2022 Study: The Best Side Hustle Nobody’s Talking About Is Starting a Local Moving Labor Company

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Key Findings:

  • Moving companies tend to earn between $75-128/hr. or between $206-352 per move
  • Based on HireAHelper data from 2022 so far, average mover earnings are $110/hr.
  • Seattle is potentially the most lucrative place to become a mover, with hourly earnings as high as $137/hr.
  • Movers in Maine and Iowa make an estimated $132/hr. — the highest rate in the country
  • Sherman-Dennison, TX has the biggest gap in the moving services market, with 608 moves per moving company registered in the metro area

As inflation continues to rise, many Americans are beginning to notice the prices of consumer goods are drifting out of reach. This is likely why, according to a recent study, nearly half (44%) of Americans are turning to side hustles to make ends meet.

moversAnd while the internet is awash with articles listing all kinds of side hustles to consider, there is one lucrative side gig few are talking about: starting a local moving company (or joining one).

Despite some real estate markets cooling off, the demand for moving services is high. Homes are still selling fast, and as rents climb higher, many are moving out of their homes to find cheaper accommodations or to live with family.

While starting a full-scale moving company with a fleet of trucks, drivers, and movers is an undertaking too big for a side hustle, starting a moving labor company is actually relatively simple.

All you need is a business license and some start-up costs. Ultimately, if you are comfortable with lifting heavy items and have time to spare, you could realistically start a moving labor business and earn upwards of $100/hr. by helping people move.

And the data shows that people who are currently doing it are doing quite well.


Moving Labor Companies: How Are They Defined and How Do They Work?

We often think of movers as folks that drive up in a truck, load up all your earthly belongings and deliver them to your new home. In the “biz”, these are known as “full-service movers”. And they tend to be more expensive.

This is why in reality, the overwhelming majority of moving companies that exist are what we call “labor-only” movers.

 

“…even if you charged at the lower end…at $250 per move, or roughly $90-100 per hour, you only need to pick up four moves to make $1,000. Not bad for a weekend, huh?”

 

Labor-only

The difference is that a moving labor company is a company that helps people with loading, unloading, and, sometimes, packing up people’s possessions — no driving. The average person often books their truck or container separately, as this is far cheaper.

Here are a few reasons local moving labor works as a side hustle:

  • In most states, you don’t need a special mover’s license
  • There are minimal start-up costs, as you don’t need to purchase a moving truck
  • Demand for moving services is highest on a weekend, meaning you can do it alongside your work or studies
  • Moving costs (read: mover earnings) in 2022 are the highest they’ve ever been in U.S. history

Where Do Local Movers Find Customers?

Of course, it’s not quite as simple as registering as a moving labor company and watching business come flying through the door.

Here are the typical places movers tend to use to attract customers.

craigslist movers
Craigslist

Craigslist

+ The most famous classified ads website, this is a typical starting point for moving labor hopefuls, with millions of people checking the website every day.

Costs money to post ads in the moving section as a provider.

Customers can also be flakey, often looking for bargain-basement pricing, and often end up being very hard to service.

yelp movers
Yelp

Yelp

+ Popular with people looking for local businesses, it’s a free place to get attention/find customers. Business owner tools allow you to upload logo/team photos of you and your crew to boost credibility.

No actual online booking, you just accrue lots of “leads”. You’ll have to field lots and lots of messages, emails and phone calls from people looking for a price.

Low rates of converting mean most of this work will not turn into orders.

HireAHelper

hireahelper sign up
HireAHelper sign-up page

+ Completely free to list, no membership fees or cancellation fees.
+ Your very own landing page you can show to potential customers where you can easily display and edit your own rates/availability so people won’t call you to ask.
+ Insurance and 7-day-a-week customer service for both you and your customers.

Insurance and customer service operate on a fee that is charged per order booked through the platform, which is how they pay for all of the above.

Your own website

+ Full control over how you present your new brand and services.
+ Direct booking puts every dollar right in your pocket.

