Bryan Cross Heads Operations at JunkStart Franchise

JunkStart, a pay-by-weight junk removal franchise, has named Bryan Cross vice president of operations. The franchise development expert works alongside founder Daniel McCarty to help build the systems franchise owners need to succeed.

“I have experience with a mature, rapidly growing junk removal franchise at College HUNKS and then with a large, established franchise system at Lawn Doctor. JunkStart allows me to take what I have learned from both experiences and help build a franchise system from the ground up. As I got to know Daniel and learned more about his vision for the company, it became clear there was a strong alignment between what JunkStart needed and the type of work I enjoy doing.”

Cross’ work involves intentionally designing and shaping the franchisee experience, operating systems, training, coaching, technology and culture. Cross looks forward to working with the brand’s first group of franchisees because that experience will help shape the systems and support structure that can eventually serve more locations.

“Successful franchise operations start with simplicity, consistency, accountability and strong communication. Franchisees need a clearly defined operating model, measurable KPIs and a support team that helps them execute against those standards,” he said. “Growth can’t just be measured by how many franchises you sell. The health and profitability of existing franchisees ultimately determine the strength of the brand. Listening to franchisees, using data to make decisions, continuously improving the model and creating scalable support systems all become incredibly important.”

McCarty said Cross has the experience to build an operation that matches the junk removal brand’s momentum. “He’s spent years helping franchise owners figure out what works and how to improve it. He understands what it takes to grow without losing sight of the people actually running the business,” McCarty said.

Cross lives in Tampa, Fla., with his wife and two daughters. A native of Atlanta, he roots forthe city’s sports teams and enjoys playing golf, working out and staying active.

Founded in 2022, JunkStart is redefining the junk removal industry with its pay-by-weight pricing model. The San Antonio-based B2B brand replaces volume-based estimates with data-driven pricing powered by onboard scale technology.