How To Improve Your Business by Keeping Your Moving Crew Happy

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Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Virgin Airways and four hundred other companies, doesn’t think that success in business means putting customers first.

“Clients do not come first,” he says. “Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.

So how do we create a happy, satisfied crew? There are as many ways as there are businesses, but keeping your people happy comes down to a handful of things. 


Five Ways To Keep a Satisfied Crew

1. Solid Communication 

a mover speaks on the phone to other crew members

The moving business is always, well, moving! So there need to be constant and clear conversations about what’s going on, from the office all the way to the job site. Be straightforward about what you expect from your team (like cleaning out the trucks at the end of the day), and what they can expect from you (like keeping the trucks in good working shape with regular repairs and maintenance forms). 

 

“Moving is a physically demanding job that requires constant teamwork. Lead by example to foster a culture where everyone is willing to step up and help out their fellow crew at every turn.”

 

As a business owner running operations, it’s critical that your crew understands that they can come to you with questions, concerns, and complaints. So regularly ask them how things are going and if there’s anything they need — while keeping them informed of issues they need to watch for and handle, on each and every job.

Pro Tip: Be consistent with contact, no matter what else is happening. Early on in my operations manager days, when the crush of the summer was on us, I got into the bad habit of only calling my crews when there was a problem. They learned pretty quickly to avoid answering their phones!

2. Safe Working Conditions

a moving crew uses a hand truck to safely move a fridge

It’s imperative to protect your number one asset: your crew. Provide them with the equipment they need to do their job safely — hand trucks, straps, ramps, dollies, piano boards — and make sure it’s all in good working order. Also, give them all the training they need to carry out their strenuous work without damaging anything or hurting themselves. 

Maintaining safe working conditions extends to your crew members’ personal well-being too. They may seem superhuman to your customers, but your crew needs to take periodic breaks, keep themselves hydrated (especially in the heat of the summer rush!), and get adequate rest between jobs. Communicate with them to make sure they are taking care of themselves, and outline clearly how often they should be resting. 

It creates mutual trust when your crew knows you care about their well-being. For example, years ago I had my four strongest movers working on moving someone out of their home. The customer insisted that two men had originally hauled a piano down several flights of stairs, so four should be able to coax it back up. I decided on the spot that we would have to find another solution; I wasn’t going to risk my workers getting injured. The customer wasn’t happy, but my crew saw that they mattered — to the company and to me.

HireAHelper is a nationwide marketplace where you can compare and book local movers to help you pack, load and unload your moving truck or container.

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3. Competitive Compensation

This shows you value your crew and their hard work, and encourages retention. Compensation can include overtime pay, performance bonuses, appropriate raises and promotions, and paid training. Paid sick leave, properly administered, shows your crew that you care about both their well-being and their financial situation. Having your workers come in when they aren’t well because they need the cash from the job will not only put them out of action longer, but can also put them in harm’s way if they’re nauseous, dizzy, or exhausted. Not to mention, spreading illness can and will affect everyone — including customers!

 

“They may seem superhuman to your customers, but your crew needs to take periodic breaks, keep themselves hydrated (especially in the heat of the summer rush!), and get adequate rest between jobs.”

 

If circumstances allow, consider offering your crew assistance with managing their finances with an eye on the future. 401(k) and IRA accounts are two ways to save a percentage of one’s paycheck that can be relatively easily implemented. Thinking long-term isn’t just a matter of money; the effort can have a tremendous positive impact, even on the crew members who aren’t participating. Just knowing you are interested in their future creates a lasting sense of loyalty.

