Alex Broches has been broke, homeless and suicidal.
But those low points are well behind him now that hes running a successful business.
Whats it built on?
Broches poses for a portrait as he cleans a garage in Sycamore, Ill., in January 2018. Katherine McLaughlin for The Penny Hoarder
Broches owns and operatesThe Junk Removal Dudes, which he describes as a cross between movers and garbage men.
In a busy month, well do around $30,000.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
The duo hauled away old toys, holiday decorations and furniture.
They made $200 for less than an hours work.
[I did] it for the extra money and just to help, the 30-year-old entrepreneur says.
And afterward, I was like, Huh, that was kind of fun, actually.
Within a week, Broches mom referred another customer, so he borrowed his friends truck again.
So a couple weeks passed by.
I started a website, put it on Google and then the calls really started to come in.
Hes considering franchising next year if the company continues to grow.
But his most unusual find?
[A woman] died and we had to go clean the property, Broches says.
That one was a little out there.
Im like a kid in a candy store, Broches says.
It doesnt even seem like work to me it just seems like every day is an adventure.
He says that each job left him feeling more depressed until he was convinced he would never succeed.
Everything was going down.
I lost all my money, my mental health, my physical health.
With the internet startup idea that I had…
I just didnt know what I was doing.
In retrospect, the experience taught him the skills he needed to build a successful junk removal business.
I could see myself down the line starting my own engineering firm, Cyr says.
[Broches] has always offered if I ever needed some advice for starting a business.
Broches chief piece of advice to other entrepreneurs: Dont be afraid to fail.
I dont think theres anything worse than regret, Broches says.
I think regret is worse than death.
Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look?
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?