The UK removals industry is worth over £1.5 billion a year. With roughly 3.4 million house moves happening annually, demand is consistent regardless of economic conditions: people move whether the market is booming or flat. That resilience makes removals one of the more dependable trades you can enter.
This guide covers every step from registering your company to scaling beyond your first van. Whether you are planning a lean man and van operation or a multi-vehicle removals firm, this is the roadmap.
Is a Removals Business Right for You?
Before committing, be honest about what the job involves. This is physical, people-facing work. You will spend your days lifting heavy furniture, driving, and dealing with homeowners who are stressed about one of the biggest events in their lives. Good operators are punctual, calm under pressure, and obsessive about protecting customers' belongings.
On the upside, a single-van operator working five days a week can realistically earn between £30,000 and £50,000 in year one, with net margins of 25 to 40 per cent once costs are dialled in. Established two-van operations frequently hit £80,000 to £120,000 in revenue. Add self-storage to the mix and those numbers climb further still.
The barrier to entry is low. If you already own a suitable van, you can be trading within a fortnight for under £3,000. That accessibility is one of the biggest attractions of the trade; just make sure you treat it as a proper business from day one.
Registration and Legal Setup
Business registration
You have two main options: sole trader or limited company.
- Sole trader: Register with HMRC for Self Assessment. It is free, takes about ten minutes online, and you can trade immediately. The downside is that you are personally liable for debts and claims.
- Limited company: Register with Companies House (£12 online). This offers liability protection and can be more tax-efficient above roughly £30,000 to £40,000 profit. The trade-off is more admin: annual accounts, Corporation Tax returns, and a company bank account.
Most operators start as sole traders and convert to a limited company once the business is established and profits justify the extra paperwork. Either way, open a separate business bank account from day one to keep finances clean.
Licensing requirements
If every vehicle you use weighs under 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, you do not need an operator licence. A standard Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, or Vauxhall Movano falls under this threshold, which means most man-and-van operators can start without one.
Once you step up to 7.5-tonne trucks, you need a standard national Goods Vehicle Operator Licence from the Traffic Commissioner. The application fee is around £257, and you must demonstrate adequate operating facilities, financial standing (currently £3,100 per vehicle), and a qualified transport manager. We cover the full process in our removals licensing guide.
GDPR and data protection
You will handle customer names, addresses, phone numbers, and sometimes photographs of rooms. Register with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO); the fee for micro-organisations is £40 per year. Keep digital records secure, delete data you no longer need, and never share customer details without consent.
Insurance: the Non-Negotiables
Insurance is not optional in removals. Customers trust you with everything they own; one dropped piano or water-damaged sofa can bankrupt an uninsured operator. Here is what you need:
- Goods in Transit (GIT): Covers the items you carry against damage, loss, and theft. Typical cover is £15,000 to £35,000 per load, costing roughly £400 to £800 per year.
- Public Liability: Covers injury or property damage to third parties. Most customers and corporate clients require at least £1 million; £5 million is increasingly expected. Budget £300 to £600 per year.
- Commercial Vehicle Insurance: Standard car insurance does not cover commercial use. Expect £1,000 to £2,500 for a single van depending on age, size, and your driving record.
- Employers' Liability: Required by law once you hire staff. Minimum cover is £5 million; most policies start at £10 million. Around £100 to £300 per year per employee.
For a detailed comparison of providers and what each policy actually covers, read our removals insurance guide.
Startup Costs at a Glance
One of the most common questions we hear is "how much does it actually cost to get started?" Here is a realistic breakdown:
- Vehicle: £5,000 to £15,000 for a used Luton or LWB van
- Insurance: £1,500 to £3,000 per year (GIT, Public Liability, vehicle)
- Equipment: £300 to £800 (blankets, straps, sack truck, tools)
- Branding and marketing: £500 to £2,000 (livery, website, Google Business Profile)
- Software: £0 with Move and Store's free plan
Total: roughly £7,500 to £21,000, or under £3,000 if you already own a suitable van. For a line-by-line budget breakdown, see our startup cost guide.