4. Positive Company Culture

two movers shake hands and talk in front of customers

This might seem like a complex, vague problem to tackle — what counts as “company culture”, anyway? — but it’s manageable. Depending on what your crew responds to best, you can pick and choose which (or all) of these points to focus on: 

  • Share your company vision: Verbalize what you want to do and accomplish. Write it in big bold letters and put it where everyone can see it. Put it into action with every decision you make and every action you take, and encourage your crew, by word and by deed, to do the same.
  • Exercise and promote collaboration: Moving is a physically demanding job that requires constant teamwork. Lead by example to foster a culture where everyone is willing to step up and help out their fellow teammate at every turn.
  • Instill respect: Your crew should show kindness and regard for both customers and each other. Until they say otherwise, addressing all customers as Mr. and Mrs./Ms./Miss is a surprisingly effective first practice. And so is instructing your crew that they should treat each other with the utmost professionalism even in high-stakes and stressful environments. 
  • Consider your crew members’ personal needs: Just like you, they have life circumstances and family responsibilities outside of work. Issues that, if properly addressed, can make a difference not only on the job but in the life of someone who shows up for you every day. Understanding and being flexible about your individual crew members’ well-being outside of work can be as powerful as anything you do for them on the job.
  • Show your appreciation: Recognize honest effort and good performance, both in front of the group and one-on-one. Being recognized for one’s efforts makes a person feel appreciated. And feeling appreciated, more than anything else, is what drives performance and creates satisfaction.

5. Connection

One of those things that you can’t see but is still very real. This is the sense of belonging your workers feel when they’re satisfied and attached to their job. 

This is not something you can directly foster, but you can create it, by putting into action those other ideas up there. In other words, when it appears, you can take it as a sign you’re doing something right. Connection is also a good thing to ask your crew about in order to gauge their feelings about the job. Do they feel like they’re an important part of the company whole, or an important part of their team?

Use their answers or how their answers change — to gauge how well you’re implementing any of the other tips and concepts to help improve your business. And when you finally get that sense of connection, you’ll know you’re well on your way to having a happy and fulfilled crew.


As Richard Branson would say, “If your employees are happy and enjoy what they do, they will be productive. Consequently, the customers will enjoy their experience with your company and keep coming back for more.

Or at least write you a positive review! 

How To Get a DOT License for Your Moving Company

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One term that gets tossed around, especially if you’re a commercial vehicle driver, is “DOT License”. Which is intriguing, since no such thing exists. This is because a DOT License is a pretty broad term, and refers to any license required to drive commercial vehicles or carry certain goods.  

The reason why it’s so vague is that between the federal government and the state-level transportation agencies, there are countless rules and laws governing the moving industry. And among these rules and laws, there are approximately one gazillion different terms for the licenses, permits, and authorizations necessary to operate a moving company.

In the end, they all get shoved under one heading: DOT License 


What Is a DOT License?

a front view of the entrance to the United States Department of Transportation in D.C.

In general terms, a DOT License allows you to legally operate a commercial motor vehicle. But to be accurate, there is no such thing as a “DOT License”. 

While the federal government, through the Federal Motor Carrier Association (FMCSA), enforces rules and regulations regarding trucking and transportation throughout the country, each state determines its own motor vehicle licensing standards. Not surprisingly, these standards and the terms they use vary from state to state.

In other words, “DOT license” is an umbrella term for any license dispensed by the Department of Transportation that’s required to drive — in your case — a moving truck commercially.  

So I Don’t Need a DOT License?

a man in blue overalls stands in front of a loaded moving truck. There are a few boxes and a ladder next to him, and he's writing on a clipboard

As a mover, you need to obtain and maintain motor carrier authority: a license that allows you to transport someone else’s belongings for a fee. The terms used to refer to this authority vary from state to state, but every state requires a mover to apply for and obtain authorization before engaging in providing moving services. 

 

“…[A]s the owner of a moving company, you are also subject to the federal rules, laws, and regulations for operating authority set forth by the FMCSA, even if you never cross state lines.”

 

Note that motor carrier authority is different from a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), which instead permits the carrier to operate certain larger types of trucks. As an example, operating a straight truck with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of over 26,000 pounds in the State of Colorado requires a Class B CDL. Driving a 15-foot UHaul in Colorado – and in every other state – requires only a regular everyday driver’s license. So, depending on the state, you might need multiple licenses if the trucks you’re typically driving call for it

Either way, if you are transporting someone else’s belongings as part of a business transaction, you need motor carrier authority, which in Colorado means obtaining a Household Goods Movers permit.

