Should I, should I not?
Almost 15% of Americans move in a year. And, that’s more than 40 million people who decided to find their new home in the pursuit of better opportunities and conditions for themselves and their families. Whether they’ve found a new job, bought a house, chosen to live closer to their relatives or found a better place for their family to grow and develop, they pack up all their possessions and embark on the road. So, moving is quite a serious issue for American people.
It takes quite a lot of time, effort and resources to carry out all moving activities by yourself. Consequently, people try to seek for professional help in order to make the process as easy and smooth as this hectic and chaotic event of their lives can be. It’s almost impossible to finish pre-moving preparations within a reasonable timeframe. You’ll just appear buried under the weight of all other obligations and arrangements that follow each moving. Getting legal documents ready, closing the current house rent or even selling your own one, etc. and putting all clothes, furniture and other stuff together are really complicated taks on their own. Daily chores, children and work don’t go anywhere as well.
So, unless the day stretches to 48 hours instead of 24, people won’t be able to survive moving preparations and organization all by themselves. And, as average Americans tend to move more and more often now, they definitely won’t be happy to go through the same thing every few years.
That’s where moving companies and businesses come in handy, as they take responsibility and promise their clients to help them conduct this work without no particular problems and worries. The more clearly and honestly they operate, the more open and flexible with clients they are, the more high-quality and fast services for reasonable prices they provide – the more profit and customer’s trust they obtain.
Although some people are afraid to take a risk and start their own business after the recent economic crisis, you may totally try to create and develop a moving company. Besides, it doesn’t have to be too big to attract customers and earn some money.
It’s a common misconception that a reasonable moving service has to have several huge trucks and vans, hire a lot of employers and find a warehouse to store equipment and materials, required to perform packing and loading tasks. But in fact, more than half of people move within their county or state. So, it’s completely unnecessary to hold significant resources to meet the needs of local clients.
Some people also believe that it takes much money to popularize any kind of business, gain the trust of customers and, consequently, get enough orders. But, when it comes to that matter, it might cost you practically nothing (or minimum amount of money) to carry out a well-thought advertising campaign and become recognizable on the local market of moving services.
Anyway, you’ll never know what you can do until you try. So, let’s figure out how you’ll be able to start your own business and become a successful mover. And, if you decide that the deal is worth your effort, dive into it right away.
1. Business plan
Creating a detailed and well-reasoned course of actions to start and develop your project. Needless to say that any business requires your maximum attention and concentration. But starting off your own company and operating it also means that you have to think thoroughly and plan your further steps in advance. You have to determine exactly what services you’ll be providing at first and what equipment and materials you’ll need for that matter. Besides, a typical business plan includes an estimate of money you’ll have to spend to cover the expenses, related not only to the purchase (rent) of material resources, but also to organizational and legal matters.
Moreover, you’ll have to mention where that money is going to come from. Which part of the sum do you have already and how much are you going to borrow?
Then, you’ll have to calculate the expected returns and how quickly you will be able to recoup the money spent on the initial capital. Think of how you’re going to expand your company in case if it appears to be successful.
It’s especially crucial to come up with such plan if you’re going to borrow some money from a bank, or even from your friends and family. No one will be eager to invest their savings or funds into an unreliable business, run by a person, who can’t argue his interests and stand his ground.
2. Range of services
You can create a massive moving company at once, but bear in mind that it will cost you a fortune. Besides, you never know if business is going to be successful. Believing is good, but it’s necessary to choose rational approach to be able to realistically assess the situation and see how profitable your company may be. And, of course, it’s better to lose more than less.
Beginning movers, especially small businesses, often try to operate primarily within their own state. So, you’ll have to think if you’re going to do the same and maybe consider providing interstate moving services once you have an opportunity to afford to buy more and bigger vehicles, hire additional staff.
But, one thing I can tell you for sure is that it’s better to include packing, loading, moving and unloading operations into the list of services your company will provide. Most customers look for movers, who can combine those tasks, as they don’t want to deal with several companies to complete a single job. You may charge less if a client chooses to entrust you to perform all the tasks, mentioned above. Also, give an option to go for separate services if that’s what a client is looking for.
3. Vehicles, equipment and materials
For a new company, a van or a semi-truck may be just alright. It’s not necessary to get a large vehicle (and even more than one) at once. You may just have to make several goes to move all stuff a client has with your smaller truck, or try to limit the amount of things your company is ready to transport.
If you already have a van, things will be much easier for you and your budget. But if that’s not the case, it’s possible to rent or lease a vehicle. Moreover, you may rent a truck just for a moving day if the size of an available car is not enough or if you don’t have one at all.
However, each moving company has to obtain its own transport to avoid extra costs and agreements with other services. Your moving services will be much safer and more efficient if you have your own transportation means to the free use.
Your must-haves are packing boxes, plastic wrap and padding and other similar materials, dollies and hand trucks.
4. Funds
Estimate the first expenses realistically and determine how to collect the required sum. Ask your friends and family whether someone wants to contribute to your cause or become a partner.
Borrowing money from a bank may appear really tricky and time-consuming, but you can do that as well. Just bear in mind that your expenses will increase if you receive a loan. You’ll have to spare extra money to cover the loan interest and to pay off the initial sum.
Besides, any bank will set up special conditions and requirements, so be prepared to negotiate them.
5. Staff
It’s unlikely that one person will be able to provide moving and packing services on his own efficiently, along with running a company, dealing with administrative, financial and legal questions.
Usually, an average moving company has separate packing, loading professionals and a driver. Find those workers among people you know or hire them online on HireRush.com. You can be a person, who accepts orders, visits houses to conduct estimates, concludes an agreement and accepts payments.
In the long run, having an accountant and maybe a lawyer will be quite beneficial. But you may complete according courses and do those jobs without any outside assistance.
6. License, registration and certification of your moving business; permissions and insurance
Go through professional mover’s training to improve your professional qualities and skills. Get acquainted with the sphere you’re planning to work in and receive a certificate. People are more willing to trust and address certified specialists than common businessmen.
Besides, you’ll have to register your business at your local municipal institution to be able to function, hire people and conduct financial operations legally. Get all permissions to be sure that your company is empowered to provide each of the services you want it to.
Besides, you’ll need to contact DOT (Department of transportation) to get your company its own number. Registration in the DOT’s system provides extra points to your image and credibility.
Purchase an insurance to be protected in liability cases. Besides, insure your vehicles and buildings.
7. Promotion of your company
>Print out leaflets and business cards to spread the word about your company. Distribute them among your friends and family members, during different events and meetings. Post an ad in your local newspaper. Transfer an image with a logo, name and contact information of your company onto your trucks and materials.
Concentrate on online advertising. It’s the most inexpensive, but also the most advantageous way to promote your company. Nowadays Internet is the first place people go to in order to find services. This way they have an opportunity to compare prices, execution speed and experience of different companies without calling them, looking for information in the print media or asking for references.
For instance, you may post an ad on HireRush.com and describe your company from the most flattering side. People will see this info and contact you right away if they like the way you present your business and the kind of services you provide.
It’s completely free, so don’t hesitate and add your moving business to the list of similar companies, presented in the Household section of our site.
