‘We’ve got to get Luke a job.’ But truthfully, we’d always wanted to do something together. Own a business together. So, we said, why don’t we look at franchises?”

From the beginning, the brothers knew they wanted more than just a business to run — they wanted one they could grow. “We were looking at different brands, but we wanted something we could scale. We wanted Utah. We wanted to dominate Utah,” Luke explains.

When they came across Junk King, the opportunity clicked instantly. “We looked at Junk King and said, ‘Junk removal… everyone has junk. Everyone needs to get rid of stuff — consumers, businesses, everybody.’ We knew we could grow that in Utah and really expand. That’s how we fell upon Junk King.”

From day one, the support Luke received from the Junk King team made the transition into ownership feel manageable — and personal. “They have a great process,” he says. “But what I really appreciate is the people. I can call them anytime — email, text — and they’ll get back to me as soon as they can.”

That responsiveness helped him navigate the new parts of the business. “They know me well enough now that they know my weaknesses,” Luke admits. “So if I reach out, they help right away — whether it’s something with marketing or operations.”

Like many new franchisees, Luke says the early days came with plenty of learning moments — especially on the operational side. But he never had to face any of it alone. “When I first started, I didn’t know anything,” he says. “But I can call other franchise owners whenever I want.”

The other owners didn’t just answer his calls — they showed up instantly. “If we’re having an issue with a truck — the winch, whatever — I can call them and they’ll FaceTime me immediately. Even if they’re busy. I’ll show them what’s going on, and they’re patient. They walk me through it.”

And that support has evolved into something that feels more personal than professional. “It doesn’t feel like they’re just coworkers or other franchise owners,” Luke says. “It’s more of that friendship, that family type thing.”

Looking back, Luke sees joining Junk King as the moment everything came together — the business he wanted, the market he believed in, and a support system that feels like a team cheering him.