Let us be honest: most removals businesses start with spreadsheets. A Google Sheet for quotes, an Excel workbook for jobs, maybe a notebook for storage units. It works. For a while.
But spreadsheets have limits, and most growing removals businesses hit those limits sooner than they expect. In this comparison we look at what spreadsheets do well, where they fall short, and when it makes sense to switch to Move and Store.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Move and Store | Spreadsheets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free plan available; Pro £29/mo; Scale £79/mo | Free (Google Sheets) or part of Office subscription |
| Professional quotes | Branded, interactive quotes sent to a customer portal | Manual formatting; sent as PDF or email attachment |
| Online deposit collection | Built in via Stripe | Not possible; requires separate payment tool |
| Customer portal | Yes; customers view, accept, and pay online | No; customers receive static documents |
| Storage management | Unit tracking, occupancy, billing | Manual tracking; error-prone as units grow |
| Automated follow-ups | Yes; Pro and Scale plans | None; all follow-ups are manual |
| Google Review requests | Automated on Pro and Scale | Manual; most operators forget |
| Lead tracking / CRM | Built-in CRM with status tracking | Manual; depends on discipline |
| Multi-device access | Any device, browser-based | Google Sheets: yes; Excel: depends on setup |
| Data safety | Automatic backups, role-based access | One accidental delete can lose everything |
| Customisation | Structured fields with some flexibility | Infinite flexibility (for better or worse) |
| Learning curve | Purpose-built UI for removals | Familiar; everyone knows spreadsheets |
Where spreadsheets win
We are not going to pretend spreadsheets have no value. They genuinely work well in some situations.
Zero learning curve
Everyone knows how to use a spreadsheet. There is no onboarding, no tutorials, no new software to learn. You open it, type, and it works. For a brand-new sole operator doing their first few jobs, this simplicity is a genuine advantage.
Total flexibility
A spreadsheet can be anything: a quote calculator, a job tracker, a customer database, an invoice template. You can add columns, change formulas, and restructure things however you like. No software platform can match this level of raw flexibility.
Truly free
Google Sheets is completely free. If your needs are simple and you discipline yourself to maintain your sheets properly, you pay nothing.
No vendor lock-in
Your data lives in a format you control. You can export, copy, share, and back up your spreadsheets however you like. There is no subscription to cancel and no migration to worry about.
Where Move and Store wins
Professional quotes that convert
Sending a customer a branded, interactive quote through a customer portal converts better than emailing a PDF attachment or a link to a Google Sheet. Customers can view the quote, accept it, and pay a deposit online in one flow. A spreadsheet simply cannot do this.
Online payments built in
Move and Store collects deposits and full payments via Stripe without you needing to set up a separate payment system. With a spreadsheet, you are sending bank details in an email, chasing bank transfers, or paying for a separate invoicing tool.
Storage management that scales
Tracking five storage units in a spreadsheet is manageable. Tracking 50 or 100 units with customer agreements, occupancy rates, and recurring billing becomes a nightmare. Move and Store's storage management handles this professionally from day one.
No leads fall through the cracks
A spreadsheet does not send you reminders. It does not flag quotes that have not been followed up. It does not automatically chase customers who viewed a quote but did not accept it. Move and Store's CRM and automated follow-ups (on Pro and Scale) mean fewer lost jobs.
Automated Google Review collection
Most removals operators know that Google Reviews are critical for local SEO. But manually texting or emailing every customer after a job is something that gets forgotten. Move and Store automates this on Pro and Scale plans. A spreadsheet requires you to remember every time.
Data that cannot be accidentally deleted
We have all seen it: someone accidentally deletes a row, overwrites a formula, or drags a cell and breaks the entire sheet. Move and Store stores your data securely with automatic backups. One clumsy click will not wipe out your customer records.
It is free too
Here is the thing: Move and Store's Free plan costs nothing. It includes the quoting wizard, CRM, customer portal, storage management, and Stripe payments with up to five active quotes. So the cost argument for spreadsheets disappears. You can have purpose-built removals software for the same price as Google Sheets: £0.
When to switch
There is no shame in starting with spreadsheets. But here are the signs that you have outgrown them:
- You are losing jobs because quotes look unprofessional or you forgot to follow up
- Customers ask to pay online and you do not have an easy way to collect deposits
- Storage tracking is getting messy as you add more units or containers
- You spend Sunday evenings updating your spreadsheet instead of resting
- You cannot remember who you need to chase this week
- Your Google Reviews are stale because you keep forgetting to ask
If any of these sound familiar, it is time to try Move and Store for free.
Migration is easy
Move and Store supports CSV import, so you can export your spreadsheet data and bring your customer records and job history across. Most businesses complete the switch in under an hour. And because the Free plan has no expiry, you can run your spreadsheet alongside Move and Store while you transition.
The bottom line
Spreadsheets are a perfectly reasonable starting point. But they are a starting point, not a destination. When your removals or storage business is ready to look more professional, convert more quotes, collect payments online, and save hours of admin time every week, Move and Store is the next step. And it is free. Sign up and try it today.