Introduction
Launching a moving company can be one of the most rewarding—but also one of the most grueling—entrepreneurial journeys. Many people assume that starting a moving business is simply about hiring a few strong workers, getting trucks, and finding customers. The truth is much more complex.
Running a successful moving company requires leadership, systems, financial planning, strong hiring practices, and above all: resilience. Most importantly, it requires learning from those who have already paved the way.
That’s why the Movified Podcast sat down with Mario Reyes, owner of South Bay Moving in California, during the Moving Titan Retreat. With more than 40 years of experience, Mario has seen the highs and lows of the moving industry. In this conversation with host Mark Hirschi, Mario shared his top lessons for building a moving company that not only survives, but thrives.
This article recaps his insights and expands on them for today’s moving company owners, franchisees, and industry professionals who want a practical roadmap to success.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- Self-belief is non-negotiable. Without confidence, the pressures of ownership will crush you.
- Processes drive consistency. Customers and crews depend on repeatable systems.
- Training builds culture. Investing in your people daily pays off in long-term loyalty.
- Career pathways matter. Showing employees a future reduces turnover and boosts motivation.
- Journaling and coaching accelerate growth. Reflection and community help owners navigate tough times.
- Hiring is culture. Hire slow, fire fast—every person affects your company’s trajectory.
Table of Contents
- Why Belief in Yourself is the First Lesson
- Process-Driven Moving Companies Win
- Transparency and Training Build Strong Teams
- The Role of Journaling and Coaching
- Hiring Lessons: Culture Over Convenience
- A Wild Moving Story That Teaches Discipline
- Applying Mario’s Lessons to Today’s Moving Industry
- Why Choose Movified
- Conclusion
Why Belief in Yourself is the First Lesson
The moving industry tests your confidence daily. One moment, you’re celebrating landing a huge contract. The next, you’re dealing with damages, payroll stress, or employee turnover.
Mario’s first and most important lesson for building a moving company is simple: believe in yourself.
“There will be days you question why you’re doing this. Self-belief is what gets you through.” — Mario Reyes
Without self-belief, owners crumble under the pressure. Your team takes cues from your confidence, and your customers sense whether you’re steady or unsure.
Process-Driven Moving Companies Win
Passion alone won’t build a profitable moving business. Systems and processes are what separate struggling movers from successful operations.
Mario stresses that every company needs a method to its madness. This means defining and documenting processes for:
- Customer acquisition: How leads are generated, tracked, and converted.
- Job execution: How movers pack, protect, load, and transport items consistently.
- After-service follow-up: Handling claims, collecting reviews, and building repeat business.
When customers know exactly what to expect, they trust your company. When employees know exactly how to do their jobs, they deliver consistent results.
Transparency and Training Build Strong Teams
The moving industry often struggles with employee turnover. One reason is that workers see moving as a short-term job, not a career. Mario argues this is the fault of owners, not employees.
He encourages companies to show clear career pathways:
- Helper → Driver → Dispatcher → Manager → General Manager → Executive.
This transparency motivates employees by showing them that moving isn’t a dead-end job. Instead, it’s a career with growth opportunities.
Training also plays a vital role. Mario recommends 15 minutes of daily training, whether it’s reviewing customer service techniques, practicing packing methods, or learning new software.
The Role of Journaling and Coaching
Entrepreneurs often overlook self-reflection. Mario shared that he only began journaling a year ago, but it has transformed his leadership.
By using the Growth Day app, he tracks how he feels daily, what he accomplishes, and lessons learned. This practice helps him identify patterns, celebrate wins, and reflect on challenges.
“Journaling lets you see your progress, your mistakes, and your evolution as a leader.” — Mario Reyes
Coaching and community are equally important. Joining mastermind groups, hiring coaches, or attending retreats like the Moving Titan Retreat accelerates growth. You gain accountability, fresh ideas, and encouragement from peers who understand your struggles.
Hiring Lessons: Culture Over Convenience
Every owner eventually learns that hiring decisions shape company culture.
Mario admits his early struggles came from blurring the lines between being “one of the guys” and being the boss. Some employees ignored basic standards because they saw him as a peer, not a leader.
He had to learn hard lessons:
- Hire slow, fire fast. Take time to select the right people. But when someone undermines standards, remove them quickly.
- Culture fit matters. A great mover at another company may not fit your culture. Don’t compromise.
Clarity prevents mistakes. Detailed job descriptions and onboarding expectations prevent wasted time.
A Wild Moving Story That Teaches Discipline
No moving career is complete without wild stories. Mario shared one that perfectly illustrates discipline and leadership.
During a move, he and his crew walked into a garage filled with slot machines and casino tables. While Mario continued the walkthrough, one crew member stayed behind and began playing the slots—pocketing coins.
Mario caught him red-handed. The lesson? Leaders must enforce discipline, even when jobs get unusual. A single employee’s actions can destroy customer trust and damage a company’s reputation.
This story is a reminder: moving jobs are unpredictable. But your standards must remain firm.
Applying Mario’s Lessons to Today’s Moving Industry
Mario’s insights aren’t just personal—they align with modern business best practices. Here’s how his lessons for building a moving company apply today:
- Self-belief: Owners must lead with confidence in an industry facing rising costs and labor shortages.
- Processes: With competition from big brands and online disruptors, standardized systems give smaller movers an edge.
- Transparency: Younger workers crave career pathways. Companies that show growth opportunities retain staff longer.
- Training: Technology, CRMs, and automation are changing fast. Training ensures employees keep pace.
- Journaling: Reflection helps owners adapt to shifting markets.
Community: No one can scale alone. Peer groups like Movified Nation provide accountability and insight.
Why Choose Movified
At Movified, we bring you direct access to the leaders of the moving industry. From veterans like Mario Reyes to rising stars building scalable franchises, every episode delivers actionable insights.
With over 110 years of moving experience through Salmon’s Moving & Storage, host Mark Hirschi combines industry expertise with curiosity, creating conversations that are both practical and inspiring.
Conclusion
Building a moving company takes more than trucks and manpower. It takes belief, discipline, systems, and a willingness to learn from those who’ve been there before.
From self-belief and process-driven systems to training, journaling, and hiring for culture, Mario Reyes offers a proven playbook for moving company owners ready to grow.
“Every day is a chance to evolve as a leader and business owner. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.” — Mario Reyes
Meet The Host
Mark Hirschi is the founder and host of Movified. With over a decade in the moving and storage industry, Mark combines real-world leadership experience with a passion for mentorship and elevating industry standards.
