#22 — Brian Scudamore: Building a $700M Business

Our guest this episode is Brian Scudamore—founder and CEO of O2E Brands, the parent company of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, the world’s largest junk removal business. Brian started the company at just 18 years old after dropping out of high school, and has since built it into a $700 million empire.  Along the way, he’s expanded into other home service brands like WOW 1 DAY PAINTING and Shack Shine, and today is also a Dragon on CBC’s “Dragons’ Den.” In this conversation, Brian joins Dave to share the story behind his entrepreneurial journey—from naming the company after a phone number to franchising it internationally to turning “ordinary” home services into premium, trusted brands. They dive into the lessons Brian learned while building the business, why he believes anyone can be an entrepreneur and how his grandfather’s advice on kindness continues to shape his leadership style.  Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or just curious how a scrappy Canadian startup turned into a household name, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.   Show Notes (00:00) Intro & Disclaimer (00:57) Intro to Brian Scuadmore (02:47) How Brian’s Grandparents Taught Him to Treat People Kindly (04:23) 1-800-GOT-JUNK Today (08:10) Brian’s New Brands (09:26) Business Differences in Canada vs. the U.S. (11:23) How Brian Started 1-800-GOT-JUNK (13:54) Naming the Business a Phone Number (15:32) Keys to Success in Home Services (19:23) Successes and Failures of Growing Internationally  (20:56) The Franchise Model (23:54) Premium Pricing in the Service Industry (26:55) Finding $400k in the Floorboards (28:13) Business Formation in Canada (30:31) Starting New Home Service Brands (37:54) Dragons’ Den (41:54) Anyone Can Be an Entrepreneur  (42:45) The Future of Brian’s Businesses (44:39) The Impact of Dragons’ Den (47:52) Conclusion