How to start a moving help business
Season: Year-round (busiest May to September) · Typical startup: $200 to $450
Moving help is pure labor: the customer rents the truck, and you and a partner load and unload it. Renters and first-time buyers move all year, and a two-person team booked for a few hours on a Saturday earns well with almost no startup cost. Here is the gear, what to charge, and how to stay safe lifting.
$200 to $450To get started
$160Typical two-hour minimum
Year-round (busiest May to September)Season
The gear and what it costs
Dolly and hand truckA furniture dolly and an appliance hand truck save your back on every job.
$100–250
Moving blankets and strapsBlankets protect furniture; straps keep the load from shifting.
$80–150
Work glovesGrippy gloves for both of you.
$20–40
What established pros charge
| Two helpers for two hours, average · U-Haul | $279 |
National figures from published cost guides, checked November 8, 2026. Local prices vary.
Starting rates for a new business
| Two people, per hour | $80 |
| Two-hour minimum | $160 |
| Load or unload a truck only | $150 |
| Single heavy item | $60+ |
Our suggested starting point for a new business. Charge per hour for the team, with a two-hour minimum. Compare with the pro figures above, and raise your rates once you have reviews and a full week.
How to find your first customers
- Post in apartment and college-town groups near the end of each month, when leases turn over.
- Tell local realtors you help their buyers and sellers load and unload.
- Offer a "load the rental truck" package. It is the most common request.
- Ask every customer for a review the same day. Movers live on reviews.
Rules to check before you start
- Moving people's belongings in your own vehicle for pay can need state licensing and insurance. Labor-only help, where the customer rents the truck, avoids that.
- Lift with your legs, carry heavy items as a pair, and use the dolly for anything over about 50 pounds.
- Some cities and counties require a business license, even for a small service business. Check your city or county website before you take payment.
- Once you make $400 or more in profit in a year, you owe self-employment tax and need to file a return (IRS). Keep every receipt for gas and gear.
- Card payouts need a Stripe account. Stripe requires the account holder to be 18 or older for this kind of account, so a parent or guardian sets it up if you are under 18 (Stripe). Cash works from day one. Venmo, Zelle and Cash App need your own account, and under-18s need a parent to set one up.
Stay busy all year
Add junk removal for what does not make the move, and furniture assembly at the new place.
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Questions
How much does moving help cost?
U-Haul reports a 2025 national average of $279 for two helpers for two hours booked through its Moving Help marketplace.
Do I need a truck?
No. Labor-only help, where the customer rents the truck, is the easiest way to start. Moving people's things in your own vehicle for pay brings licensing and insurance rules.
How do I avoid damaging things?
Wrap furniture in blankets, take doors off hinges when needed, and walk the path before you carry anything big.
Can a teenager start a moving help business?
Work with an adult or a crew. Never drive the rental truck unless you are licensed and on the rental agreement, and skip pianos and safes. On Launchpad, 13 to 17 year olds sign up with a parent or guardian's agreement.
Sources
Checked November 8, 2026.
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