Starting a moving company takes less capital than many trucking businesses, but it’s regulated, insurance-heavy and seasonal. This guide walks through the steps in order, with the rules and costs as of October 2026. It’s general information, not legal advice. Check your state’s rules before you take your first job.
Step 1: Pick your business model
Your model decides which licenses, insurance and equipment you need.
| Model | What you do | Licenses | Startup cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor-only | Load, unload and pack; the customer rents the truck | Business license, general liability insurance | Lowest |
| Local or intrastate | Move customers within one state in your own truck | State mover permit in many states, commercial auto and cargo insurance | Medium |
| Interstate | Move customers across state lines | USDOT number, FMCSA operating authority, BOC-3, federal insurance filings, plus state permits if you also move in-state | Highest |
Many owners start labor-only, add a truck for local moves, and only apply for interstate authority once they have steady demand.
Step 2: Form the business
- Choose an entity. Most movers form an LLC or corporation to separate personal and business liability. Use the exact same legal name everywhere: FMCSA rejects applications when the name and address don’t match your Secretary of State record.
- Get an EIN from the IRS, open a business bank account and set up bookkeeping.
- Get local licenses your city or county requires.
Step 3: Get the right authority
Interstate moves: USDOT number and operating authority
If you move household goods across state lines for pay, you need federal registration:
- Register in Motus. Since May 19, 2026, FMCSA’s Motus system (motus.dot.gov) handles all new registrations. You sign in with Login.gov and verify your identity with a phone scan of your ID and a selfie. New USDOT and docket numbers are now randomly assigned.
- Apply for household goods operating authority. The fee is $300 per authority type, and it isn’t refundable. You’ll still get an MC number: FMCSA says eliminating MC numbers is only under consideration and needs a proposed rule first.
- File a BOC-3, naming a process agent in every state you operate in or travel through. Most new movers use a “blanket” company that covers every state.
- Have your insurer file proof of coverage within 20 days of your application being published, or FMCSA moves to dismiss it. The federal minimums for household goods movers are:
- $750,000 liability for trucks of 10,001 pounds or more (filed on Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X)
- Cargo coverage of $5,000 per truck and $10,000 per occurrence (Form BMC-34)
- Register for UCR, the annual Unified Carrier Registration. It’s $46 for 0 to 2 trucks for 2026. FMCSA has raised 2027 fees by about 20%.
- Pass the new entrant safety audit. You’re monitored for 18 months, and FMCSA audits you within the first 12. Missing insurance, unqualified drivers and missing vehicle inspections are automatic failures.
Interstate movers also take on consumer-protection duties under 49 CFR Part 375:
- Give every customer two FMCSA booklets with the written estimate: “Ready to Move?” and “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move”. A link works if the customer signs a receipt.
- Offer arbitration for loss and damage disputes. It’s binding for claims of $10,000 or less if the customer asks for it.
- Publish a tariff with your rates and charges, and tell customers it’s available.
- Show your USDOT number in every advertisement, as “U.S. DOT No.” followed by the number (49 CFR 375.207).
Intrastate moves: state permits
Many states regulate moves that start and end inside the state. A few examples:
| State | Agency | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | Intrastate operating authority (TxDMV certificate), with insurance filings including cargo coverage |
| California | Bureau of Household Goods and Services | Household Movers Permit (CAL-T number), with liability and cargo insurance on file |
| Florida | Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Intrastate mover registration, $300 a year (paid as $600 every two years); the number must appear on ads, contracts and trucks |
| New York | NYS Department of Transportation | Authority to transport household goods, plus a yearly vehicle ID fee |
| Illinois | Illinois Commerce Commission | Household goods license, plus a published tariff |
If your state isn’t listed, search for your state’s “household goods mover license” or call its transportation or consumer-affairs department.
Step 4: Buy insurance
Insurance is the expense that surprises most new movers. You’ll usually need:
- Commercial auto liability: Insureon’s median quote for movers is about $876 a month. MoneyGeek’s 2026 estimates range from about $434 a month in Pennsylvania to $1,118 in Michigan.
- Cargo or motor truck cargo coverage, for customers’ belongings in your truck.
- General liability: Insureon’s median is about $120 a month for $1 million / $2 million limits.
- Workers’ compensation, required in most states once you have employees. Insureon’s median for movers is about $755 a month, and it varies widely by state.
Get quotes from an agent who works with movers before you commit to a truck, because the truck’s weight and age change the price.
Step 5: Get trucks and equipment
- Trucks. Used 24 to 26 foot box trucks commonly sell for about $32,000 to $55,000, and new ones with liftgates can run well over $100,000. Many new movers buy one used truck and rent extras in peak season.
