LoadUp Removals
“August pays for February. We plan the whole year around that.”
CRCallum Reid · LoadUp Removals · Since 2018
12-mo revenue$508,470+9% vs last yearStripe + Xero
How to start a removals company in the UK
0 of 15 doneStart with: Pick the moves you’ll do
Vans up to 3.5 tonnes do not need an operator licence. Bigger trucks need a goods vehicle operator licence (O-licence) and drivers with the right licence category. If you take away unwanted items, you also need to register as a waste carrier.
Man-and-van, house moves or office moves. Your vehicle decides your paperwork.
Insurance is the big one. Get it right before the first move.
Survey first, then give a fixed price.
Most people find a mover online and pick the one with the best reviews.
Summer is busy. Plan staff and cash around it.
Open for business15 steps to go
Stage 1Decide how you’ll start
0/3- Start with flat moves and single items
- Note the moves you’ll turn down for now
- Find one helper you trust
- Check your driving licence categories
- Price a 3.5-tonne Luton van, new and used
- Plan when you’d move up to a bigger truck
- Run the odds calculator
- Work out how many moves a week you need
Stage 2Licences and insurance
0/4- Decide if you need a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes
- If you do, apply well before you need it
- Plan regular safety checks and records
- Decide if you’ll offer clearances
- If you will, register as a waste carrier
- Keep a waste transfer note for every load
- Get goods in transit cover
- Get public liability cover
- Make sure the van is insured for hire and reward
- Register for Self Assessment or set up a company
- Register as an employer before your first hire
- Keep fuel and van receipts
Stage 3Price and book moves
0/3- Cost a typical two-bed move
- Include travel to and from
- Set a minimum price per job
- Offer a video survey for every job
- Write down access issues: stairs, parking, lifts
- Take a deposit to hold the date
- Buy boxes in bulk
- Offer a packing service the day before
- Bring blankets and straps on every job
Stage 4Win customers
0/2- Claim your Google Business Profile
- Ask for a review the same evening
- Reply to every review
- Visit 10 local estate and letting agents
- Leave a simple price sheet
- Thank agents when a referral books
Stage 5Run and grow
0/3- Book helpers for June to September in spring
- Keep two months of costs aside
- Charge more for Fridays and month-ends
- Read owners’ warnings
- Check your insurance limits every year
- Ask customers if they need storage
- Look at removals firms for sale
No steps match.
Open for business, with numbers to prove it.
Owners who started one
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to start a removals company in the UK?
Not with a van up to 3.5 tonnes. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes need a goods vehicle operator licence (O-licence). If you take away waste, you also need to register as a waste carrier.
What insurance does a removals company need?
Goods in transit cover for customers’ belongings, public liability, hire-and-reward van insurance, and employers’ liability once you have staff.
How much does it cost to start a removals company?
The van is the biggest cost. Add insurance, blankets, straps, a trolley and your first boxes.