You need to create, design, and maintain the website.
You’re responsible for all the customer service, marketing, and insurance.
Cost of purchasing a domain, fees for website hosting.

Needless to say, you can also create a page for your moving labor company on Facebook and Instagram, or even list it on your local Yellow/White Pages. Oftentimes, a mixture of approaches is useful at the start, before you figure out which one works best for your moving side hustle.

How Much Can You Earn as a Mover?

movers

Let’s face it, if you already have a job or other commitments, you’re probably not going to launch into moving as a full-time pursuit.

The good thing about moving as a side job is that nearly one in three (30%) moves takes place either on Saturday or Sunday. In other words, if you’re looking to casually work as a mover over the weekend, you’re in luck, because that’s when the demand is highest.

To calculate a ballpark number of how much local movers earn, we’re going to make the following assumptions:

  • You only work on weekends
  • You don’t work more than eight hours a day
  • You have a partner with whom you work as a two-person team and split earnings 50-50

With that said, the average take-home an individual moving job earned on HireAHelper in 2022 was $110 per hour (after fees).

That rate is based on the service of two movers loading and unloading a customer’s belongings (meaning, not counting potential tips, one mover will typically get about half of that, or $55 per hour.)

“The data show that 6 of the 20 metros where the demand for moving services most outmatches the current supply exists in Texas, especially in Sherman-Dennison, TX, where the ratio of moves to moving companies is roughly 600 to 1!”

 

Similarly, Yelp reported a local move quote average of $128. Forbes suggests local movers charge between $25 to $50 per mover, per hour, while ConsumerAffairs estimates the average cost for a local move is $80 to $100 per hour for a team of two movers.

The following graph shows how much you could be earning as a two-person team, using the reported average duration of a move of two hours and 45 minutes.

Please note that the above figures are indicative only. As a newly registered moving company, you probably won’t be able to charge high rates straight away. Moves also come in all shapes and sizes, affecting how much you could charge for them. This is just an average.

That said, even if you charged at the lower end of that scale at $250 per move, or roughly $90-100 per hour, you only need to pick up four moves to make $1,000. Not bad for a weekend, huh?

Cities & States Where Movers Earn the Most Money

moving company city

Your earning potential, among other things, will depend on where you are in the country.

According to a recent estimate of moving costs, people pay the most for their moves in San Jose ($520) and Seattle ($495). But that’s just a broad snapshot. Let’s break it down more to see how services translate into mover earnings, and where it may actually be most lucrative to start a moving labor company.

Cities

Using data on moves booked through HireAHelper.com, taking into account commission rates and the typical duration of a move throughout different cities, here are the top 10 cities where movers make the most money per hour.

Looking at the data through this lens, Seattle grabs the top spot with an estimated $136/hr. net earnings. In cities like Columbus, OH ($126/hr.), San Francisco ($125/hr.), and Oakland, CA ($125/hr.) the earnings are all around the $125/hr. Mark.

States

Moving on to states’ potential mover earnings, we find Maine ($132/hr.) and Iowa ($132/hr.) with the joint highest earnings, with Utah and Washington closely behind ($129/hr.).

Going down the list, Arkansas is next with $128/hr. in potential net earnings. This highlights that moving is a universal need, and that small states can compete against states with big cities like San Jose or San Francisco, where the cost of living is highly expensive (and therefore potentially more lucrative). The average earnings for movers in California are comparatively middling in the take-home department, averaging around $110/hr. per move.

Check out the chart below to see what mover earnings are like in your state.

This section is based on data from moves booked through HireAHelper and their partner sites. Earning figures represent average estimates; actual earnings may vary.

 

Supply and Demand: Cities and States With the Greatest Need for New Moving Companies

movers

High earnings are great to aim for, but it’s worth bearing in mind that crowded markets where earnings are high are often hard to compete in — especially for a brand new company.

Like with any kind of business, the supply and demand (and thus the price people are willing to pay for moving services) vary by location. If you’re just starting out as a moving company, ideally you’d like to start where there’s a gap in the market.

