Introduction
Scaling a moving company into a North American franchise is not for the faint of heart. It requires patience, a crystal-clear vision, and years of preparation before selling a single franchise license. The story of Let’s Get Moving, founded by Tiam Behdarvandan, is a perfect case study of how disciplined planning and operational excellence can turn a single location into a national powerhouse.
In Part 2 of our Movified Podcast interview, Tiam shares exactly how he grew his Toronto moving business into a multi-location franchise operating across Canada—and how he’s positioning for expansion into the United States.
If you’re a moving company owner, franchisee, or industry professional with dreams of growth, this interview lays out a step-by-step playbook you can adapt for your own business. You’ll hear about the mistakes made during rapid scaling, the systems built to prevent them, and the hiring philosophy that allows Tiam to keep his company running at full speed without burning out.
Key Takeaways
What You’ll Learn:
- Preparation beats improvisation — Successful franchising starts years before the first sale, with airtight systems and processes.
- Training ensures quality at scale — Consistent service across locations depends on structured, repeatable training.
- Sales follow-up fuels fleet growth — A disciplined approach to lead management can multiply revenue without adding trucks.
- Local focus maximizes profit — Staying targeted on high-volume, short-haul moves keeps quality high and costs low.
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Table of Contents
Laying the Foundation for Franchising Success
One of the biggest misconceptions about franchising is that you can decide to sell franchises and be in business within a year. As Tiam explains, it took more than two years of preparation before the first franchise was sold.
When COVID hit, Let’s Get Moving saw rapid growth—jumping from 15 trucks to 33 in Toronto. But with that growth came unintended consequences:
- Negative customer reviews.
- Increased damages.
- Overwhelmed teams.
- A hit to the company’s once-pristine reputation.
These challenges revealed a painful truth: scaling without systems can erode the very quality that built the business in the first place.
Building the Playbook
Tiam brought in Process Mavens, a consulting firm recommended by Trainual, to capture every process within the company. Over six months, they:
- Documented every department’s responsibilities.
- Created step-by-step role guides.
- Recorded video tutorials and screen shares.
- Built quizzes to reinforce learning.
All of this was integrated into Trainual, creating a living training program that could be rolled out at any new location. This was the foundation for franchising—because without it, every new branch would start from scratch.
Why Training Systems Matter More Than Trucks
Once the training system was in place, Let’s Get Moving opened a 22,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Vancouver, adding over 300 storage pods to its service offering.
The results were immediate:
- The Vancouver branch brought in $2.6 million in its first year.
- Staff ramp-up time was significantly reduced.
- Service quality matched that of the Toronto headquarters.
From there, the process was replicated in Edmonton, Hamilton, and Burnaby. Each time, the training program ensured a consistent customer experience, no matter the location.
“Once we had the training program, hiring was no longer a gamble. We could scale with confidence.” – Tiam Behdarvandan
For moving company owners, this lesson is critical: before you buy more trucks or lease more warehouses, invest in training and standard operating procedures (SOPs). They will pay for themselves many times over.
The Sales Process That Tripled the Fleet
While training keeps operations smooth, sales processes are what drive growth. Tiam cites implementing a structured follow-up process as the turning point in his business.
Before:
- Sales reps called leads once.
- If the customer said no, the conversation ended.
- No quality assurance or tracking existed.
After:
- Every lead is logged, tracked, and followed up on systematically.
- Dedicated sales managers monitor the process daily.
- A quality assurance (QA) team reviews calls to ensure steps aren’t skipped.
- Morning huddles include role-play scenarios to sharpen skills.
The result? The company grew from 3 trucks to 15+ trucks in just a few years—without compromising profit margins.
📌 Pro Tip: According to Tiam, a moving company’s sales process can make a bigger impact on revenue than simply adding more vehicles to the fleet.
Growing Across Canada Without Losing Local Focus
Despite having locations nationwide, Let’s Get Moving stays laser-focused on local moving jobs.
Why Local Wins
- Higher job volume: Shorter moves mean more jobs per day.
- Lower costs: Reduced fuel, fewer overnight stays, less wear on equipment.
- Easier quality control: Teams stay within a known service area.
Tiam notes that while the company doesn’t actively pursue long-distance moves, they will take them if the customer is willing to pay full rates, including the return trip. However, 95% of marketing efforts target local customers
Hiring Smart and Delegating Effectively
Tiam’s leadership philosophy is simple: “Be the visionary, not a piece of the puzzle.”
That means hiring self-sufficient leaders who can manage projects without constant oversight.
Notable key hires:
- Nick: Former Toronto operations manager, now responsible for training and onboarding all franchisees.
- Kaden: Helped open multiple locations, including Edmonton, which now does 150 moves per month—despite Tiam never having set foot there.
- Kelvin: Operations support manager who oversees five agents, delegating tasks based on individual strengths.
By empowering these leaders, Tiam can focus on high-level strategy while knowing the day-to-day is in capable hands.
Balancing Growth with Future Goals
With marriage and family life ahead, Tiam is making work-life balance a priority.
Current Daily Routine
- Morning: Gym, steam room, cold shower.
- Workday: Delegation to managers, focusing on strategic growth.
- Weekends: No gym—time for rest and family.
Beyond moving, Tiam has diversified into:
- Real estate in Canada and Dubai.
- Moved In, a moving industry lead-generation platform.
- Moving Titan, a mover training program.
These investments ensure long-term financial security and create opportunities beyond traditional moving operations.
Why Choose Movified
Movified is the go-to content hub for moving company owners who want proven, field-tested strategies from leaders who have built and scaled real businesses.
When you listen to Movified, you’re getting:
- Insider knowledge from industry veterans.
- Actionable advice you can apply immediately.
- Real stories of growth, mistakes, and breakthroughs
Conclusion
Tiam Behdarvandan’s journey proves that scaling a moving company into a North American franchise isn’t about chasing quick wins—it’s about building a foundation of systems, training, and sales processes that can support growth for decades.
If you’re ready to take your moving company to the next level:
- Document your processes.
- Invest in training before expansion.
- Build a sales process that converts consistently.
“Franchising isn’t built in a year—it’s built in the years before you sell your first license.” – Tiam Behdarvandan
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.