Equipment and Vehicles
Choosing your first van
Your van is your biggest single cost. The three most common options for new operators:
- Short-wheelbase (SWB) panel van: 6 to 8 cubic metres. Good for small moves and student jobs, but too small for full house moves. A used SWB Transit costs £3,000 to £6,000.
- Long-wheelbase (LWB) panel van: 10 to 14 cubic metres. The workhorse for man-and-van operators. Handles most one-bedroom moves in a single load. Budget £5,000 to £12,000 used.
- Luton box van (3.5t): 16 to 20 cubic metres with a tail-lift option. Handles two-bedroom moves comfortably. This is the sweet spot for professional removals without needing an operator licence. Used prices range from £8,000 to £15,000.
Our recommendation: start with an LWB if your budget is tight, or a 3.5-tonne Luton if you want to do full house moves from day one. Avoid buying the cheapest van you can find; breakdowns cost you both money and reputation.
Equipment checklist
- Furniture blankets and quilted pads (at least 12)
- Ratchet straps and rope (assorted lengths)
- Sack truck and furniture dolly
- Mattress bags and sofa covers
- Basic tool kit (screwdrivers, Allen keys, adjustable spanner, pliers)
- Floor protection (corrugated card runners or carpet film)
- Bubble wrap and packing tape
- High-visibility vests and work gloves
- First aid kit
Budget £300 to £800 for the full kit. Buy quality blankets and straps; cheap ones wear out quickly and the replacements end up costing more in the long run.
Choosing the Right Software
One of the biggest mistakes new operators make is trying to run everything from spreadsheets, WhatsApp, and a paper diary. It works when you have five customers. It falls apart at fifty: missed follow-ups, double-booked dates, lost customer records, and payments chased via text message.
Generic job management tools (Jobber, ServiceM8, Tradify) cost £15 to £50 per month and are designed for plumbers and electricians, not removals companies. They do not understand room-by-room inventories, volume-based pricing, deposit collection, or storage unit management.
Move and Store was built specifically for removals and self-storage businesses. It is the only platform that combines both in one place. Here is what each plan includes:
- Free (£0 forever): 5 active quotes, quoting wizard with room-by-room inventory, customer portal, CRM, storage management, Stripe payments. A 5% transaction fee applies.
- Pro (£29/mo): Unlimited quotes, automated follow-ups, automated Google Review requests, 2% transaction fee.
- Scale (£79/mo): Unlimited everything, custom branding, API access, free website build, free guided onboarding, 0.5% transaction fee.
For most sole operators, the free plan covers everything you need to run a professional operation from day one. No credit card required, no trial period; it is free forever.
Start Free with Move and Store
Pricing Your Services
Getting your pricing right is the difference between a profitable business and an exhausting hobby. There is no single correct model; most operators use one of these approaches, or a blend:
- Hourly rate: Typically £40 to £80 per hour for one man and a van, or £60 to £120 for two men and a van. Simple for customers to understand, but risky if a job overruns.
- Fixed price: Quote a flat fee based on the inventory, distance, and access. Gives customers certainty and lets you manage your diary. Requires accurate surveying so you do not underquote.
- Volume-based: Charge per cubic metre or per load. Common for part-loads and long-distance moves.
Before you quote any job, know your break-even: add up weekly vehicle costs, insurance, fuel, software, marketing, and your minimum desired wage. Divide by billable days. Every job must cover at least that figure, or you are working at a loss.
For a detailed walkthrough of pricing strategies and common mistakes, read our guide on how to price removals jobs.