Cities

Based on our analysis of moving company data and the number of moves in America’s biggest metropolitan areas, here are 20 metros where the gap between potential demand for moving services and their supply is the biggest.

The data show that 6 of the 20 metros where the demand for moving services most outmatches the current supply exists in Texas, especially in Sherman-Dennison, TX, where the ratio of moves to moving companies is roughly 600 to 1!

Among larger metros with favorable demand-to-supply ratios are the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ area (393 moves per moving company), the Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, TX area (276), and the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX area (255).

States

At the state level, the opportunity is greatest in Arizona and Missouri, where there are more than 200 moves per moving company. Kansas (188), Washington (187) and Texas (186) round off the top five.

To see what the supply and demand for moving services look like in your state, check the graph below:

Convinced? Here’s How You Can Get Started

If you think you have what it takes to safely move some couches, luckily, you don’t have to go in blind.

If you really wanna get the ball moving, here’s a moving business guide for starting and running your own local moving company. It has information on how to register a business, set prices for your services, where to find customers, which tools you need to buy for the job, and way more.

Want a license to drive on the job too? Here’s a guide for starting a fully-fledged moving company, detailing the necessary steps for starting a moving business with links to the proper business licensing authorities in each state.


Sources and Methodology

General mover earnings were estimates were compiled using indicative rates from HireAHelper, Yelp, Forbes, and Consumer Affairs.
Mover earnings by state and city were calculated based solely on data from moves booked and completed through the HireAHelper platform and their partner sites. Earnings figures are indicative of the amount earned minus fees.
The number of moving companies was calculated using the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Business Survey (count of companies listed under “Transportation”) and Yelp (number of companies listed as “movers”).
The number of moves was taken from U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, as available through the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series.

What To Do if Your Movers Don’t Show Up

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It’s moving day, and the movers you hired are on the way… you hope?

If you’re ready to go, in between all the scrambling, you’re likely peeking out the window every ten seconds hoping to see your crew’s truck cresting over the horizon.

But ready to go or not, you’re at the mercy of your movers’ arrival time window. (All movers or move shipments typically arrive within a block of time that’s known as your “arrival window.”)

Yet what if your arrival window comes and goes and fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, forty-five minutes pass, and your movers still haven’t shown up?

First, call your movers directly!

calling movers

If you hired your local movers directly…

You have their number, right? You should call them and check if your crew is on the way, or if they are simply tied up. (If they aren’t answering, keep reading.)

If you hired your movers through HireAHelper…

You still have the option of calling them directly, which if you’ve already been in contact with them leading up to moving day, will seem natural. (And even if you hadn’t been, go for it!) 

However, if they aren’t answering or you don’t have their number, just call HireAHelper (1-800-995-5003). They will attempt to contact your movers for however long it takes to get you an updated ETA. And if your movers don’t show up or anything else is wrong, they’ll automatically go through the process of fixing it for you (more on that later).

If you hired your movers through a managed moving service…

If you hired a crew through a full-service moving service like MovingStaffers, MovingPlace, or if you’re using a vintage van line company, there typically is a ton of communication leading up to moving day. Even still, if something isn’t going right, these companies generally have a traditional customer service line that you should use right about now.

 

MovingStaffers

(800) 658-7292

 

MovingPlace

(800) 876-6839

 

Allied (Domestic)

(800) 689-8684

 

North American Vanlines (Domestic)

(800) 348-2111

 

Mayflower

(877) 720-4066

 

Pretty simple, right? Except this is where things can get… interesting.

If your movers STILL don’t arrive within an arrival window…

In my experience as a professional crew leader, there are generally three outcomes that happen if you can’t get ahold of your local moving crew.

