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Margins matter. The COVID boom is gone, and the grind is back. While some movers are tightening their belts, the smart ones are getting lean, sharp, and way more profitable.
In our latest webinar, we dug into what sets the top 13% of moving companies apart—and how you can hit those numbers without buying more trucks or working more hours.
No fairy dust. Just real systems that work.
1. Know your numbers. Or keep guessing
Nearly 1 in 4 movers can’t name their profit margin. At all. And yet, it’s the top metric they want to improve.
Let’s make it real:
- $1M revenue at 7% margin = $70K profit
- Same revenue at 21% margin = $210K profit
That’s $140K in your pocket without lifting an extra box. The movers winning today aren’t guessing. They’re tracking gross profit per job, including labor, time, and even things like parking tickets. No more hoping you’re in the black.
2. Get lean before you scale
Profit isn’t just about making more. It’s about wasting less. High-margin operators shared how they’re tightening the screws:
- Cut crew idle time (yes, even fuel stops can be outsourced)
- Quote with precision using standardized tools
- Train faster so new hires earn faster
- Automate the back office to save 10+ hours a week
This isn’t about overhauls. It’s smart, simple systems that unlock real savings. And the benchmarks?
- Labor cost: <30% of revenue
- Admin: <10%
- Claims: <1%
3. Raise your value, not just your volume
Top movers aren’t chasing the lowest price. They’re earning premium rates with top-tier experiences. We highlighted movers like Wildcat and Wirks who command higher rates by showing up like pros:
- Clean trucks, clean uniforms, trained crews
- Pre-job checklists and consistent documentation
- Follow-ups and review requests built in
One mover raised rates by 30% in three years—without killing lead flow. Professionalism pays.
4. Add services that add margin
Most movers are leaving money on the table:
- 50% don’t offer junk removal
- 25% don’t offer valuation
- 90% don’t offer cleaning
If you're already in the home, why not own more of the experience? Start with where customers ask for more, then test. Smart targets:
- Packing on 20%+ of jobs
- Valuation on 30%+
These aren’t “extras.” They’re margin multipliers.
5. Invest in the people who drive profit
Turnover is the silent killer of scaling. But the best operators are keeping it under 10% by:
- Paying for performance (clean jobs, 5-star reviews)
- Offering schedule flexibility and career paths
- Treating crews like part of the mission, not just labor
Replacing a good mover can cost 2x their annual pay. Retention isn’t a “nice to have." It’s how you stay profitable.
What movers told us (live poll results)
Do you know your current profit margin?
Split 50/50. Same as our national data. If you don’t know your number, you can’t fix it. Job-level tracking isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore. It’s the foundation of profit.
What other services do you offer?
Movers are diversifying:
- Specialty items, crating, packing
- Commercial, junk, cleaning
- Storage, valuation, removal
If you’re not expanding services, you’re behind. Don’t wait for customers to ask. Offer, package, and price it.
Where has SmartMoving helped the most?
- Reporting & KPIs
- Crew scheduling
- Customer communication
- Estimates and pricing
The theme? Visibility = control. And control = profit.
Bottom Line: Profit Isn’t Luck. It’s a System
Margins don’t rise by chance. They rise when you stop flying blind and start running tight. Track your jobs. Build repeatable systems. Give your team tools that scale with them, not against them.
Want to see how SmartMoving helps movers increase margins by up to 13% in under 12 months?
👉 Book a demo. We’ll show you how the best in the business do it.
