Helping With The Trashy Side STRs - Can Monkey

It started with a simple problem: take the trash out, bring it back in. But that tiny pain point? It turned into a full-blown logistics revolution for short-term rental hosts nationwide.Taylor Jones dives deep with Alex Shapiro, co-founder of Can Monkey, the tech-powered trash service that's now serving over 5,000+ properties across 28 states and 475 cities. What began as a favor for a friend became one of the most unexpected wins in the short-term rental game.Inside this episode:How a random lunch and one smelly STR mishap sparked a business ideaWhy homeowner rejection opened the door to a thriving STR marketThe secret sauce behind Can Monkey’s explosive growthWhat it really takes to manage a trash route across hundreds of citiesThe unexpected power of timestamped trash photos (yep, they can save you from fines)What makes a great “can runner” (spoiler: it’s not driving a BMW)The surprising blend of tech, trust, and trash - and why it matters for STR opsCan Monkey’s next chapter: 10,000 properties and software that could shake up the spaceIf you’re in the STR world or just love stories of scrappy entrepreneurship, this episode delivers a goldmine of insights, operations hacks, and growth strategies you’ll wish you heard sooner. Hit play now, you’ll never look at trash day the same way again.Learn more at canmonkey.comContact Alex: [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn__Episode Sponsored By:STR SearchSTR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com