  1. Your crew is on their way! If they’re nice, they’ll apologize for being late. They may also offer any of a range of excuses – traffic, truck problems, someone late to work – but, as long as they’re on the way, that’s better than the next outcome.
  2. Your crew “misscheduled” you! They’ll tell you (if they’re honest) that they forgot to put you on their schedule or they misplaced your request. Since their crews are all out on other jobs now, there’s nothing they can do except suggest you call someone else (or refer you back to HireAHelper to automatically begin the process of finding replacements). This is almost as inconvenient as the next outcome. 
  3. Your crew ghosted you! They never answer. No-show. Or maybe they do, but they say they don’t know who you are, never heard of you, and you must have called some other moving company. No idea what you’re talking about, sorry! Good luck  — “click.”

Now it’s your move (pun intended).

See prices for movers by the hour—instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

What to do if your movers are simply running late…

moversYou may or may not believe the movers’ reasons as to why they’re late, but if they say they are on the way, ask them for a specific ETA. And if they don’t have one, make the person on the other end of the line explain in clear terms what they do know is going to happen and when.

As a former mover and operations manager, I can attest that unforeseen things do happen sometimes. We’re all imperfect human beings, and what we should want as a result is for everyone to know what’s going on. 

If a crew really is on the way, whoever you’re speaking to won’t want to lose you, and by extension, lose a job for their workers. Plus, if they have a public-facing profile somewhere, they definitely don’t want a bad review, let alone a “no-show” permanently stamped onto their HireAHelper profile page! 

What if I’m coordinating between two or more services?

If you are trying to coordinate your move between your movers and a service such as a moving container company, you need to call the other company’s customer service number ASAP.

 

PODS

(877) 770-7637

 

1-800-PACK-RAT

(800) 722-5728

 

Protip: A mover may negotiate a discount with you if things get out of hand, schedule-wise. (Trust me, the nicer you are, the more likely this is.) If you hired your movers through HireAHelper, they may automatically refund you a portion of your bill for the inconvenience, though typically this is a case-by-case scenario. 

What to do if your movers are not going to show up…

If you find yourself in a worst-case scenario, it will be tough to put both of your functioning neurons together to come up with a plan. But last-minute mover possibilities do exist.

Call a mover marketplace ASAP!

An interconnected network of local movers is your most time-efficient next step.

Companies like HireAHelper maintain a living list of vetted professional movers, and they know all of their schedules.

Even if you didn’t book your movers through HireAHelper, call them (800-995-5003). They have a process in place for cancellations, mover replacements, and no-shows, and they may be able to find you last-minute movers. (This process is free with or without an order, but there may be different costs and/or policies associated with your new movers, so you may have to weigh the value.)

Otherwise, your best bet is to find a mover the same way you probably did the first time: Google “movers near me” and call every number you can find. Good luck.

Think you might have been scammed? 

Unfortunately, scams are a relatively common thing in the wild world of unmoderated moves. Especially if you pre-paid any amount of money, this might be a possibility. If you’re beginning to worry you might have been scammed, here’s what you can do to fight back


Here’s how to avoid mover issues in the future

It may not be of any use right now, but there are a few key things to make sure of in order to avoid a difficult moving day scenario in the future.

  1.  Look up your moving company online ahead of moving day. Especially make sure to look up where their office is physically located, and ideally, find out what their previous customers have said about them through their online reviews.
  2.  Create a rapport. In your pre-move interactions, be interested in your movers, both as professionals and as people. Nothing goes further than genuine investment and appreciation of their process, and it definitely will keep your moving day closer to the top of their minds.
  3.  Be willing to ask very specific questions. What type of equipment would they be supplying? Is there something you have that you’re worried they might not be able to move? Tell them about it. Make sure you understand the limits of their coverage against damage. The answers you get will tell you a lot, not just about their service but also about them as a company.
  4.  After you’ve booked your move, call to confirm a day or two ahead of time. Many, if not all, movers will actually do this themselves; but if something slips through the cracks, that call isn’t going to come, and neither will your movers. Making the call yourself is a good way to double-check everyone is on the same page.
  5.  Don’t book movers who aren’t vetted. You can actually look up a mover’s business license if they are driving a vehicle. But simply getting movers who want to uphold their reputation on a network of professional movers like those listed on HireAHelper is a great way to lower the chance of something going wrong. 