How Do I Obtain a DOT License?

two workers in blue overalls sit in the cab of a moving truck

Again, you aren’t getting a DOT License per se. What you need is that motor carrier authority. And just like the terms for motor carrier authority differ across the various states, so does the process of obtaining that authority. And you can also check out how to start a moving company for more information on the basics. 

Do note that as the owner of a moving company, you are also subject to the federal rules, laws, and regulations for operating authority set forth by the FMCSA, even if you never cross state lines.

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

So while there’s no such thing as a DOT license, as a mover you do need to be licensed by the DOT. Find out what your particular state calls it, and get moving down your road to full motor carrier authority.

Here’s How Your Digital Presence Can Earn You Moving Business

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Being a professional mover is a tough job, but it’s also incredibly important: About 30 million people in the U.S. move every year. So you might be wondering how you can stand out from the thousands of other moving companies and win over more customers.

There’s no magic amount of marketing dollars that will take you from 0 to digital fame (trust us, we’ve tried!). That said, there are smart, strategic ways you can leverage digital channels to boost your reputation, stand out in a local market to win more clients, and use digital marketing for new leads. Here’s how.


Keep your online profiles current and correct

a man is focused while working on a laptop

Step one is making sure that people can find your business online, and that the information listed is accurate and helpful. Your business likely has profiles with services such as Google My Business, Yelp, and more whether you personally created them or not.

That’s why you should systematically review all of your online profiles and ensure they’re up-to-date:

  • Verify contact information and hours are correct
  • If there are missing sections, such as an “About” description or space for your website URL, fill those in
  • Add your logo to all profiles, which will help increase trustworthiness. (Bonus points if you can add additional photos for your business that express your personality and human side.)

Many of these pages allow customers to leave reviews, which can make or break your business. It’s important to regularly check these reviews and respond to both positive and negative reviews. For customers who had a bad experience, respond politely and promptly, and offer to correct the situation. Future customers will see how you handled the situation and may be swayed toward your services if they know you care about making your customers happy.

List your moving business on marketplace sites

An easy way to get eyes on your business is to sign up with a marketplace site. Tons of customers already browse these sites, so if you list your company on one, you’ll get a lot of exposure. Of course, the process, fees, and services of these sites can vary.

 

“NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. It’s important to have consistent and accurate NAP information across all of your business’s online profiles, including your website and local business directories.”

 

One like HireAHelper is completely free there are no sign-up fees or subscription costs to list your business. Visitors will be able to see your company reviews, prices, and credentials, as well as book you for your service. HireAHelper keeps a percentage of the revenue If you do book a moving gig, but you’ve got a great source of help through every step of the process on top of gaining an easy spot for customers to find your business.

Other marketplace sites might operate differently. They could have sign-up or listing fees, but not have any booking fees. They also might not provide any assistance besides listing your company on the marketplace. It ultimately depends on your own needs, but on the whole, marketplaces are a great start and an easy way to show off your company to a large pool of potential customers.

Get more local business by optimizing SEO

white wooden signboard that reads "open, shop local" in black letters. Using local SEO to improve your digital presence can attract customers in your area the same way a physical sign can.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for making sure that your business website and social profiles can be found easily online. Local SEO, in particular, focuses on optimizing a business’s online presence for localized search queries. The goal of local SEO is to make it easier for people to find a business’s products or services online when they are searching for them in a specific geographic area.

Here are some of the key elements of local SEO to keep in mind:

  • NAP consistency: NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. It’s important to have consistent and accurate NAP information across all of your business’s online profiles, including your website and local business directories.
  • Google My Business profile: Having a Google My Business profile is crucial for local SEO. This profile provides information about your business, including your NAP information, hours of operation, and photos, and appears in Google’s local search results.
  • Local business directories: Listing your business in relevant local business directories can help to improve your visibility and credibility in search engines. Some popular local business directories include Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Superpages.
  • Reviews and ratings: Encouraging customers to leave reviews and ratings on your business’s online profiles can help to improve your visibility and credibility in search engines.
  • Local keywords: Including local keywords —for example, “Chicago” or “Chicago suburbs”— in your website’s content and metadata can help search engines understand the geographic relevance of your website. This means when people search “movers near me”, and they’re in your area, your website’s visibility will improve in the search results.

