How to start a removal business

Why should you consider a removal business start-up in the UK?

If there’s one thing that both homeowners and companies will always need help with, it moving items between locations. Whether it’s an office getting started or a family changing homes, removal businesses are a key part of the process.

• If you want to build a company with consistent work, then starting a removal business is ideal
• All you really need to get started is a qualified driving licence and safe lifting practices
• Setting up a removal company is not actually that simple
• There are a lot of steps to consider in the process, such as insurance and marketing

Keep reading our guide if you want to learn more about the nuances of starting a removal business. So you can be sure your new company starts off on the right foot.

Setting up a removal company business plan

Right off the bat, when setting up any business, it’s vital that you have a business plan in place. Not only will this make it easier to plan how your business will operate, but also provides goals to achieve.

We also have pieces on how much removal experts can earn and how to start a rubbish removal business.

Therefore, we suggest outlining the core of your business plan based on the following elements:

• Business goals – what are the main aims of your business and how do you plan to achieve them?
• Start-up funds – how do plan to initially fund your venture?
• Business finances – how do you plan to handle and monitor your business finances in the future?
• Services offered – what services will you offer your customers?
• Your target market – what is your target market; domestic, commercial, or both?
• Your prices – how much do you plan to charge for your services?
• Your area of operations – how wide an area do you plan to operate in?
• Marketing strategies – what marketing strategies do you plan to employ?
• Work hours – how many hours a week do you plan to work?

Of course, these are just the essential things to include in your business plan. There are many other things you can consider as well, which we cover in our business plan guide. Why not download our free business template below to get started?

What qualifications are needed when starting a removal business?

While no direct educational qualifications are required when setting up a removal company, you will need to be legally certified. This certification is to show that you can operate your business under the law. And that your van is suitable for the job.

As a standard removal business, you’ll need to apply for a Standard National Licence. This will allow you to deliver in the UK. However, if you plan to do removals internationally, you’ll also need to apply for a Standard International Licence.

Naturally, it goes without saying that you and your staff will need qualified driving licences as well. Driving is, after all, a vital part of any removal business.

What are the legal requirements for a removal business?

While you require no formal training to start a removal company, there are still legal requirements you must adhere to. If you don’t, your removal business start-up may face fines or even closure.

As for how these legal requirements are determined, they’re based on the type, size, and weight of your vehicle. As well as where you plan to transport your goods and the time spent driving by you and your employees.

Naturally, not all of the legal requirements out there will apply to your business. That’s why we recommend doing thorough research in this area so you know what pitfalls to avoid.

What other important skills do removal experts need?

Now, while the concept of a removal business start-up might seem simple, that doesn’t mean it’s an unskilled job. Far from it. In fact, if you truly want to be successful with your removal business, you’ll want to cultivate the following skills:

• Appropriate road etiquette – practising road safety is essential as a removal driver, not just to protect yourself but also the goods you’re transporting
• Knowledge of the removal and delivery industry – knowing when removal services are in demand will help you plan for when business might be slow
• Organisational skills – removal businesses have to juggle the logistics of transportation every day, making good organisation a must
• Health and safety training – it might not seem like it, but moving something as simple as boxes can still pose a health hazard if carried incorrectly
• Risk assessment knowledge – moving goods comes with its own set of inherent risks, so you want to be sure you can identify these
• Management and leadership – it’s pretty tricky to run a removal business by yourself, so you need to have the skills required to manage employees
• Good customer service – in many cases, you’re going to be handling another person’s property, so good interpersonal skills will go a long way to easing the process
• Patience – sometimes delays and problems are going to get in the way of your work, and it’s important you have the patience to handle these professionally

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider here. For more help, we suggest reading our article on becoming your own boss.

How to start a removals business from scratch

With the initial basics of planning a business covered, it’s now time to look at the initial setup steps. We’ve highlighted the four main areas you’ll need to consider below, including insurance and finance:

1. Register your business

First things first, to begin with, you need to name and register your business. Registering your business with HMRC is particularly important as this will determine your tax costs. It’s also a legal requirement.

However, this is not a step to be rushed. You’ll need to decide whether or not to be registered as a sole trader or limited company. Each have their own pros and cons, so be sure to research them thoroughly.

2. Apply for business insurance

Much like understanding the legalities around removal businesses, it’s also important to make sure you have the right insurance. The last thing you want is to face financial repercussions because of an accident.

