$1,500 a Week Picking Up Free Pallets

If you’re new here, we turn $1 into thousands building these weird but simple side hustles. Welcome to Ghost Business 👻 Your (mostly) weekly email

If you read last week’s email about turning failed Amazon returns into a nice side hustle, you’re probably already rich by now! 😂 

This email is in the same thought: How can we get products for free, then turn around and sell them for profit?

Enter the pallet. I actually tried this myself in 2017 and it worked!

I found a free pallet on the side of the road, cleaned it up, painted it, and turned it into outdoor furniture. Then sold it for a small profit.

Let’s dive into how to build this into a sprawling empire for a Pallet Prince or Princess.

But first, check out this living room made of pallets 🤯 

Pallet Pickup Profits: Turning Free Wood into a $5K/Month Side Hustle

If you’ve ever driven by a local business and seen a pile of wooden pallets out back, you might’ve thought, “Huh, wonder what they do with those?” The short answer? A lot of them are trashed or left for anyone to grab—meaning they’re free for you! People across the country are flipping these pallets into furniture or selling them to pallet recyclers, and now it’s your turn to cash in. Let’s dig into how you can build a free pallet pickup empire and rake in up to $5,000 a month.

The MVP (Getting your first customer)

1. Scout Local Businesses

Start by identifying places that regularly have pallets to spare—think grocery stores, warehouses, distribution centers, or hardware stores. Ask if they’d be willing to let you haul away their unwanted pallets for free. Most are glad to offload them because it saves them the hassle (and cost) of disposal.

2. Post a Simple Ad

Throw up a quick Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist ad: “Free Pallet Pickup—Call Me!” Let people know you’ll come grab their unwanted pallets at no charge. Some might even pay you a small fee just to remove them—bonus.

3. Clean & Sort Pallets

Back at your place (or a rented storage unit), inspect each pallet. Separate the good from the bad. Gently used pallets that are still structurally sound are your bread and butter.

Cost Breakdown:

• Initial Pickup: Gas money, maybe $10–$20 per trip (consider factoring this into your service fee or as a cost of doing business).

• Storage: If you don’t have space at home, you might rent a small lot or storage unit for around $50–$100 a month—keep it cheap at first.

Getting Your Next 100 Customers

Once you have a reliable source of free pallets, it’s time to turn them into profit.

1. Resell to Pallet Buyers

Yes, there are businesses that buy pallets (often $2–$7 per pallet) to refurbish or repurpose them. A quick Google search for “pallet buyers” plus your city name should yield some results. Put your free pallets on a trailer or in a pickup (borrow one if you can) and drop them off to collect your cash.

2. DIY Enthusiasts & Crafters

Pallet furniture and décor projects are trending. List your pallets on Facebook Marketplace or local craft groups. You’d be amazed at how many weekend warriors will pay $5–$10 per pallet for their rustic coffee table project.

3. Build a Brand

Name your hustle something like “Pallet Pickup Pros”. Post on social media with pictures of your best pallets and crafting ideas. People love sustainability and upcycling, so tap into that niche.

Scaling to $5,000 per Month

Now that the wheels are in motion, it’s time to kick things up a notch.

1. Offer Delivery & Bulk Orders

Many small businesses or crafters would rather pay extra to have pallets dropped off at their doorstep instead of hauling them themselves. Bundle pallets in groups of 10–20 and charge a premium for delivery.

2. Refurbish & Upsell

Sanding down pallets or removing broken boards can significantly raise their resale value—sometimes double or triple. If you have some basic woodworking skills, you can quickly refurbish them. If not, consider hiring or partnering with someone who does, then splitting the profits.

3. Partnerships with Pallet Furniture Creators

Team up with local artists or furniture makers who craft custom pieces. Supply them with a steady stream of high-quality pallets at a slight discount, and they’ll stick with you as a dependable source. You can also negotiate a revenue share if you help them market and sell the final products.

4. Expand Your Pickup Network

Promote your service in more areas. Advertise in multiple communities or neighborhoods. As word spreads, you’ll have a never-ending influx of free pallets.

Numbers Breakdown (How to Hit $5K a Month)

Let’s do some basic math:

• You collect 200 pallets a week for free.

• You sell them at $3 each to a local pallet buyer (or $5 each to crafters, or more if you deliver).

• That’s $600 a week. Over four weeks, you’re looking at $2,400.

To jump from $2,400 to $5,000, start:

• Refurbishing (potentially doubling the price).

• Offering delivery (tacking on a delivery fee of $1–$2 per pallet).

• Finding higher-paying buyers who’ll pay $5–$7 each without you needing to refurbish.

With a little hustle and scaling, hitting $5,000 a month in pallet flips is totally realistic.

Viability:

1 [building spaceships] 🚀 to 5 [easy peasy] 😊 

This one is easy on the surface but does require you to pickup, transport and fix/build pallets which isn’t the easiest of labors.

But it’s that simple: scoop up free pallets, sell or refurbish them, and watch the profits roll in. Got a buddy who wants in? Grab a truck, split the gas, and double your haul. Don’t miss out on this easy, eco-friendly money-maker—your bank account will thank you.

(As usual each business will have it’s own setbacks, and it’s all about the execution and consistency rather than just having the idea)

It’s a great day to be great!

Love, Mike 👋