Meet 18-year-old ‘vibe coder’ who earns up to $15,000 a month from junk collection

Carter Grandbois, a 18-year-old entrepreneur from Johnstown, Colorado, has made a name for himself by using a method he calls "vibe coding" to run his junk removal business. He started working for a local junk-removal operator at 16, and after noticing the lucrative potential of small jobs, he decided to start his own operation with his father's support.

Within a few days, they purchased a trailer and secured their first job, earning $500 for about 30 minutes of work. Now 18, Grandbois runs Carter’s Junk Away as a full-time business and has seen it generate up to $15,000 in monthly revenue during peak seasons. His success can be attributed to his innovative use of pricing calculators, data tracking, and lead generation systems.

Grandbois explained how his pricing calculator transformed how his workers estimated jobs, allowing them to bid consistently and profitably. This development enabled him to oversee more aspects of the business without being on the truck. Currently, he earns between $125 and $1,000 per job, with his crew members being high school friends.

Recognizing the value of his pricing tools for other junk removal businesses, Grandbois has shared them in the form of two calculators—an open-access version and a more advanced proprietary calculator for experienced businesses. Despite concerns about potential competitors using his tools, Grandbois believes that sharing his resources ultimately benefits the industry as a whole.

Grandbois has also expanded his business beyond junk removal. He now offers coaching services to aspiring junk removal entrepreneurs, generating roughly $40,000 in revenue from coaching this year. He attributes much of his growth to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where he showcases his business and attracts potential entrepreneurs, including older individuals such as "a bunch of 40-year-old dads."