Leverage social media to catch customers’ attention

an iphone7 screen with many social media apps, including facebook, twitter, and instagram. Using these apps and platforms can help improve your digital presence

A professional company website is essential for establishing a strong and positive online reputation, which helps you attract and retain customers. In fact, a company’s website is an important part of many consumers’ research process and can be the determining factor for whether or not they trust you enough to do business with you. Some key elements of your website to keep in mind include:

  • Clear and transparent information: Provide as many details as you can about your moving business, pricing, and policies. In other words, make it easy for customers to find what they need.
  • Professional design: A well-designed and professional-looking website can help to build trust with customers and establish your business as credible and reliable. Half of consumers said that their impression of a brand is dependent on the design of the company’s website, according to a report from Top Design Firms.
  • Real people: Instead of using stock imagery, consider including actual photos of your team and business to better connect with customers on a personal level.
  • Customer reviews and testimonials: Including customer feedback on your website can also help to build trust.
  • Security and privacy policies: Make sure that your website is secure and that you have clear and concise privacy policies in place to protect your customers’ personal information.
  • Responsive customer support: Offer helpful customer support through channels such as live chat, email, and phone, and respond promptly to customer inquiries and concerns.

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

Social media is another powerful tool for growing your moving business. It’s important to engage with your audience on these platforms by responding to comments and messages, asking for feedback, and sharing content that is relevant and valuable to them. Here are some ideas for incorporating social media into your overall online strategy:

  • Stick to one or two channels: You don’t need to become an expert at Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and every other social platform that exists. One or two is all you need. Facebook, for example, is great for local businesses and may be all you need, as other platforms require more of an investment in photography or videography.
  • Showcase your expertise: Share your knowledge by publishing blog posts, articles, and other content that demonstrates your business’s competence and expertise in your field. Choose a sustainable posting schedule and stick to it (even if it’s just once a week).
  • Share customer reviews and testimonials: This can help demonstrate the positive experiences of your satisfied customers (just be sure to get permission first).
  • Offer promotions and discounts: Offering special discounts and even simple contests among your social media followers will encourage engagement and build loyalty.
  • Be consistent and authentic: Be consistent in your messaging, tone, and content across all of your social media profiles, and be authentic in your interactions with customers.

Perfect your digital customer service

These days, people often prefer to interact with customer service via text rather than speaking on the phone, especially younger generations. Prospective and current customers will appreciate the option to chat with your customer service team, either on your website or through apps such as Facebook Messenger. You can even employ AI chatbots and email autoresponders to keep your response times short. And you don’t need to be a big company with a large budget to offer these options, either.

Some tips to keep in mind when providing online customer service:

  • Offer multiple channels for customers to reach you, such as email, live chat, phone, and social media, and respond promptly to all inquiries.
  • Clearly communicate your response times for each channel and aim to respond within 24 hours or less, if possible.
  • Provide thorough training for your customer service team on your products, services, policies, and procedures, and make sure that they have the necessary tools and resources to provide effective support.
  • Personalize your interactions with customers by using their names, being friendly and professional, and actively listening to their concerns.
  • Make sure to follow up with customers to ensure they’re satisfied, or if they ran into errors that weren’t caught by the customer service team.
  • Continuously monitor and evaluate your online customer service processes and systems, and make improvements where necessary.

Get new leads from paid search and social

A view on a tablet of the Google Ads menu, a service that can help with a company's digital presence

Paid advertising can be a powerful tool for moving businesses looking to reach new customers, drive sales, and grow their brand.

There are a lot of benefits to using paid ads. They allow you to reach a specific and targeted audience based on demographics, interests, and behavior. Unlike organic search or social media, paid ads can also deliver results much faster. You can launch a campaign and start seeing results within a matter of hours or days. Plus, it works for many budgets.

 

“Including local keywords —for example, ‘Chicago’ or ‘Chicago suburbs’— in your website’s content and metadata can help search engines understand the geographic relevance of your website.”

