Home Business Center: How to start a home business

How to Start a Moving Company 1-2-3



Business Licenses for Moving Companies

Generally, businesses are required to get a business license to ensure that they are complying with government regulations.

Each city, county and state has different requirements when it comes to licensing and permits. To make this task easier, Business.gov can provide information and specific instructions for your local area and type of business at their website. You can enter your zip code and business type, and you'll receive information on licensing requirements as well as permits, tax documentation and office contact information.

Before you start your moving business, start with a plan. Working as an employee for a moving company and owning your own moving service are really very different. Be prepared.

By planning, you can more successfully estimate start-up costs and set up a realistic operating budget so your business won't fail due to lack of funds. You'll also enable your business to more easily receive financing (if needed), and marketing and advertising will be easier to manage.

If you've never written a business plan before, using a business plan template for a moving company can make the task extremely easy - it's like filling in the blanks.

"How to Start a Moving Company" Guide

According to Entrepreneur.com, start-up costs for a moving company can range between $10,000 and $50,000. If you have less money to invest, you can start small, hire fewer employees and operate your moving service part-time.

Even if you decide to start your business part-time, you don't want to start your moving company without understanding business basics. With a Moving Company Start-up Guide, you can get the expert guidance that will help you start your moving business.

  • Follow a Step-by-Step Outline from a business expert, so you understand exactly what you need to do to start your moving business. BBB Accredited Business
  • Where to Find Professional Resources you can contact and ways to save money on start-up and operating costs.

  • How to Get Customers Fast: Discover marketing and advertising strategies that will enable you attract a continuous flow of customers and turn a profit faster.
  • Get it Risk-Free >> Start a Moving Business rated by customers

Checklist for Starting a Moving Company

  1. If you plan to operate your moving business out of your home, check with your local government office about zoning ordinances and possible land use restrictions
  2. Set up a business bank account with your local bank. Check that the bank is FDIC is insured. A business bank account has many benefits, including keeping your personal and business finances separate for tax purposes and giving you a resource to acquire financing for your moving company.

  3. Meet with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways to maximize your business tax deductions. Local business owners you know can often be a great source of referrals if you don't already have an accountant.

  4. File your fictitious business name with the county clerk, or if you want to form a corporation, find out the advantages of incorporating your business
  5. Find out insurance requirements from a local insurance agent. The IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) can help you find one. You can also look online to get free quotes on business insurance.

  6. Set up a separate business phone line. Whether you use a toll-free 800 phone number, a multi-line phone system, VoIP or simply add an additional phone number to your existing service, you'll want a designated line to establish a professional business image. Customers want to work with professionals
  7. Order business cards. Often overlooked, business cards can be a very efficient and low cost advertising method. See how you can design your own professional business cards online, plus get simple tips for increasing your sales >> Free Business Cards. See also: 30-50% off Postcards, Brochures and more Design your own marketing materials online using professional templates. Designs provided, printing done for you.

  8. Get a website. Save money by creating your own website with simple online design programs, or outsource the job to an affordable website designer. Whether you sell moving products online - or you use a website to display moving rates or business hours, it's important to take advantage of this low-cost marketing resource that can help you get more customers.

Marketing a Moving Business

Get Free Publicity

Write a brief press release or "letter" to your local paper announcing the grand opening of your new business. If you can offer a special discount or hold an event and tie it in with your grand opening, publications will find this more newsworthy and are more likely to publish news about your moving company. Your press release can be short and simple, and you can find press release samples you can follow on this page: How to Get Free Press.


29 Ways to Find Customers Who Want Help Moving

If you can't find customers to use your moving services, your business will never survive. The good news is that finding new clients doesn't have to be hard: simply use the techniques that the experts have learned.

Marketing Expert David Frey has been around for as long as I can remember. He has helped thousands of small business owners find new clients (including myself).

He gives you all the information you need to find customers, get the to buy more and to keep the coming back to purchase from you again and again. You don't have to buy lots of books, pay for expensive courses or seminars or even hire a costly rep to promote your company. David Frey makes it easy and affordable (and even fun) to find the customers yourself. I highly recommend his website to any small business owner starting out. Small Business Marketing Strategies

Advertise your business simply by driving your vehicle Free Car Door Custom Magnet

See Also: Advertise Your Contracting Services through the online contractors' network

T I P : "How Do I Write a Proposal?"
Use Professional Proposal Kits to create proposals, contracts and estimates. Proposal Kits make your work easier - plus they protect your business, can get you more clients and create more accurate quotes for you.

Postcard Marketing
Do a postcard mailing to introduce your moving service to potential customers. Using low-cost online services makes this an easy marketing task. First, decide on a special offer or hold a grand opening sale. Second, design your postcards online using professional postcard templates with VistaPrint (you can get 50% off here). And third, get targeted leads from a lead generation company like Resource Nation.

Moving Company Business Resources:

  • Start a Moving CompanyHome Business Tax Deductions
    Don't underestimate the power of tax knowledge! Small business changes can effect your profit in great ways. Discover over 20 deductions you can take for your business and how to save money getting your taxes done.

  • How to Incorporate in 3 Easy Steps
    Are you better off forming a C Corporation, or would you be better off in an LLC or Partnership business? Find out here which one will maximize your business profits and how you can get started easily online.

  • Avoid Legal Fees with Do-it-Yourself Small Business Legal Forms
    You want to avoid problems and protect your business at minimal cost. These standardized legal documents can help you do that with buy/sell/rent contracts, hiring forms, borrowing and lending paperwork and much more (over 60 legal forms WITH Instructions!) Think of all the money you'll save.

  • Free Business Insurance Quotes
    Do you need business insurance? As you may already know, anything can happen in business, and you don't want to find yourself unprotected. Find out exactly what kind of benefits you can get with a free quote before you make a decision, you may be surprised at the price!
 
If you're not familiar with Intuit Online Payroll, it's a cost efficient all-in-one payroll solution for moving companies. You can create paychecks online fast in minutes, process direct deposits and W-2s and get free support from payroll experts.

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