- Stay under 26,001 pounds if you want to avoid CDL requirements and DOT drug and alcohol testing, which apply only to CDL drivers. Many 26-foot trucks are sold specifically as non-CDL. Drivers of trucks over 10,000 pounds in interstate work still need a DOT medical card.
- Equipment. Moving blankets (Uline sells economy blankets for about $14 each), dollies, an appliance hand truck, straps, shrink wrap, floor and door protection, and basic tools.
Step 6: Set your pricing
- Local moves are usually priced hourly per crew, or as a flat rate based on estimated hours. HireAHelper’s 2026 guidance puts full-service crews at about $100 to $150 an hour and labor-only at about $40 to $75 an hour.
- Interstate moves are priced by weight (or volume) and distance, under your tariff.
- Estimates. Federal rules for interstate moves recognize two kinds. A binding estimate guarantees the price for the listed items and services. A non-binding estimate must be free, and the customer can’t be made to pay more than 110% of it at delivery. “Not-to-exceed” estimates are a common industry practice built on binding estimates, not a separate federal category.
Step 7: Hire and train your crew
Hire for reliability first. On r/sweatystartup, the most repeated advice from owners is that simply showing up on time, careful and polite, is how small movers win against bigger ones. Train every mover on protecting floors and doorways, disassembly, packing and how to talk to customers. The BLS median pay for hand laborers and material movers was about $38,220 a year in 2025, so check your local market before setting wages.
Step 8: Set up your phone, CRM and website
- Phone. Your first customers will call. If you’re on a job and miss the call, most won’t leave a voicemail: CallRail’s 2025 survey found only 42% of consumers say they do. Set up a phone system that answers every call and books estimates, even while you’re loading a truck.
- CRM. Moving software tracks leads, estimates, jobs and crews. See our guide to the best moving company software.
- Website. A simple site with your phone number, a quote form, your services and cities, reviews and, for interstate movers, your USDOT number.
Step 9: Get your first customers
- Google Business Profile with real photos and a service area.
- Reviews from every early customer. BrightLocal’s 2026 survey found 47% of consumers won’t use a business with fewer than 20 reviews.
- Local Facebook groups, Nextdoor, college move-outs and apartment complexes.
- Realtors and property managers, visited in person.
- Lead vendors or marketplaces to fill gaps, if you can call back within minutes.
Our guide to getting moving leads covers every source and what it costs.
Startup cost checklist
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Business formation and local licenses | A few hundred dollars, varies by state |
| FMCSA operating authority (interstate only) | $300 per authority type |
| UCR (interstate, 0 to 2 trucks) | $46 for 2026 |
| State mover permit | Varies; for example $300 a year in Florida |
| Used box truck | About $32,000 to $55,000 |
| Commercial auto insurance | About $876 a month (Insureon median) |
| General liability insurance | About $120 a month (Insureon median) |
| Workers’ comp (once you hire) | About $755 a month (Insureon median), varies by state |
| Moving blankets | About $14 each (economy) |
| Phone system, CRM and website | Roughly $100 to $500 a month to start |
Next, put these numbers into a moving company business plan, so you know how many moves a month you need to break even.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a moving company?
A labor-only company can start for a few thousand dollars in equipment, insurance deposits and registration. A company with its own truck usually needs much more: used 24 to 26 foot box trucks commonly sell for about $32,000 to $55,000, and Insureon's median quote for mover commercial auto insurance is about $876 a month. FMCSA operating authority costs $300 per authority type.
Do I need a USDOT number to start a moving company?
You need a USDOT number and FMCSA operating authority if you move household goods across state lines for pay. For moves that start and end in one state, many states require their own mover permit instead, such as the TxDMV certificate in Texas or the Household Movers Permit in California. Some states also require a USDOT number for intrastate commercial vehicles.
Do I need a CDL to start a moving company?
Not if your trucks are rated under 26,001 pounds. A CDL is required for a single vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more. Many movers run 26-foot trucks rated just under that line. Drivers of vehicles over 10,000 pounds in interstate commerce still need a DOT medical card.
Are MC numbers going away?
Not yet. As of October 2026, FMCSA says eliminating MC numbers is only under consideration and would require a proposed rule first. What did change is how you apply: since May 19, 2026, new registrations go through FMCSA's Motus system at motus.dot.gov.
Can I start a moving company with no money?
You can start small. Many owners begin labor-only, loading and unloading trucks customers have rented, which avoids buying a truck and needing operating authority for transport. You'll still need a business entity, general liability insurance and basic equipment. Add a truck once demand and cash flow support it.
How long does it take to get moving authority?
FMCSA says new applications typically take several weeks, and longer if flagged for extra vetting. Your insurance and BOC-3 must be filed within 20 days of the application being published, or FMCSA moves to dismiss it. State permits vary from days to a few months.