Introduction
Starting a moving company often feels overwhelming. Should you buy expensive new trucks? Should you expand into storage? How do you compete with established brands without massive debt?
On this episode of the Movified Podcast, host Mark Hirschi sat down with Ben Gottfredson, the founder of Big Ben’s Moving and Storage in Utah, to unpack how he went from running moves with a borrowed trailer and a $3,000 U-Haul to building one of the fastest-growing moving and storage brands in the region.
Ben’s journey is proof that success in the moving industry comes from discipline, smart investments, and building the right culture. Today, Big Ben’s Moving and Storage operates across Utah with two moving hubs and seven storage facilities, blending real estate strategy with operational excellence.
This blogpost is for moving company owners, franchisees, and industry professionals who want practical strategies for growth, straight from someone who has done it.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- You don’t need brand-new trucks to succeed—start lean and reinvest in growth.
- Storage facilities offer long-term wealth, but acquisitions and developments have different timelines.
- Building a people-first culture is the real competitive edge.
- Marketing has shifted—video testimonials and targeted ads outperform generic campaigns.
Table of Contents
- The Lean Start: From $3,000 U-Haul to $1 Million Revenue
- Expanding Into Storage: Real Estate as a Growth Engine
- Partnerships: Why They Work Better in Storage Than in Moving
- Bootstrapped vs. Top-Down Growth Models
- Culture as a Competitive Advantage
- Modern Marketing Strategies That Actually Work
- Practical Playbook: Applying the Lessons in Your Market
- Why Choose Movified
- Conclusion
The Lean Start: From $3,000 U-Haul to $1 Million Revenue
The story of Big Ben’s Moving and Storage began with determination, not debt. Ben started with a borrowed trailer. His first real truck purchase was a beat-up 1999 U-Haul for $3,000.
That one truck generated over $1 million in revenue. How? By staying lean, reinvesting profits, and focusing relentlessly on sales and customer service.
Instead of overpaying for brand-new trucks, Ben:
Took every sales call personally, often answering from bed at dawn.
Learned from mistakes by watching tutorials and refining processes.
Reinvested profits into staff, training, and essential equipment instead of monthly loan payments.
Many movers buy shiny fleets to “look professional.” Ben proved professionalism comes from the crew, not the truck. Customers judged Big Ben’s Moving and Storage by the uniformed, polite movers—not by the vehicle model year.
Expanding Into Storage: Real Estate as a Growth Engine
After building momentum on the moving side, Ben recognized storage as the natural complement. At just 24 years old, he convinced banks to fund his first storage facility—a ground-up build he now calls his “guinea pig.”
Today, Big Ben’s Moving and Storage balances a portfolio of seven facilities through both acquisitions and developments:
- Acquisitions: Deliver immediate cash flow, occupancy data, and short-term returns.
- Developments: Offer massive equity but require patience, often five to ten years to stabilize.
The real magic? Moves feed storage. A customer hires Big Ben’s Moving and Storage, then needs storage for months or years. Each division strengthens the other, creating a flywheel of recurring revenue.
Partnerships: Why They Work Better in Storage Than in Moving
Partnerships can build—or break—a business. Ben explained why storage partnerships succeed more often than moving partnerships.
Moving partnerships often collapse. Two young partners both need income and both want control. Overlapping responsibilities like dispatch, sales, and operations lead to friction.
Storage partnerships, by contrast, divide responsibilities clearly:
- One partner contributes land or equity.
- Another oversees financing or construction.
- Another manages property operations.
The roles are distinct. Incentives align. Success scales smoothly.
Ben’s advice for movers:
- If you want a partner in moving, look for someone in a different life stage—an older mentor or a capital partner.
- For storage, partnerships are natural—just define roles clearly with strong agreements.
Bootstrapped vs. Top-Down Growth Models
Ben scaled his two companies with very different approaches:
Bootstrapped Growth (Moving):
- Started with minimal debt.
- Wore all hats early—sales, dispatch, marketing, and admin.
- Hired a combined sales/dispatch role, then split it.
- Added managers and executives gradually.
Top-Down Growth (Storage):
- Hired a CEO first, then built layers beneath.
- Structured property management and marketing from day one.
- Focused on deals, not just daily transactions.
Both models worked. One prioritized survival and cash flow. The other prioritized structure and scale. Together, they gave Big Ben’s Moving and Storage balance and resilience.
Culture as a Competitive Advantage
The greatest asset of Big Ben’s Moving and Storage isn’t trucks or buildings—it’s people. Customers expect movers to be rough, late, or careless. Instead, Ben’s teams show up clean-cut, trained, and professional.
His philosophy rests on two pillars:
- Financial happiness: Pay above-market rates and give employees a path to earn more.
- Intrinsic happiness: Respect team members, celebrate wins, and create advancement opportunities.
This culture reduces turnover, attracts ambitious employees, and drives five-star reviews. Customers consistently remark that Big Ben’s Moving and Storage feels different because of the people.
Modern Marketing Strategies That Actually Work
For years, Big Ben’s Moving and Storage relied on word-of-mouth and networking. That worked until growth plateaued. To hit ambitious Q4 and Q1 targets, the company went all-in on digital marketing.
Key strategies included:
- Video testimonials on the homepage instead of generic photos.
- Google Ads targeting “movers near me” and city-specific keywords.
- Social campaigns across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Direct mail outreach through Moving Letters AI with handwritten-style notes.
- Educational content—packing tips, cost breakdowns, moving day checklists.
Instead of posting “Happy Labor Day,” the marketing team shares useful, branded content that positions Big Ben’s Moving and Storage as an industry leader.
Practical Playbook: Applying the Lessons in Your Market
Here’s how you can apply these lessons step by step:
- Start Lean – Buy a used truck, keep it branded, and reinvest profits.
- Sell Relentlessly – Answer every call, quote quickly, and close fast.
- Train Smart – Standardize wrapping and loading, track damages, reward five-star reviews.
- Protect Margins – Know your numbers per job, price for time and materials.
- Test Storage – Start with warehouse vaults, then scale to facilities.
- Market with Proof – Showcase testimonials, launch ads, and retarget leads.
- Install Cadence – Weekly KPI check-ins, monthly P&Ls, quarterly planning.
Why Choose Movified
Movified is more than a podcast. It’s the leading hub for movers, storage operators, and franchisees who want insider strategies.
With decades of experience, host Mark Hirschi interviews leaders like Ben Gottfredson of Big Ben’s Moving and Storage to share candid lessons from the field.
Here, you get practical insights, proven playbooks, and access to peers who understand the challenges of scaling.
Conclusion
The rise of Big Ben’s Moving and Storage proves you don’t need debt to scale. Start lean. Reinvest. Build a culture of excellence. Add storage when the time is right. And use modern marketing to fuel growth.
Your path may not be identical, but the blueprint works: stay disciplined, hire right, and never stop learning.
“Start lean. Take smart risks. Build a world-class team. The moving industry rewards those who dare to grow.” – Ben Gottfredson
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.