Of course, there’s also a lot of business insurance to choose from. That’s why we recommend reading our article on picking the right tradesperson insurance to learn more details.

3. Accounting and bookkeeping

Whatever your business, managing your finances is going to be a key part of keeping things running smoothly. Of course, you still need to decide whether you’ll be monitoring your finances or hiring an accountant instead.

Why not read our article on small business accounting for insights on how to do this?

4. Removal tools and equipment

Lastly, you’ll need to make sure that you have the tools and equipment necessary to carry out removal work. Obviously, this means buying a van or lorry capable of meeting your delivery needs. But you should also look to purchase the following:

• Dollies
• Furniture sliders
• Ropes and lifting straps
• Protective equipment
• Packing materials (if you offer this service)
• Removal blankets
• Palettes
• Spare boxes
• Labels

And remember, Checkatrade members get exclusive discounts on all these business essentials – even on vans. Read our article on the best van lease deals to learn more about how much money you could save.

How to grow your removals business

Once you have all the main business elements in place, it’s time to think about growing your business. This means scaling and marketing your business to attract new clients and expand your workload.

Take a look at our top recommendations on how to do this, below:

1. Scaling your business

When looking at growth, business scaling is just as important as getting new customers. After all, without proper scaling, you won’t be able to handle increased workflow. Therefore, you need to make sure your business has looked at the following before committing to a growth plan:

• Streamlining – business streamlining means making sure that all elements of your company are working seamlessly together. If they’re not, then you need to identify these bottlenecks and correct them
• Finances – good growth is built on financial stability, so it’s always wise to have plenty of cash in the bank as a financial safety net
• Quality – one thing that should never be sacrificed as your business grows is the level of quality you provide. All good businesses are built on excellent service, so make sure you can maintain yours as your workload increases
• Team members – running a removal company by yourself can be quite the challenge, and eventually, you’ll need to hire. So, be sure to take on staff as and when you need them, rather than after the fact

2. Digitally marketing your business

In the modern day, no business can truly be successful without a solid online marketing strategy. And that means putting aside a portion of your budget in the following areas:

• Business website – your face on the internet, a good business website that functions correctly is a must. You can learn more about this in our small website blog
• Social media – ideal for any and all trades, showing off your work can be a great way to attract more customers. Read our social media marketing guide for tips on how to do this
• Online directories – a cornerstone of finding reputable tradespeople, joining a trade directory is ideal if you need to find additional leads quickly

3. Advertising your business

Besides digital marketing, it’s also important to market your business through traditional advertising. If done right, any of the following areas can be a fantastic way to expand your customer base:

• Print media – you might not think it, but print marketing is still as important as ever for marketing. Find out how to use it effectively in our print media guide
• PPC – one of the best ways to advertise yourself online, pay-per-click advertising can get you directly in front of new customers when they search online. We suggest speaking to a local PPC expert to learn more about how to do this properly
• Company signage – free advertising at its finest, good company branding can go a long way to making you more visible, all without having to do anything other than your job
• Event sponsorship – while not the most common form of advertising, by sponsoring local events, you can get your name out there while getting in touch with other local businesses

4. Other marketing ideas

Finally, should you have the time, we highly recommend trying all of the following passive marketing techniques as well:

• Customer reviews – a suite of top reviews is always a good sign to any customer, so always ask them to leave one after you’ve finished a job
• Networking – word of mouth is a solid way to bring in more leads to your business, and the best way to do this is through networking with other local trades
• GMB listings – a quick way to appear in local searches, make sure you sign up for the Google My Business listing as soon as you can

As with your business plan, there is a lot to cover here. That’s why we suggest downloading our free marketing guide to learn more about these areas in detail.

How to get more removal work

Once you’ve established your removal services in your local area, the next step is to expand even further. You can do this by investing in any of the following:

• A wider service offering – if your company is big enough then it never hurts to expand out your business offering. If you only serve domestic companies, or vice versa, then consider expanding into the opposite area for more work
• Repeat business – removal work in the commercial sector can be particularly lucrative in this area, so be sure to ask any businesses you work with if they might need your help in the future or on a regular basis

Make great savings marketing your business with Checkatrade

And there you have it; you should now have no trouble setting up a removal business of your own. Of course, if you want more help in this area, then you should consider joining Checkatrade.

• Get access to free marketing tools
• Reach a wide base of customers
• Make savings with as well as plenty of benefits.

Speak with our team today to learn more about passing our 12-point vetting process.