2026 Midwest benchmark
5-year operating plan
Blue input cells on the left drive every number here. The lease is a flat $1,100 for 39 months, and those payments include the buyout, unless you already own the equipment.
Year 1 monthly cash — St. Joseph seasonality
Jobs are not flat. Winter is slow (ice, little new construction). March–April spring cleanouts. May–October roofing, remodels, and contractor work. November tapers. December is quiet. Fridays stay the default day; extra midweek slots show up in the busy months.
Year 1 weekday mix (sample weeks)
Each completed rental is one job. Off-Friday drops or pickups each add the $89 trip fee. Winter weeks stay almost all-Friday. Peak weeks pick up a Tuesday or Saturday when a contractor will pay the add-on.
What is already filled in
| Item | Filled with | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Truck | $40,000 leased | Yours after payment 39 — buyout is in the payment |
| Trailer + first 3 bins | $40,000 leased | Same lease and same buyout |
| Extra bin after the first 3 | $3,500 | Cash purchase — not in the lease |
| Other startup | $4,000 | Placeholder — paid from owner cash |
| Lease | $1,100 / month · 39 months | Buyout included. No loan and no balloon |
| Cash you put in | $8,000 | Covers the $4k startup and leaves working cash |
| Insurance | $9,000 / year | Placeholder — swap when binder arrives |
| Yard / parking | $0 | Known — no storage fee |
| Landfill | $50 / ton | St. Joseph commercial 2026 rate |
| Overage | $75 / extra ton | Planning rate |
| Friday rental | $425 · 13-yard · 1 ton in | Local market band |
| Off-Friday trip | $89 per extra drop or pickup | Known pricing rule |
| Year 1 jobs | 10 / month, seasonal | Friday-first ramp |
| Year 2–5 jobs | 12 / month | 3-box Friday cap |
| Add 2 bins Year 2 | $3,500 each, cash | Growth placeholder |
What to update when quotes arrive
| Quote you get | Field to change |
|---|---|
| Insurance binder | Insurance — truck/trailer/GL |
| Lease quote | Lease payment and term. Buyout stays inside the 39 payments |
| Trailer package quote (trailer + 3 bins) | Trailer + 3 starter bins — still on the lease unless you buy it outright |
| Each extra bin after the first 3 | Each extra dumpster — default $3,500 |
| City landfill rate sheet | Landfill $ per ton |
| Competitor price calls | Avg rental price |
| Yard / storage lease | Storage / yard |