Common surcharges
- Stairs and no-lift properties: Add £10 to £30 per additional flight
- Bulky or specialist items: Pianos, hot tubs, safes; add £50 to £150 depending on weight and access
- Packing services: Charge £20 to £40 per hour or a flat fee per room
- Weekend and bank holiday premium: 10 to 25 per cent on top of standard rates
- Long carry: If the van cannot park within 20 metres of the door, add a surcharge
The Quoting Process
A professional quoting workflow wins more jobs and prevents costly surprises on moving day. Here is the process most successful operators follow:
- Enquiry: Customer calls or submits a form. Capture the moving date, addresses, and a rough inventory.
- Survey: For larger jobs, offer a video call survey or brief phone questionnaire. Ask about access (stairs, parking, narrow streets), bulky items, and packing needs.
- Quote: Send a clear, itemised quote within 24 hours. Include your terms and conditions, insurance details, and payment terms.
- Deposit: Take a deposit (typically 10 to 25 per cent) to secure the date. Send a booking confirmation with the date, time, addresses, and what the customer needs to prepare.
Move and Store's quoting wizard automates this entire flow: room-by-room inventory capture, automatic price calculation, a customer portal where they can review and accept the quote, and instant deposit collection via Stripe. No more chasing PDFs over email.
Quoting accuracy is critical. Underquoting loses you money; overquoting loses you the job. See our guide on quoting mistakes that lose jobs for the most common pitfalls.
Getting Paid
Always take a deposit for confirmed bookings. No-shows are expensive: a reserved day with no income is a day you cannot get back. Accept bank transfers, card payments, and cash. A card reader costs less than £30 and significantly reduces "I forgot to go to the cash machine" excuses on moving day.
Move and Store's built-in payments (powered by Stripe Connect) let customers pay deposits and balances online, directly from their quote or booking confirmation. Funds settle to your bank account automatically. No chasing, no awkward conversations.
For a deeper look at deposit strategies and how to reduce no-shows, read how to collect deposits for removals.
Getting Your First Customers
Google Business Profile (essential)
Create and verify your Google Business Profile immediately. This is how local customers find you. Add photos of your van (clean and sign-written), list your services, set your service area, and actively ask every happy customer for a review. Businesses with 20 or more five-star reviews dominate local search results.
Collecting reviews manually is tedious and easy to forget. Move and Store's Pro plan includes automated Google Review requests: after every completed job, the system sends a polite review request to your customer. This alone can transform your local search ranking within a few months.
Online marketing and Google Ads
A simple, fast-loading website with your service area, pricing guide, testimonials, phone number, and a quote request form gives you instant credibility. Most people searching for "man and van near me" are on their phones, so mobile speed matters.
If you want to accelerate lead generation, paid Google Ads can deliver enquiries quickly. Move and Store offers a "Phones Ringing" managed Google Ads pack (£50/month) that handles campaign setup, targeting, and optimisation so you can focus on the moves rather than learning ad dashboards.
Facebook groups and Marketplace
Join local community Facebook groups and respond helpfully when people ask for removals recommendations. Do not spam; be genuinely useful. Facebook Marketplace is also worth listing on; many people search there for local services.
Lead platforms
Services like Checkatrade, Bark, and AnyVan can generate leads, especially early on. Be aware of lead costs: Checkatrade charges a monthly subscription plus per-lead fees; Bark uses a credit system. Track your cost per acquisition carefully and drop platforms that are not converting.
Referrals and repeat business
Word of mouth is the most profitable marketing channel. Offer a small referral incentive (a discount voucher or cash referral fee) and follow up with every customer a few days after the move. Estate agents, letting agents, and solicitors can also be reliable referral sources; introduce yourself in person with a business card and a clear value proposition.
Growing Beyond One Van
When to take on your first employee
If you are consistently turning away work or scrambling for a porter on every job, it is time to hire. Your first hire should be physically capable, reliable, and good with customers. Reliability matters more than experience; you can teach someone to wrap furniture, but you cannot teach them to show up on time.
Remember: once you have employees, you need Employers' Liability insurance by law, and your payroll and admin obligations increase. Move and Store's CRM keeps all job history, customer notes, and schedules in one place so your team stays coordinated without relying on group chats.