The Last Minute Move Checklist: How to Move at the Last Minute

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So you’re moving soon? Like, really soon? Well, it’s time to get packing … literally.

Whether the official “we’re moving!” decision happened last minute, or life got busy and moving snuck up on you, you’ve found yourself here – needing to move fast. That’s absolutely okay.

Check out our last-minute move checklist here.

Everything that you need can get done. I know because I’ve gotten stuck doing it too, so I wrote a last minute moving checklist about my experience. Here’s how to get moved in record time.

How Do I Pack in a Hurry?

  • Broadcast to your friends and family on social media
  • Radically get rid of as much stuff as you don’t need ASAP
  • Call and email a list of utilities, school, and businesses
  • Check online for cheap, last minute movers
  • Sketch out how much time your packing will need
  • Prep a “necessities bag”
  • Do the mandatory cleanup
  • Don’t bother sorting, only pack

We’ll go over all of these steps below.

There are some very straightforward ways to make packing in a hurry fast. Whether in a 2 bedroom apartment, 3 bedroom house or more, these strategies will get you in the moving truck – with your stuff ready to drive off.

The #1 way to move in record time…

Last Minute Move

…is to have less to pack.

That’s why it’s vital to be ruthless on donating, selling and throwing things out. As shared in the Kon Mari Method, don’t bring items with you merely because you’ve always had them. Assess if the item:

  • Has a real purpose
  • Brings long-term joy
  • Actually gets used
  • Is a top priority for your new space

One question to ask yourself: “If this was put in storage for a year, would I miss it?”

If not, it’s probably good to give away or toss. Even if you don’t have 6-8 weeks, as you’re packing be ruthless. Put stuff in the “do not keep” pile. Want to be more radical? Put up a listing on Craigslist for a time and place people can come and just take stuff from your place under supervision!

Need last second, free boxes? Check out this guide.

How Long Does It Take to Pack a 2 Bedroom or 3 Bedroom Home?

How long does it take to move

The precise amount of time it takes to pack depends on the amount of stuff one has, but here are ballpark figures cited for a professional mover to move the place after you’re done packing, depending on the home style:

  • 1 bedroom apartment: 2 – 4 hours
  • 2 bedroom apartment: 3 – 5 hours
  • 3 bedroom house: 6 – 10 hours
  • 4 bedroom house: 8 – 12 hours

Please note: these are estimated moving times for professional movers moving a house, NOT the average person or family.

Most people who pack their own home need a much longer amount of time to have their home packed, compared to movers. Usually it takes a minimum of a few days for a 1–2 bedroom home.

Have social media? Use it.

It only takes a moment to broadcast your last minute move predicament to anyone who might be willing to lend a hand, Moving.com reminds us. Even if you hire movers, any extra hands on deck or donated resources will get things done far zippier.

Next, call as many of these people as possible, ASAP

Last Minute Move

It’s best to do this stuff about four weeks out, but better late than never, right? Even though some of these changes won’t take effect in time for your move-in date, it’s best you take care of contacting these people before you’re unpacking at the new place:

  • Current landlord
  • Utility companies
  • Local schools
  • Homeowner’s insurance company
  • Bank/credit card companies
  • Government agencies
  • Anywhere you hold subscriptions
  • Anyone else who may be sending you important documents over the next few months

Don’t bother labeling boxes

While the idea of boxes labeled “His clothes” and “Kids’ bedding” sounds lovely, time is too precious for such details in a rush. The most important thing is to get objects in boxes – and have them taped up. Yes, mugs may end up with lotions, but they’ll make it to the new home – that’s what matters.

Updater suggests trying recyclable moving bins, which can save a ton of time during the packing/unpacking portion of your move, if you have more than a day to track some down.

“Sites like HireAHelper have a vast network of local movers and will personally call them for you to find someone who’s trustworthy and available right now.”

