Setting up a small removals business

[m^rk]

I need some help/tips on setting up a small removals business, me and my partner are looking to set the business up within the next few months after we have done all the research and hardwork that we need to do before takeing the plunge.

 

Any help & tips that you can give us will be sincerely appreciated

 

Kind Regards

 

Mark

[van man]

there is bit more to just buying a van...like others who do!!!

 

0 accountant costs....for tax... vat

1 public liability insurance

2 goods in transit insurance

3 fleet insurance for the van

4 breakdown cover for the van

5 advertising costs

6 mobile phone bill

7 maintenance costs for the van

8 removal equipment...blankets,sack barrow, webbing, settee quilts, straps

9 cost of all employees, wages....

10 countless hours doing quotes...answering calls...sending emails

11 and for wot...some little jack the lad to buy a cheap van and pay nothing and under cut you by about £5........

 

joys of having your own business....

tony

[m^rk]

I know there is alot more too it than meets the eye Tony which is why i am not going to go jumping in at the deep end i am going to do my research first and make up a proper business plan:)

 

Thank you very much for your help it's sincerely appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Mark

[van man]

I know there is alot more too it than meets the eye Tony which is why i am not going to go jumping in at the deep end i am going to do my research first and make up a proper business plan:)

 

Thank you very much for your help it's sincerely appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Mark

good luck....

 

if it wasent for all the shops and businesses, that use us then we would have gone under a long time back,

we have family who own a big removal company in sheffield, and any spare work they cant handle comes my way..

 

please look into a bit better,

as loads of my mates have tryed it and failed...

then i end up with just another cheap van:hihi:

 

best of luck.....

tony

[m^rk]

good luck....

 

if it wasent for all the shops and businesses, that use us then we would have gone under a long time back,

we have family who own a big removal company in sheffield, and any spare work they cant handle comes my way..

 

please look into a bit better,

as loads of my mates have tryed it and failed...

then i end up with just another cheap van:hihi:

 

best of luck.....

tony

 

 

Well i wish i could afford a nice new Mercedes Van but unfortunately i don't have that kind of cash,i will just have to look into it in greater detail as you have mentioned aswell and do alot of research.

 

If i can get the funding in place i will work very hard to make sure that it's a success and not let it go down the pan.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

[van man]

sound as...

 

we have a great little starter van for sale,

 

ford transit luton van, 2001 Y reg, fully rigged out with all the removal equipment on board,

for a mere £3,000 all in

 

tony

[Odd-jobs]

My simple advice is don't bother or more wisely invest your money in lottery tickets, or pork futures, but here goes anyway.

The removals industry in Sheffield has over the last two years been shedding jobs like confetti. people have been laid off all over and owners who used to swan around in their big cars are now back to humping furniture, Just as at one time to have your own warehouse was the ideal now companies are sharing warehouses to cut costs.

Removals is seen as the easy option to make a living. During the last recession in the 80's any miner or steelworker made redundant who could drive bought a van and hey presto became a removal company.Many of them were very good and made good livings out of it and became well respected in the industry, but that was in the good times.

Just have a ring round all the larger removal companies to ask if there is any subcontract work going just to get a feel of whats out there , if that hasn't put you off try a test advert {even if you haven't got a van} to see what response you get, you'll probably want to keep checking your phone thinking it's not working or that the ads in place. 90% of good work comes from Y Pages, basically forget the Star and other media.Y Pages dosn't come out until Jan / Feb and boy does it cost for a 1/2 decent ad.

Under 7.5 ton you are very limited as to what you can do property wise ie forget quality house moves, youre looking at the lower end of the market 2 beds , council, mini moves, single items which is limited and frankly there are just too many Transit owners scrabbling for the little work available. For even a standard private 3 bed you will require a 7.5 tonne for which you will need an O'licence, then you are getting into to the realms of serious money [not to buy,you can get them for a song, {We've just sold a good 7.5 Iveco luton for under £1,500 A few years ago you could have got your money back in a fortnight} but just to licence and keep legal]. Nobody in Dore or anywhere for that matter will appreciate you turning up with a van that is too small and spending all day running backwards and forwards. Also you need to think about backing up, no one wants there furniture stuck in some garage if youve broken down and had to be towed in. Small removal companies who don't do it right spend a lot of their time in the small claims court {damages, turning up with too small a van, taking too long because of mutiple tripping, etc] Goods in transit insurance is not cheap but there are specialist insurers out there {Remocover for one]

As a previous poster said blankets ties sackbarrow,cardboard boxes, wardrobe cartons tape etc, but the question is can you "cube up" to do quotations, can you walk in a house assess the volume and say yes this will go on my van, and will cost you £XXX, and can you pack a van safely and tightly.

That unfortunatly is how I see it if it hasn't put you off and there is anything you need to know about it just ask.

Many of our lads have tried, these were good experienced removal men and knew the game, but none suceeded.

It was very good once, people made excellent livings but unfortunately times have changed

Edited July 8, 2009 by Odd-jobs

[LizG2008]

im happy to set you up with a mentor to help you explore the different ideas and write a business plan to help with finances if that would be useful? drop us an e-mail thebig@be-sy.co.uk

[m^rk]

Hi Odd Jobs i would just like to state that i do not see removals as an easy option at all because i know it will be very hard to make it successful i am going to make sure i do all the research i can before i jump in at the deep end:)

 

I will consider the things you have posted i am going to look into various business courses aswell so that i have some knowledge of how to run a Business properly.

 

There are a few things that make me even more determined to make a success of things and that is being out of work which is driving me up the wall and providing for my family.

 

Thanks for your advice.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

[Odd-jobs]

Cheers Mark,

I just wanted to put you in the picture how it really is at the moment, by all means give it a go. If there's anything you need to know ask. Because sometime in our very long and eventful foray into the wonderful world of removals and storage we'll have had a go at it!!!

Edited July 8, 2009 by Odd-jobs