{"id":30032,"date":"2023-07-12T11:27:45","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T11:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ie\/?post_type=start-a-business&p=30032"},"modified":"2025-01-30T18:51:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T18:51:07","slug":"moving-and-removal-business","status":"publish","type":"start-a-business","link":"https:\/\/swoopfunding.com\/ie\/start-a-business\/moving-and-removal-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving and removal business"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
If you dream of running your own business and you prefer being physically active to sitting at a desk all day, setting up a removal firm could be right up your street.<\/p>
But before you go ahead, there are a number of important points to consider. This short guide aims to cover everything you need to know about how to start a moving business.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
A key part of getting your business up and running is to give some thought to the type of services you want to offer. Some of the options open to you include:<\/span><\/p> Man and van<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> If you\u2019re one person working on your own, a man and van service could be the most suitable choice. These services are typically more popular with those on a lower budget and all you\u2019ll need to do is drive the van and help your clients load and unload their items.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Self-load<\/b><\/p> Again, this service tends to be most attractive to clients looking to keep costs down. Plus it\u2019s even less work for you. You simply drive the van from A to B, while your customers load and unload it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Home removals<\/b><\/p> If you\u2019re looking to start a larger business, a home removals service might be more appropriate. This type of service will be more expensive, so you\u2019ll earn more, but you\u2019ll need to find a business partner or hire staff to help you.<\/span><\/p> Commercial removals<\/b><\/p> You could also think about helping businesses to move to a new office or shop space. Again, you\u2019ll need a partner to help you with this as office equipment can be heavy.<\/span><\/p> Packing<\/b><\/p> Demand for packing services is high as no one wants to waste hours packing up items before they move. But if you want to provide this service, you\u2019ll need to know how to pack different items and be prepared to spend a fair amount of time doing it \u2013 it can get tedious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> You\u2019ll also need to invest in the right packing materials. But on the plus side, you can charge your customers more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Storage<\/b><\/p> Another option worth some thought is a storage service so that clients can store items, such as furniture, until they work out what to do with them. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Once you know what services you want to offer, you\u2019re ready to start setting up your moving business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> You\u2019ll need to consider whether you want to offer your moving services locally or whether you want to expand further afield. If you\u2019re offering home removals, demand is likely to be higher if you\u2019re prepared to travel long distances \u2013 plus you can charge more. But this also means your expenses will be higher. You could consider travelling across the whole country or even abroad.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Getting certified helps your credibility. <\/span>If you want to offer international services, you\u2019ll also need to think about getting a Registered International Mover certification or an <\/span>OMNI <\/span>certification.<\/span><\/p> Having the correct insurance in place is crucial when you\u2019re running a removals business. Public liability insurance, for example, is designed to cover any claims or legal costs if your business activities cause damage to someone\u2019s property or result in injury.<\/span><\/p> You\u2019ll also need goods in transit insurance as this will cover any damage to or loss of items in your removal van. And you\u2019ll need vehicle insurance for any vans or lorries you\u2019re using.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> What\u2019s more, if you employ staff, you\u2019ll need employer\u2019s liability insurance. This will cover you for compensation claims if a member of staff becomes ill or injures themselves due to the work they carry out for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Your next step is to work out a budget that factors in your future expenses. Your biggest costs will be as follows:<\/span><\/p> To help get your business off the ground, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need to apply for funding. There are a number of options to consider, including a <\/span>business loan<\/span><\/a> from a high street bank<\/a> or online lender. Here, you borrow a lump sum of cash that you then repay in monthly instalments, with interest added, over a set term.<\/span><\/p> A <\/span>business credit card<\/span> can also be worth having for smaller purchases, as you can borrow flexibly up to your agreed credit limit and then repay your balance in monthly instalments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Alternatively, if you need funding to help you acquire vehicles (or equipment), <\/span>asset finance<\/span><\/a> is an option worth exploring. You can usually choose between hire purchase, leasing and contract hire. Contract hire is often used for new or nearly new vehicles. You set up a contract with a finance company and it will buy the vehicle you need and hire it to you over a set period. At the end of the contract, the company takes back the vehicle and you can acquire another one with a brand new contract.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Part of running a business should involve keeping a close eye on your competition. You\u2019ll need to regularly check competitors\u2019 reviews, alongside what they are currently offering and how much they are charging for their services. You can then use this to adjust your prices where necessary and perhaps consider altering your services slightly to make sure you stand out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p> It\u2019s also wise to join removals organisations. Doing so will help you meet other professionals working in the same field, promote your business and even lead to strategic partnerships to help your business grow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t If you\u2019re looking to secure funding for your moving business, but you\u2019re not sure where to start, the team of experts at Swoop will be happy to talk through your options and help you find the best solution. <\/span>Get started today<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tSteps to setting up your moving business:\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Choose your service locations<\/strong><\/h3>
Get certified<\/strong><\/h3>
Sort insurance<\/strong><\/h3>
Set up a budget<\/strong><\/h3>
Secure funding for your business<\/strong><\/h3>
Research your competition and price accordingly<\/strong><\/h3>
Make strategic partnerships and join organisations<\/strong><\/h3>
Get started with Swoop<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t