 

Google is definitely one place to consider setting up paid ads. It has about 92% of the search market share, and people are four times more likely to click Google ads versus those on any other advertising platform. These are the basic steps to get started with Google Ads:

  • If you don’t already have one, create a Google Ads account. You’ll need to provide basic information about your business and billing information.
  • Decide who you want to reach with your ad and create a target audience using Google Ads’ targeting tools. You can target by demographics, location, interests, and more.
  • Select keywords that are relevant to your business and that you want your ad to appear for when people search on Google.
  • Choose a daily budget for your ad campaign and set the maximum cost you are willing to pay for each click on your ad.
  • Use Google Ads’ ad creation tools to create your ad, including text, images, and a landing page. Make sure that your ad is clear, concise, and relevant to your target audience.
  • Once you’ve created your ad, review it and launch it. Google will review your ad to ensure it meets their advertising guidelines.
  • Regularly monitor your ad performance, and make adjustments to your targeting, budget, and ad creative as needed to optimize your results.

See prices for local moving labor. Read real customer reviews. Easily book your help online.

Another platform you may want to consider for paid advertising is Facebook. Today, about three million businesses actively advertise here. Here’s how to get set up:

  • If you don’t already have one, create a Facebook Ads account. You’ll need to link it to a Facebook Business Page.
  • Facebook offers a range of ad objectives to choose from, including brand awareness, traffic, lead generation, and sales. Select the objective that best fits your business goals.
  • Use Facebook’s targeting tools to select the audience you want to reach. You can target by demographics, interests, behaviors, and more.
  • Set your daily budget and bid for your ad. You can also choose to run your ad for a specific period of time, like for the holidays or a summer sale.
  • Use Facebook’s ad creation tools to create your ad, including images, video, and copy. Make sure that your ad is engaging and relevant to your target audience.
  • Once you’ve created your ad, review and launch it. Facebook will review your ad and approve it if it meets their advertising guidelines.

Regularly monitor your ad performance, and make adjustments to your targeting, budget, and ad creative as needed to optimize your results.


When there are so many people vying for customer attention online, it can seem overwhelming to try to get noticed. But by following some of these steps, you can make sure your company is not only seen by customers, but trusted by them too!

How To Start a Business: 5 Steps to Opening a Legit Moving Company

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On the surface, starting a moving company may look simple: get a truck, hire a reliable crew, and start finding customers.

But anyone who has actually started a moving company will tell you there’s a lot more to starting a moving company. (We’re talking about confusing stuff, like obtaining the proper licenses.)

Below, we’re going to tackle the potentially complicated process of getting your moving company on the map.

Business 101: The Four Business Types

Before you get started, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the four basic company structures. Here are their descriptions from the Corporate Finance Institute:

  • Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the simplest business structure and involves one individual who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business. Also, from a tax perspective, the incomes and expenses of the business are included in the tax return of the owner.

The business is not required to file separate income tax forms from the owner since the business does not exist as a separate legal entity from its owner. The owner is required to file Form 1040, and the form must include Schedule C and Schedule SE for self-employment tax.

  • Partnership

A partnership is a form of business structure that comprises two or more owners. It is the simplest form of business structure for a business with two or more owners. A partnership shares a lot of similarities with a sole proprietorship. For example, the business does not exist as a separate legal entity from its owners, and therefore, the owners and the entity are treated as one person.

When filing taxes, the profits and losses of the business are passed on to the partners, and each partner is required to report the information in Form 1065 with their personal tax returns. Also, partners are required to pay self-employment tax, depending on their share of the enterprise’s profits.

  • Corporation

A corporation is a type of business structure that gives the entity a separate legal entity from its owners. It is complex and expensive to set up, and it requires the owners to comply with more tax requirements and regulations…

…When an organization intends to go public through the issue of common stock to the public, it must first be incorporated as a corporation. Corporations are required to pay both federal and state taxes, while the shareholders are required to disclose their dividend payments when filing their personal income taxes.

  • LLC

A limited liability company (LLC) is a hybrid business structure that combines the best of both worlds, i.e., it possesses the characteristics of both partnerships and corporations. It provides personal liability protection to business owners while reducing tax and business requirements. The profits and losses of the business are passed through to the owners, and each business owner is required to include a share of the profits/losses in their personal tax returns.

