Used Cardboard Brokerage

Concept

Retailers drown in cardboard; recyclers need steady supply. You sit in the middle, scheduling pickups and clipping a margin per ton—no trucks, no warehouses, just phones and spreadsheets.

Micro‑Capex Stack

• Google Voice number
• Free CRM (HubSpot) to track bale volumes
• Simple contract template from LegalZoom
  
  48‑Hour Validation

Cold‑call five grocery stores. Pitch: “I’ll turn your waste into cash; 10% better than current rates.” If two say “let’s talk,” you’re in.

Operating Playbook

1. Lock in recycler pricing—know your floor.
2. Walk each store’s back‑dock; estimate weekly bale weight.
3. Arrange third‑party hauler pickup; invoice recycler, pay store, pocket spread.
4. Use a shared Google Sheet to log weights and payouts—radical transparency builds trust.

Scale Plays

• Cluster stores by zip code to maximize haul efficiency.
• Negotiate exclusivity once you prove reliability.
• Add ancillary streams: plastic wrap, pallets, spent cooking oil.

Pitfalls to Dodge

• Fuel price volatility—bake a surcharge clause into contracts.
• Overpromising pickup windows—hauler reliability is everything.