Thinking of setting up a removals business? There are several things you need to consider, from identifying your market to making those initial investments. According to statistics, approximately 309,000 households in the UK wanted to move to another home as of January 2023, indicating that skills in the removals sector are very much in demand.
Removals businesses are also known as moving companies, where the aim is to help people and businesses move their goods from one place to another. Generally, this involves several stages, from the initial packing to the transporting and of course, the unloading at the other end. Here’s what you need to know about setting up your own removals business.
Define your market
Determining how you want to position your business, as well as deciding on the services you plan to offer is key. You may want to tap into certain niches, for example. Many people think of moving furniture while helping someone move house, however you could also tap into markets involving the removal of commercial scrap and materials. Outlining your USPs will help you target the right audience, therefore shaping your strategy.
Setting up your business
Make sure you register your business online and follow additional steps set out by officials. On top of this, you’ll need to pull together a comprehensive business plan that outlines your services in detail, as well as your business goals, forecasts, staffing plans and general operations model. You should also consider your pricing strategy in light of competitor analysis.
Investments
When setting up any new business, the likelihood is that you’ll need to make initial investments to get things off the ground. In this case, a large vehicle, whether that’s a van or lorry, is likely needed. On top of the vehicle itself, you need to consider how you can secure heavier objects. This might involve investing in rachet straps like those from RS to fasten goods ahead of being in transit. This will avoid shifting and potential damage while objects are being moved. Otherwise, you could compromise your reputation if items aren’t transported securely.
Clients and partnerships
Often, one of the hardest steps is securing your first client. However, there’s nothing wrong with it being a family member or a friend, as this will also give you the opportunity to iron out anything that needs smoothing over. From there, you can help to spur word-of-mouth recommendations, alongside distributing flyers in your local area will help. You could even look into social media advertisements to reach a wider audience. Another option is to seek out partnerships with companies that might regularly rely on removal services, as this can help you secure a more stable source of income.
Expanding
All being well, you may get to a point where expanding is a viable option. This will involve revisiting the business model to broaden your offering. This way you can box off more niches and employ more staff to service clients in different locations. Upon building your reputation, you could secure larger partnerships with bigger companies.
