The US moving industry generates $23.4 billion in annual revenue and has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.8% over the past five years (IBISWorld, 2026). It is a fragmented market — the top players hold a small fraction of national share, and the majority of the industry is made up of local and regional operators. The opportunity for a well-run small business is real.
But the moving business is also operationally unforgiving. Labor intensity, physical risk, customer expectations, and thin margins punish operators who wing it. The companies that last and grow are the ones who build a real operating foundation from day one.
This is what that foundation looks like.
Step 1: Understand the Economics Before You Spend Anything
The average moving company earns a net profit margin of 3–5% (IBISWorld, 2026). This matters before you buy a truck.
A company doing $500,000 in revenue keeps $15,000–$25,000 after expenses. At $1 million, that’s $30,000–$50,000. These are not numbers that support an expensive truck payment, high overhead, and inconsistent pricing. The operators who build real wealth in this business do it by scaling revenue while controlling costs — and by understanding their numbers from the start.
Build a basic financial model before you launch:
- Estimated revenue per job (your local market, your crew size)
- Jobs per week at target capacity
- Annual revenue projection
- Monthly costs: truck (payment + insurance + maintenance), labor, marketing, admin
- Projected net margin
If the math doesn’t work at your planned scale, adjust the plan before you invest.
Step 2: Get Licensed and Insured
Federal Requirements (Interstate Moves)
If you intend to move goods across state lines, you are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to:
- Obtain a USDOT number (free registration at fmcsa.dot.gov)
- Obtain Operating Authority (MC number) as a household goods carrier
- File tariffs or provide binding/non-binding estimates to customers
- Carry cargo liability insurance of at least $0.60/lb (released value) or full replacement value
- Register with the FMCSA Mover Registration System
State Requirements (Intrastate Moves)
State requirements vary significantly. Some states require a separate state operating license; others accept the federal USDOT number. Research your specific state’s public utilities commission or department of transportation requirements before you launch.
Insurance: The Non-Negotiables
At minimum, you need:
- Commercial auto insurance — $3,000–$8,000/truck/year
- General liability insurance — $1,500–$3,000/year
- Cargo insurance (goods in transit) — $1,500–$4,000/year
- Workers’ compensation — required in most states for any employee; approximately 15–25% of moving labor payroll
Do not skip workers’ comp. Moving is one of the higher-risk physical labor industries, and a serious on-the-job injury without coverage is a business-ending event.
Step 3: Buy (or Lease) Your First Truck
Your truck is your most significant capital decision at startup.
Buying vs. Leasing
Buying used (a 2014–2018 box truck, 16–26 ft) is the most common choice for first-time operators. Prices range from $15,000 to $45,000 depending on condition, mileage, and size. The asset is yours, there’s no monthly payment if you pay cash, and depreciation is slower than it looks.
Leasing preserves cash and keeps you in a newer truck, but monthly payments add a fixed cost that puts pressure on your margin when volume dips.
Truck size: A 16-foot truck is adequate for small apartments and bedroom moves. A 20–26-foot truck handles 2–3 bedroom houses. For your first truck, a 20-footer covers the widest range of jobs.
Wrap Your Truck
Your truck is a moving billboard in neighborhoods where people are about to move. A professional wrap with your company name, logo, phone number, and website generates organic awareness with zero ongoing cost. This is not optional.
Step 4: Build Your Business Infrastructure
Business Entity and Banking
Register as an LLC in your state. The cost is $50–$500 depending on the state. An LLC separates your personal assets from your business liabilities — essential for a business with physical risk and potential damage claims.
Open a dedicated business bank account. Commingling personal and business funds creates accounting problems and legal exposure.
Pricing Model
Set your rates before your first call. Research what competing companies in your market are charging (check their websites; call as a customer if necessary). Calculate your minimum profitable rate from your actual costs — labor, truck, fuel, overhead, insurance per billable hour. Price at a level that is competitive and sustainable.
See our complete guide to moving company pricing.
Your Website
You need a website before you need much else. It is the destination for every marketing effort you make — Google searches, referrals, social posts, truck wraps. A basic professional site with your service area, pricing or quote form, and contact information is sufficient at launch.
Step 5: Hire Your First Crew (or Work the Jobs Yourself)
Many operators start by working jobs themselves with one or two helpers. This is completely viable at low volume, but it creates a ceiling: you can’t sell and move furniture at the same time.
When you’re ready to hire:
- Moving helpers are typically W-2 employees, not 1099 contractors. Misclassification exposes you to significant tax and workers’ comp liability
- Pay competitively — $17–$22/hour for movers in most markets — or you will churn through people
- Background check every hire. You’re sending people into customers’ homes
- Train on both the physical technique (back safety, furniture protection, packing) and the customer interaction side (communication, professionalism, damage reporting)
Step 6: Launch Your Marketing
Google Business Profile
Create and fully complete your Google Business Profile before your first job. This is your most important marketing asset for local search. Fill out every field, upload photos of your truck and crew, and start collecting reviews from your very first customers.
Google Local Services Ads
Once you have your license and insurance documentation, apply for LSA verification. These ads appear above all other Google results and are pay-per-lead — you only pay for actual customer inquiries.
Referrals
Tell everyone you know that you’re open for business. Moving companies that launch with a strong personal network often fill their first few months without any paid advertising. Real estate agents, property managers, and apartment complexes are high-value referral partners — introduce yourself and offer a referral arrangement.
Step 7: Run It Like a Business From Day One
The single biggest differentiator between moving companies that grow and those that plateau is systems. Not hustle — systems. Specifically:
- A CRM that tracks every lead from inquiry to booked job to completed move
- Digital estimates with e-signature and deposit collection
- Dispatch software that gives your crew a professional schedule and gives you visibility
- Automated review requests that build your Google rating without manual effort
Starting these habits when you have 1 truck and 2 employees is far easier than retrofitting them when you have 5 trucks and 15 employees. The operators who wait to “get organized later” usually never do.
MoveRight was built by operators who scaled a moving company to $42 million in annual revenue. It packages that operational playbook into software that any company can use from day one.
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References:
- IBISWorld. (2026). Moving Services in the US — Industry Report
- FMCSA. (2026). Starting a Moving Business — Regulatory Requirements. fmcsa.dot.gov
- US Small Business Administration. (2025). Starting a Business Checklist