Building a brand
As you grow, reputation matters more than ever. Consistent van livery, branded uniforms, and a professional online presence all signal trustworthiness. Respond to any complaints quickly and fairly; how you handle problems says more about your business than how you handle easy jobs.
If you need a professional website quickly, Move and Store's Scale plan includes a free website build, or you can use the standalone "Website Fast Rebuild" service (£499 + £49/mo hosting).
Adding Storage as a Revenue Stream
Many removals customers need short-term storage: they are between houses, downsizing, or the completion date has slipped. Offering storage turns a one-off removal into ongoing monthly revenue. You can start with a single shipping container or garage unit and scale from there.
Managing storage alongside removals quickly gets complicated with spreadsheets: tracking which unit holds whose belongings, when rent is due, and which customers have overdue balances. Move and Store is the only platform that handles both storage unit management and removals job management in one system, so you do not need to pay for two separate tools.
For a full walkthrough of adding storage to your business, read our self-storage management guide.
Writing a Business Plan
Even if you are starting small, a written business plan forces you to think through your costs, pricing, target market, and growth strategy. It is also essential if you plan to apply for a business loan or vehicle finance.
Your plan should cover: startup costs, monthly break-even, target earnings in year one and year two, your service area, marketing strategy, and when you plan to hire. Keep it concise; ten pages is more than enough. Our man and van business plan template gives you a ready-made framework to fill in.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Underpricing to win work: Racing to the bottom destroys your margins. Quote fairly and deliver excellent service instead.
- Skipping insurance: One claim from a customer whose antique dresser was damaged can wipe out months of profit. Get covered before you move a single box.
- Ignoring reviews: Online reviews are your most powerful marketing tool. Automate collection so you never forget to ask.
- No terms and conditions: Protect yourself with clear T&Cs covering liability limits, cancellation, and payment terms.
- Running everything manually: Admin overload is the number one reason operators plateau. Use proper software from day one, not a patchwork of spreadsheets and WhatsApp groups.
- Not taking deposits: No-shows and last-minute cancellations are expensive. Always secure a deposit to confirm a booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a licence to run a removals business in the UK?
If you only use vehicles under 3.5 tonnes (most standard vans), you do not need an operator licence. Once you move to larger vehicles such as 7.5-tonne trucks, you will need a standard national Goods Vehicle Operator Licence from the Traffic Commissioner. See our full licensing guide for details.
How much does it cost to start a removals business?
A realistic budget is £7,500 to £21,000 including a used van, insurance, equipment, and marketing. If you already own a suitable van, you can start for under £3,000. Software does not need to be a cost: Move and Store's free plan covers quoting, CRM, payments, and storage management at no charge. For a full breakdown, see our startup cost guide.
What insurance do I need for a removals company?
At minimum you need Goods in Transit insurance to cover customers' belongings, Public Liability insurance (typically £1 million to £5 million), and commercial vehicle insurance. If you hire staff, Employers' Liability insurance is a legal requirement. Read our insurance guide for provider comparisons.
Can I run a removals business as a sole trader?
Yes. Most operators start as sole traders because it is simpler and cheaper. A limited company offers liability protection and becomes more tax-efficient once profits exceed roughly £30,000 to £40,000. Many people convert after the first year once the business is proven.
What software do removals companies use?
Move and Store is the only platform purpose-built for removals and self-storage businesses. The free plan includes a quoting wizard, CRM, customer portal, storage management, and Stripe payments. Generic job management tools (Jobber, ServiceM8) work for trades but lack removals-specific features like room-by-room inventories and volume-based pricing.
Start Your Removals Business Today
Starting a removals business in the UK has never been more accessible. The barriers are low, demand is steady, and with the right tools you can look professional from your very first job. Move and Store gives you the quoting, CRM, payments, and storage management you need; all on a free plan that never expires.