Also, unlike an S-corporation, which is subject to a limit of 100 shareholders, there is no limit to the number of shareholders in a limited liability company.

You may need to make a decision before beginning the actual registration process. Though it’s very probable if you’re just starting out, we’re talking sole proprietorship or partnership status here.

The Five Major Steps To Starting a Moving Company

The process for registering and licensing your moving company involves five basic steps. Well, I say basic, but that doesn’t automatically mean easy. (Remember, we’re dealing with the government here!)

But just like moving someone out of their house goes one piece at a time, so goes the process for getting your moving company up and running.

Step 1: Fulfill your state’s permit and license requirements

This includes registering your business, obtaining tax identification numbers, and nailing down the necessary insurance. Click on your state and go directly to the people who can tell you exactly what forms you need to fill out for YOUR state.

State  New Business Information Permit and License Information 
Alabama Guide for starting a business  Motor Carrier Certificate Application 
Alaska Small business support Business license
Arizona Small business information Business services
Arkansas New business registration HHG mover permit
California How to start a business HHG mover permit
Colorado How to start a business HHG mover permit
Connecticut New business registration HHG mover permit
Delaware New business Information Business license
Florida Starting a business Mover registration
Georgia Registering a business HHG intrastate carrier certificate
Hawaii Starting a business  Motor carrier certificate
Idaho Starting a business Permit Information
Illinois Small Business resources HHG mover permit
Indiana Starting a business HHG mover permit
Iowa New business information Motor carrier permit
Kansas Starting a business Motor carrier directory
Kentucky Starting a business HHG permit
Louisiana Starting a business HHG permit
Maine Starting a business Business License
Maryland Starting a business HHG Permit
Massachusetts Starting a business Operation permit
Michigan New business guide Mover permit
Minnesota Starting a business HHG permit
Mississippi Starting a business Licensing
Missouri Starting a business Business permit
Montana SmallBiz Startup guide Business permit
Nebraska Starting a business HHG permit
Nevada Starting a business HHG Permit
New Hampshire Registering a business Moving company license
New Jersey Registering a business Certificate for operating
New Mexico Registering a business Certificate for operating
New York New business requirements HHG permit
North Carolina Starting a business Motor carrier license
North Dakota Starting a business HHG permit
Ohio Starting a business Forms and fees
Oklahoma Starting a business HHG permit
Oregon Starting a business Motor carrier registration
Pennsylvania Starting a business Special Registrations
Rhode Island Starting a business Motor carrier license
South Carolina Starting a business HHG permit
South Dakota Starting a business Business license
Tennessee Business startup guide HHG permit
Texas Start a business Motor carrier registration
Utah Business registration Intrastate Registration
Vermont Business registration Commercial Vehicles Operations
Virginia Business Registration HHG permit
Washington Business license HHG permit
Washington, DC Business registration Registration requirements
West Virginia Starting a business Motor carrier license
Wisconsin Business registration Motor carrier application
Wyoming Starting a business DOT operation information

Pro Tip: Right off the bat, determine whether you need a state license to operate as a moving company. Some states — Alaska, Arizona, Maine, Maryland, Delaware and DC — have in the past been delegated as states that do not outright require such licensing. But times change, so check!

Step 2: Obtain a “USDOT#” (U.S. Dept. of Transportation Number)

Simply put, if you are planning on operating across state lines, you will need a United States Department of Transportation number.

If your business will be conducted entirely within your own state, you may or may not need one. (Some states require them locally, others don’t.) The FMCSA breaks it all down here.

If you do need a USDOT# to operate legally in your state, you can go here to get started.

Note the government’s warning that… “Everyone that registers with FMCSA is required to understand and comply with all applicable Federal safety regulations before registering.”

Those safety regulations can be found here.

