Hi, I'm Dan!
The founder of Monster Junk. - Let me explain how the business became what it is today…
The beginning - before the Monster existed at all...
My first career was with a Spanish building company in the rural province of Almería. When the 2008 financial crisis hit the Spanish property market, my family and I returned to the UK and after a year of working for other people, I set up a small removals business with just one van.
At the time, many expats were returning home, and I began offering a Spain–UK–Spain “man and van” moving service. The work grew quickly and I soon picked up the moniker Dan the Van. Before long I had taken on staff, added more vehicles, and even leased a storage unit.
Back in Cheshire, the business expanded into domestic removals and courier transport, and demand was strong.
Back in Cheshire, the business expanded into domestic removals and courier transport, and demand was strong.
But success came at a cost. I was working long hours to meet customer expectations and had almost no work-life balance. I rarely saw my family and struggled to take time off.
Something had to change...
Something had to change...
The Monster is born…
By 2014, it became clear that house clearance and junk removal were significantly more profitable and manageable than removals. I began shifting the business in that direction, with mixed results initially. - A lack of experience meant some jobs were very profitable, while others lost money.
Determined to get it right, I learned everything I could from people already established in the industry, including retiring clearance operators, auctioneers, and waste disposal experts.
Gradually, the business model evolved into a focused house clearance and junk removal operation. The results were transformational: profitability increased, work became more predictable, and for the first time I had a business that allowed real time with my family.
Family has always been the driving force behind everything I do. The goal of self-employment was never just money, it was control over my time. I wanted a business that worked around family life, not the other way around.
With this new model, I finally achieved that balance.
As the business grew, the Dan the Van name no longer reflected what we had become. We needed branding that clearly communicated our family-friendly yet professional values. -
That’s when Monster Junk was born.
Why We Franchised
During the Covid-19 pandemic Monster Junk was exceptionally busy. As an essential service, we continued operating through lockdowns, helping people at a time when support was critical. Demand increased rapidly, requiring larger premises, more vehicles, and a dedicated office team.
As our reputation grew, we struggled to serve areas more than an hour from our base. Expansion became necessary but I wanted to grow without losing the family values and service standards that defined the business. A chance chat with a regular customer pointed me towards franchising as the best way forward.
Franchising allowed us to replicate the model while keeping ownership local. Franchisees had a vested interest in quality and customer service, ensuring standards remained high. It also meant we could show others how to build a strong income running a van-based business from home - something increasingly rare in an economy where flexibility and family compatibility are hard to find.
A head office team was assembled to provide customer service, sales, systems, and operational support. Ash joined us as Franchise Partner, and together we began recruiting business partners nationwide. The systems were already proven; new franchisees simply needed to implement them and serve the demand waiting in their territory.
After more than 18 years in the industry and over three years of franchising, the model is refined, resilient, and ready for national growth.
As our reputation grew, we struggled to serve areas more than an hour from our base. Expansion became necessary but I wanted to grow without losing the family values and service standards that defined the business. A chance chat with a regular customer pointed me towards franchising as the best way forward.
Franchising allowed us to replicate the model while keeping ownership local. Franchisees had a vested interest in quality and customer service, ensuring standards remained high. It also meant we could show others how to build a strong income running a van-based business from home - something increasingly rare in an economy where flexibility and family compatibility are hard to find.
A head office team was assembled to provide customer service, sales, systems, and operational support. Ash joined us as Franchise Partner, and together we began recruiting business partners nationwide. The systems were already proven; new franchisees simply needed to implement them and serve the demand waiting in their territory.
After more than 18 years in the industry and over three years of franchising, the model is refined, resilient, and ready for national growth.
AND TODAY...
We now operate multiple branches across the UK.
Our franchisees benefit from our 18+ years of industry experience, enterprise management systems, dedicated call centre and national advertising.
Every franchisee receives mentoring and ongoing support, allowing them to focus on running their business while head office handles day-to-day enquiries and administration.
In 2026, we are also seeking master franchise partners for Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, alongside occasional territory resales.
If you want to be part of a fast-growing, future-proof industry with a proven model and strong support network, now is the time to join the Monster Junk team.