Starting your very own moving company can prove to be a massive challenge, especially for those who have little experience and knowledge of the moving industry. It can be pretty scary to think about all of the things that need to be taken into account before you can start making money by providing moving services. However, providing moving services can prove to be a profitable side hustle, especially if you already have a loading van or a truck, then the cost of starting a moving business is very little.
By overlooking important aspects of starting a moving business, you may have to leave the industry sooner than you had planned. Whenever starting a new business, you should always start small and avoid taking risks that could make you lose your money. With just a van or truck, you can easily start offering moving services.
Contrary to what most people think, there is no need for you to invest in expensive commercial trucks and large warehouses, especially when you’re only just starting. Moving services can be provided to individuals and families in your neighborhood relocating or moving items from one location to another.
Remember that it is important to decide what services your moving business will offer. Take into account storage services, this should help you earn more. However, you can start offering other services when your business starts to grow. We will now take a look at some important steps that will help you get your moving business started.
Have a business plan
You will need to have a business plan if you want your business to be a success. Even if you’re thinking about starting small, a business plan will provide you with a plan and a direction. Keep in mind that you will need to answer all the important questions when you’re drafting a business plan. These important questions can include questions about resourcing, financing and how will your new business run smoothly.
Apart from providing you with all the answers, a well drafted business plan should also offer guidance as to how you will distribute resources, face common issues that moving businesses face and how you can take advantage of opportunities to make money.
As we have mentioned above, anyone with a moving van or a truck can make a good amount of money if they start offering moving services. This means that there are many small local moving businesses. Remember to take the time out to draft a business plan that will help you stand out from the competition.
Get the required licenses
You will need to obtain the required licenses and permits that will allow you to offer moving services. For instance, you will need the US DOT Authority, but you may need another license if your state’s regulatory authority imposes any such requirements on moving companies. Learn more about US DOT Authority and other licenses you will need and how you can get them on movingauthority.com.
It is important that you get all such licenses and permits in order to appear more credible to your customers and also so that your business can avoid trouble, especially lawsuits.
Work on your business
There are a lot of things that need to be taken care of. You must take the time to train your staff well to handle the items of the customers carefully. Work with your staff to show professionalism and hard work. Make sure that there is no compromise on the quality of service that you provide to your customers.
You should also consider the costs of licensing, buying or renting a truck, the tools and equipment that you will need, such as packing materials and a dolly that can help you with the processes of loading and unloading. remember to take into account the costs of licensing, a moving truck or a van, fuel, equipment and tools, packing and wrapping materials. Look for high quality tools and equipment that can help create a good impression on the customers, such as moving pads, boxes and bubble wraps.
The most you will have to spend on will be on the vehicle(s) of your business. When you’re starting your new business, if you do not own a van or a truck and don’t have enough to buy a new vehicle, consider getting a used truck or renting a truck or a van. Remember to save some amount from your monthly income so you can buy a new truck for your business as soon as possible.
Moving and transportation insurance
We strongly recommend that you get insurance for your moving business. Get in touch with insurance providers and look for coverages that will meet your needs. Coverage for general liability is important. Once your business starts to expand, you can also get commercial auto and property insurance. It is worth noting that some states impose a legal requirement on moving companies to have minimum insurance for the belongings of their customers, in case they get lost or damaged.
The steps mentioned above can help you set up your new business. Once that is done, you should work on promoting the new business. This is not a step that will help in the creation of your business, however, this is equally, if not more, important. Think about it, you have started your company successfully but without any customers how do you expect to make any money? Make sure that the right kind of people learn about your business.
In today’s world, a lot of people search for moving companies on google whenever they need to hire one. You can work on creating your own website and pages on other social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. You could also use brochures and flyers at grocery stores and local markets, such traditional methods of promoting a business may still help you get a good amount of customers.