Step 3: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements for moving trucks

If your business is more than just labor and you plan to be operating a vehicle, you will need to become compliant with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

Which registration and operational requirements you are subject to depends on whether you are operating interstate or intrastate (that means operating across at least two states, or inside just one). Either way, there will be requirements for you to fulfill. Some of them include:

  • Having a USDOT#
  • Getting a “safety rating”
  • Minimum levels of insurance required
  • Financial reporting requirements
  • Mandated checklist of safety requirements for your vehicle(s)
  • Having qualified drivers

The FMCSA lays out all these details and more over here.

The FMCSA also lists all the steps in the registration/application process (as well as information on state requirements, safety programs, and maintaining/updating your USDOT status down the road) right here.

Step 4: Check for government help for your small business

An important resource for starting any business (wherever or however you plan to operate) is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Some things the SBA can help you with include:

  • Government business loans
  • Free business counseling
  • Home & business disaster loans
  • Federal government contracting

Check them out. Because when you’re starting a business, it never hurts to have extra help.

Step 5: Get listed on mover marketplaces and start generating reviews ASAP

After you’ve got your licenses, equipment, funding, and a crew, you are good to go!

But if you’re serious about generating customers and starting a real, you know, business, the best thing to get your company in front of potential customers is to list your website on free moving marketplaces. (If it’s a website that only lets verified customers review you instead of randos on the internet, that’s obviously better.)

And don’t ever pay anyone to be listed somewhere online — it should be free for your company if it’s legit.

Get your website listed on websites customers in your area are searching on

After all, there’s no point in going through all this effort without putting your company online for people to find. What’s a moving company without people to move?

Identity Theft Is A Serious Risk for Moving Companies

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Last month, an Atlanta man hired a random moving company he found online, put down a deposit for his move, and …

You know where this is going.

The “company” the man hired, he soon found out, was not a real moving company. It was a scam website that used the name of a real moving company located across the country in California. This scam website, the victim told Atlanta’s WSB-TV, even linked to the real company they alleged to be’s website.

The only victim, in this case, was the man who hired the scammers—a man who happened to be a lawyer with the skills and resources to get his money back. Meanwhile, the real moving company out in California would have had no idea what was happening if the man hadn’t reached out to them. But things could have turned out much differently. They usually do.

What do they do?

We see it all the time: someone sets up a phony moving company using a real moving company’s name to appear legitimate, then proceeds to swindle people out of their money, not only by charging a deposit for their non-existent services, but by using the victim’s credit card information to make additional charges. Or in some cases, just go shopping.

But the scam can also affect the moving company whose name has been stolen. Victims can start posting bad reviews on the real moving company’s Yelp page, filing complaints with the Better Business Bureau, or even contacting law enforcement authorities in an effort to get their money back while trying to make sure no one else uses these “scammers”. The effects for the legitimate moving company can be devastating.

How do they do it?

All businesses have an Employee Identification Number, or EIN, which works sort of like a social security number. These numbers are a matter of public record and are readily obtainable, sometimes even online. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see that this right here can cause problems.

But that’s not the only piece of your company’s identity floating around out there; Besides your company name, address and phone number being readily available, some states require businesses to display their business license on the wall of their establishment, with their state registration information framed and hung for all to see.

With any of these few bits of information – printed out on a copy of your company letterhead, an extra nice touch as The Balance explains – it can be fairly easy for a person to set up a line of credit in your company’s name.

The savvier scammers out there even know how to change the information on your state registration files, one of the many additional schemes that Business ID Theft tells us to look out for. Spend some time reading through the various steps you can take to protect yourself and your company.

While you’re at it, check this page to review your business filings, and make sure you’ve kept up to date with all the required paperwork.

Here are some simple things you can do to prevent company identity theft:

  • Run periodic credit checks on your company
  • Read through your monthly credit card and bank statements carefully
  • Check Yelp for any false reviews
  • Be aware of your social media presence. Who’s posting what about you or what’s on your own Facebook page
  • Monitor your BBB rating if you are an active member
  • Set up a Google Alert for your own company’s name
  • Simply Google your company name every once in a while

Making sure you don’t end up with a sullied reputation is, sadly, a part of doing business. But you’ve worked hard to build up your business and your good name. Take the necessary steps to make sure no one out there destroys it.

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