5 Ways to Grow Your Man and Van Business in 2026 (and Actually Make More Money)

When we started URemovals, we noticed one thing: movers were either brilliant at moving but clueless about business or the opposite. In 2026, just buying a van, printing some business cards, and posting on Facebook won’t cut it anymore. Customers expect more, and competition is getting smarter.

To succeed, you’ll need a professional website with online booking and payment options, a branded uniform, and possibly a branded van. All of these details matter, because your competitors are already doing them and customers notice the difference.

1. Stop Burning Fuel and Time. Get Smart with Tech

If you’re still using a paper diary and phone calls for bookings, you’re making life harder than it needs to be.

• Route Planners: This isn't just about using Google Maps. Proper route planning software that can handle multiple stops will save you a fortune. Less time stuck in traffic, less money wasted on diesel, and the chance to squeeze in an extra job before the day is done. It's a no-brainer.
• Online Quoting: People want a price now, not tomorrow. If they have to call you and wait for a quote, they’ve already found three other firms online who gave them an instant price. Get a simple booking system on your website. Let them book you while you're on a job or asleep.
• Live Tracking: Send your customer a link so they can see where you are on a map. It stops them from ringing every five minutes asking, “Are you nearly here?” It looks professional and saves you a headache. When we were still running our man & van business in Hampshire, we used the Glympse app simple, reliable, and very effective.

2. Going Green Isn't Just for Hippies. It's Good Business

Forget the politics for a second and think about the money. Being eco-friendly is starting to really matter to customers, and it can save you cash.

• Your Next Van: With all the clean air zones popping up, that old diesel is becoming a liability. When it’s time to upgrade, seriously consider electric or hybrid options. The fuel savings alone can be significant, and you can market yourself as the “green” choice customers notice. Of course, not everyone can afford a brand-new van, especially if you started your business solo. But if it’s within your means, it’s worth considering.
• Ditch the Cardboard: Offer to rent out sturdy, reusable plastic crates. You'll save money on buying boxes in the long run, and it's a service that people are willing to pay a little extra for.
• The "Get Rid Of It" Service: Customers always have junk they don't want to move. Partner with a local charity or a licensed waste disposal firm. Offer to take their unwanted stuff to the right place. It's another service, another reason for them to pick you.

3. Don't Just Be 'The Van'. Offer More.

If all you do is drive from A to B, you're competing on price alone, and that's a race to the bottom. You're already in the house, so what else can you do?

• Packing & Unpacking: So many people hate packing more than the move itself. Offer it as a service. It can easily double the value of a standard move, just like that.
• Flat-Pack Hell: We've all seen customers struggling with an Allen key. Offer a furniture assembly and disassembly service. It's an easy add-on that solves a real problem for them.
• Make Mates with Other Businesses: Go talk to the managers at the local storage units, the estate agents, the furniture shops. Give them a stack of your cards. A good referral network will feed you jobs all year round.

4. Your Reputation Is Everything. Don't Screw It Up.

You can have the best van and the best prices, but if you have a bad reputation, you're finished. In this business, word-of-mouth and online reviews are gold.

• Just Communicate: It’s not hard. "On my way, arriving in 20 mins" can make a big difference. Answer your phone. Reply to emails quickly. It shows you're reliable.
• Look the Part: Turn up in a clean, branded van. Wear a simple uniform, even if it's just a branded t-shirt. Don't look like you just rolled out of bed. It tells the customer you take your job seriously.
• Chase Reviews: When you finish a job and the customer is happy, ask them for a review right then and there. A string of recent 5-star reviews on Google is the best advertising you can get.

5. You Can't Do It All Yourself.

Want to grow? Then you have to stop thinking like a one-man band and start thinking like a business owner.

• Hire Good People: This is the hardest part. Finding someone reliable who you can trust in a customer's home is tough. But you have to. One bad crew member can destroy the reputation you've spent years building.
• Train Them: Don't just assume they know how to lift a sofa without scratching the walls. Show them how you want things done. Your process, your standards.
• Team Up: Get to know the other good, local man and van firms. If you’re swamped and have to turn down a job, pass it to one of them for a small finder's fee. They’ll do the same for you. It's better to get a piece of the pie than nothing at all.