Most movers treat events one of two ways:
They either blow money like it’s Vegas… or skip them entirely and miss out on growth.
Both are mistakes.
If you’re serious about building a real business, events aren’t optional. They’re investments. The problem is most movers don’t run them like one.
🎥 Watch: Top Moving Industry Events for 2026
Before you plan your year, watch the full breakdown of which events are actually worth your time.👇
A lot of owners hesitate to invest in events because:
And that hesitation is real. When you’re in the day-to-day grind, stepping away (and spending a few thousand dollars to do it) feels risky.
But here’s what we see over and over:
The movers who get in the room learn faster.
They hear what’s actually working. They build relationships with people ahead of them. They stop trying to figure everything out the hard way.
"The biggest early mistake I made as a moving owner? I didn't want to talk to competitors. I stayed in my lane, kept the blinders on. When I finally started connecting with other movers... everything changed"
- Austin Alaniz on Smart Talk
On the flip side, some movers do invest in events, but go in without a plan:
And when that happens, even a great event can feel like a waste.
So this isn’t about spending more or less.
It’s about spending with intention.
Because the real ROI doesn’t come from showing up.
It comes from what you take back—and actually implement.
Let’s simplify it.
For most moving companies (3-10 trucks), a realistic budget per event is:
👉 $2,000-$4,000 all-in
That’s not cheap. But it’s not supposed to be.
If you can spend $3K to learn something that improves margins by even 2-3%, that pays for itself fast. That’s the whole point of running a business, not gambling on one.
Not all events are created equal. And that’s a good thing.
Virtual events
In-person events
Best move: do both.
Virtual for efficiency. In-person for transformation.
If you’re the only one learning, you’re the bottleneck.
Events hit harder when:
You don’t need everyone at every event, but bringing the right people multiplies the ROI.
Different roles take away different insights—and that’s where real change happens.
Before you swipe the card, ask:
If you don’t have a goal, don’t go.
If you don't know, ask.
Reach out to the people putting on the event. Leaders like Tim Krupp (Built to Move) and Austin Yarborough (Moving Army) are happy to tell you exactly what you’ll get out of it.
Different formats = different outcomes.
If the answer is “probably not,” save your money.
The best operators don’t just attend. They:
"Don't sit in the back trying to run your business during the event. Be there, fully."
- Austin Alaniz on Smart Talk
Keep it simple. Use this before you book anything.
Total investment:
1.
2.
3.
Events aren’t about hype. They’re about outcomes.
The movers who win:
The rest?
They come back with a notebook full of ideas… and nothing changes.
If you want different results, treat events the same way you should treat your operations:
With a system. With intention. With ROI in mind.
🗓️ See everywhere SmartMoving be this year
👉 Check out our moving event recaps