Selling your moving company? Know what it is really worth.
The moving industry is experiencing consolidation pressure as aging owner-operators exit, PE capital enters the space, and corporate relocation programs increasingly require compliance credentials that small operators struggle to maintain. Companies with interstate authority, established van line agency relationships, and corporate or military relocation contracts are commanding premium valuations. Storage-in-transit and warehousing capabilities create ancillary recurring revenue that transforms a cyclical moving business into a more stable operation.
Regional movers adding territory or service lines, van line agents seeking additional agency territories, PE-backed logistics platforms, and individual owner-operators. National van lines occasionally acquire high-performing agents.
DOT authority type and recurring corporate accounts — a company with FMCSA interstate authority, GSA contracts, and corporate relocation agreements trades at the top. Local-only residential movers trade at the bottom.
Multiple ranges are directional and based on general market experience. Market multiples will vary based on your specific geography and market economics. Your valuation will include comparables that will establish your specific range of value.
The factors that push multiples to the top of the range.
Not all moving companies businesses are created equal in the eyes of a buyer. The spread across the multiple range is enormous. Here is what separates the top from the bottom.
FMCSA authority and van line agency
Interstate moving authority — FMCSA operating authority plus a DOT number with a clean safety record — is a regulated asset that takes time and compliance investment to obtain. Van line agency agreements provide booking volume, brand credibility, and dispatch systems. Authorized carriers with agency rights are worth materially more than local-only operators.
Corporate relocation and government contracts
Contracts with corporate relocation management companies or government and military entities provide predictable, high-margin volume. These accounts require compliance infrastructure that smaller operators cannot replicate, creating a durable competitive advantage.
Fleet condition and CDL driver bench
Trucks, trailers, and warehouse equipment are capital-intensive. A well-maintained fleet reduces the buyer's immediate capex. Equally critical: a bench of CDL-licensed drivers is the scarcest resource in the industry. Companies with driver tenure and low turnover command premiums.
Storage and warehousing revenue
Moving companies with warehouse facilities generating storage-in-transit and permanent storage revenue have a recurring income stream that smooths inherent seasonality. Buyers value storage revenue at a premium because it is higher-margin, less labor-intensive, and more predictable.
Claims ratio and safety record
The company's claims history and DOT safety rating directly impact insurance costs and van line performance rankings. A claims ratio below 1.0% and a Satisfactory DOT rating are expected. Clean records protect van line agency standing, which is the revenue engine.
Seasonality management and off-peak revenue
Moving is aggressively seasonal — May through September accounts for 60–70% of residential revenue. Companies that have built off-peak revenue streams — commercial moves, logistics services, junk removal — demonstrate management sophistication and year-round cash flow.
The deal structures owners need to know.
SBA-financed acquisitions
Asset purchases dominate, with SBA 7(a) financing for deals under $5M. Buyers acquire trucks, warehouse equipment, customer lists, DOT authority, van line agency rights, and brand. Seller financing of 15–25% is more common in moving than many industries because SBA lenders apply conservative valuations to cyclical businesses.
Van line agency transfer
The van line agency agreement is a critical closing condition — these agreements are typically non-transferable without van line approval. The van line must approve the new owner through credit checks, operational audits, and facility inspections. This process can take 60–90 days and is a deal contingency.
Fleet and real estate
Fleet valuation requires appraisals by specialty truck appraisers. Trucks are often financed separately from the business purchase. Real estate — warehouses, storage facilities — is typically structured as a lease-back from the seller or purchased separately. Environmental diligence on warehouse properties is standard.
Earnouts and transition
Earnouts tied to revenue maintenance and van line performance metrics are standard in the 10–15% range with 12–24 month terms. Most acquisitions include a 6–12 month transition where the seller introduces the buyer to key corporate accounts and ensures driver retention.
The value gap
Most moving company owners we work with are leaving $100K–$300K on the table by not building storage and warehousing revenue before they sell. Adding storage-in-transit capability smooths your seasonal revenue curve and adds higher-margin recurring income that buyers pay a premium for.
The wealth gap
A moving company doing $3M in revenue with $350K adjusted earnings at a 2.5× multiple walks away with $875K before taxes. After capital gains and transaction costs, that may be $650K. Is that your freedom number? The wealth gap is the distance between your exit proceeds and the life you want after.
The readiness gap
You built this company from a single truck and a phone. You know every driver, every van line contact, every corporate account manager. That hustle built the company — but it also makes it untransferable. If the moves cannot be booked, dispatched, and completed without you for 90 days, the readiness gap is open.
Questions owners actually ask.
What is my moving company worth? ▸
Moving companies typically sell for 2.0–3.5× adjusted earnings. On $350K adjusted earnings, that is a range of $700K to $1.225M. Where you fall depends on DOT authority, van line agency relationships, corporate accounts, fleet condition, and seasonal revenue management. A professional opinion of value gives you the real number.
How important is my van line agency agreement? ▸
Extremely. Van line agency agreements provide booking volume, brand credibility, and dispatch systems. They are also the most complex element of a deal — they require van line approval for transfer, which can take 60–90 days. If your agency relationship is strong, it is one of your most valuable assets.
Does my fleet age matter? ▸
Yes. Moving trucks are capital-intensive — $150K–$300K new. Buyers calculate replacement schedules and discount for near-term capex needs. A well-maintained fleet with documented service histories and remaining useful life is a significant value driver. Deferred maintenance signals deferred management.
How do I deal with seasonality? ▸
Buyers discount heavily for businesses with 3–4 months of near-zero revenue. Building off-peak revenue — commercial moves, logistics services, storage, junk removal — demonstrates management sophistication and reduces buyer risk. If you are 12+ months from selling, diversifying your seasonal revenue is high-ROI.
What can I do in the next 12 months to increase my value? ▸
Three highest-impact moves: (1) Add storage-in-transit or warehousing revenue to smooth seasonality. (2) Build or strengthen corporate relocation and government contracts. (3) Get your fleet maintenance records organized and address deferred maintenance. These moves routinely add $100K–$300K to a moving company exit.
Know your number
We value your moving company using real comps from completed moving industry transactions — not generic formulas. You get a professional opinion of value with fleet appraisals, van line agency analysis, and the earnings adjustments specific to moving: vehicle depreciation, seasonal normalization, and owner-operated crew hours.
Grow your value
If you have runway, Value Growth coaching helps you build storage revenue, strengthen corporate accounts, optimize your fleet, and build management depth. Each improvement moves your multiple — and we know which ones moving industry buyers actually pay for.
Sell on your terms
When you are ready, we list the business, screen and qualify buyers (PE platforms, regional movers, van line affiliates, individual operators), negotiate the deal structure including van line agency transfer, and sit at the closing table.
Know what your moving company is really worth.
The first step costs nothing. Tell us about your business and we will send a market intelligence brief specific to moving in your geography in 24–48 hours. No forms to fight, no pitch attached.