If you still insist on a loose way of organizing, the best way to fudge clarity is to assign a different color marker for each room of your house: kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc. Make an easily visible mark on each box for the general room it belongs to, and leave it at that.

Prep a “necessities bag”

Last Minute Move

When packing in a rush, a structured moving checklist may go the window. However, no matter how quickly you move, you absolutely need to make sure the most important items stay close by. These items are:

  • Important papers or financial items (like checkbooks)
  • Medications
  • Phone chargers
  • Daily routine toiletries, like toothpaste and moisturizer
  • 1 – 2 outfits for changing into

With this handy bag at the ready, you may move and have no idea where that favorite mug or comfy sweater is, but you’ll have the core items you definitely need.

Get pro help (for as little as $200)

Last Minute Move

As capable as you are, last minute movers have experience getting boxes loaded into cars at shocking speeds.

Let’s face it, if you could afford a $5,000 move, you probably don’t need most of the tips on this list. Luckily, if you call up your local truck rental place and they have something available, pairing a local rental truck with local movers can actually be super affordable, and might save your life during a last minute move!

While movers used to be expensive, the new gig economy has made it easier to hire movers that are actually affordable. In some cases, packing and/or labor help can be as little as $200.

Which, for most, is well worth countless hours of stress and squabbles. As stressed as you probably are, it’s hard to move your whole place knowing a pro moving team would have gotten the items into your truck safely – and in a fraction of the time.

Last minute movers have experience getting boxes loaded into cars at shocking speeds.”

Sites like HireAHelper have a vast network of local movers and will personally call them for you at the last minute to find someone who’s trustworthy and available right now. Their moving agents still compare your last minute options by their reviews and price point, don’t worry.

It’s true, your mover usually doesn’t have to be booked weeks or months in advance, it just helps.

Finish up with any mandatory clean up

Last Minute Move

If selling a home, it feels good to leave the home clean. If renting, cleaning is a necessity – especially if you want that much needed deposit back. At the very least, clean these top five items that leave the biggest “oh this looks clean” impression:

  • Kitchen cabinets and counters
  • The refrigerator (especially the inside)
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Bathroom counters & toilet
  • The stovetop

A sparkling bathroom counter and nice looking stove make a massive impact on a landlord perceiving the home as “doesn’t look so good”…or passing inspection.

Protip: Make sure not everything gets cleaned up – back up important files on your laptop or computer so nothing accidentally gets lost if your computer gets damaged or lost in the panic!

What about movers? Can they really pack that much faster than me?

Yes, they can.

No matter how efficient, organized and strong one is, a professional mover has the training and experience to pack a home at an incredible, near-unprecedented speed. A professional is trained to get multiple 5-star reviews one to three times a day! There is nothing they haven’t seen or done.

See prices for movers by the hour – instantly.

Read real customer reviews.

Easily book your help online.

 

Not only that, but because they work in teams (typically a minimum of two), vetted movers know how tackle any job as a united, “we got this” team, unlike most couples or families who’ve only moved a few times and still find lifting the couch “you got it!?” challenging.

In (literally) 1 minute, I was closer to a totally moved home

Because movers are so much quicker, hiring pros is the best way to ensure a smooth, less stressful moving timeline.

Luckily, I found out there are businesses who’s entire job is to find the cheapest movers available now, not just grimey ones who take your personal info and call you for weeks. Within seconds and with no personal information, I was able to get a free estimate for a pro moving team near me.

If time is the most important factor to you, affordable movers are the #1 recommendation for any efficient moving checklist. Trust me on this one.

Save the Last Minute Move Checklist

Last Minute Move Checklist
Last Minute Move Checklist

All the tips above and more, in one handy graph!

Have a little bit more time to move? Check out our robust moving checklist, too!


Allison Gower, a Bay Area native turned San Diego local, is a brand strategist and copywriter passionate about connecting purpose-driven brands and people. As seen in Forbes and a speaker at a variety of women entrepreneur events, her joy is empowering others – whether through education, personality-filled words or finding or starting great businesses. 
Illustrations by Emily Roberts
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