The coronavirus pandemic has left many of us furloughed from our jobs, or worse still, we have lost our jobs, so many of us are seeking new opportunities outside of our traditional career paths. So, why not start a moving company?
Often, it is difficult to come up with a new idea, especially when the economy is in such a mess that employers aren’t hiring. The only option left is to start your own business, and given people are seeking to move for a fresh start after the quarantine period is over, setting up your own moving company could be the perfect business to capitalize on the current situation. If this sounds like something you’d like to do then read on, as here we are going to take a look at how to set up your own moving company.
Write a business plan
You cannot start any business without a business plan or you will be setting yourself up for failure, and the removal game is no different from any other. If you are completely new to the industry then it is worth doing some research on your competitors to see how they do things. You will then need to think about the finer details i.e. do you want to just concentrate on your home market, or do you want to become an international firm? Do you want to move luxury high-risk items or just concentrate on home removals? How will you fund your company and how will you market it to find your first customers? Once you have answered all these questions then you are on your way.
Purchase moving equipment and premises
Once you have your plan, you need to set it into action by buying your first storage premises and a van. Your van size will depend on the type of removals you are doing, if you are entering the specialized game then you will need an adaptable lorry and perhaps a forklift. You will also need a lock-up or a warehouse where you can store items and also pack them safely into containers if you are going to be moving the furniture abroad. You need to tailor your equipment for your business so think carefully about how you will do this.
Price correctly
A sure-fire way of pricing yourself out of the market is to set unrealistic prices from the outset. In fact, you should be concentrating on winning business, initially with low prices, until you become a reliable name in the industry. You should study all your competitors especially if you are shipping to Australia, for example, as it will be very difficult to understand what to charge in order to be competitive and to make your own business stand out from the crowd. Once you begin to create a reputation then your prices can creep up and you can start to earn good money.
Insure yourself
Insuring yourself is paramount if you do not want to leave yourself open to litigation for damages and negligence. The very nature of the removals game is that there are going to be some accidents, this is unavoidable, so don’t run the risk of going bankrupt in your first year, by making sure you are fully insured. If you are in the international moving game then you will need an extra level of cover and should check regulations at your destination country. Never cut corners or skimp on costs when it comes to insurance otherwise it could come back to haunt you.
Market yourself
Initially, you will have no customers so you need to think long and hard about where you are going to get them from. Your first step is to use the various social media platforms to create noise about your project, you can start writing blogs to show that you have the industry knowledge and you can also try and piggyback on existing forums surrounding the moving game. You shouldn’t ignore traditional ways of marketing so the local newspaper may be a great way to connect with your local audience, and maybe you could take a look at any multinational companies nearby that may have employees who move regularly. You need to think outside the box in order to stand out from the crowd and make your company the go-to removals firm in your area.
As we have learned there are several stages to setting up your own moving company. First, you must write a business plan leaving no stone unturned. Once this is done then you can start purchasing your equipment and some premises, before you get on to the tricky subject of pricing. Don’t price too high at the outset or you won’t attract any business. Before you finally start operating ensure that you are fully insured for all liabilities and market yourself using social media and local print publications. If you follow this plan you will have a successful moving company in no time at all.
