Man and van for small moves

Move students, flats and single rooms of furniture locally with your own van and a helping hand.

Startup cost£3k to £12k
Monthly revenue£1k to £4.5k
Time needed12+ h/week
First incomeWeeks
  • £3k-12k
  • Side hustle
  • Out and about

Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.

Official data

70 active UK companies have “man and van” in their name, 51% registered since 2024

Name search “company names containing “man and van””. Source: Companies House, November 2026.

What it is

A one-van removals service for small house and flat moves, single large items and student moves. You load, drive, unload and look after people's belongings.

Your first three steps

  1. Check local man and van prices and set your hourly rate and minimum job
  2. Get a suitable van, plus straps, blankets, trolley and ramp, and quotes for goods in transit and public liability insurance
  3. Set up a simple listing on local community groups and booking sites and ask early customers for reviews
Who pays

Renters, students, first-time buyers, people selling or buying furniture, and landlords clearing flats.

How it makes money

Hourly rate for you and the van, often with a minimum of 2 hours, or a fixed quote per job. A second helper can be hired for bigger jobs at a higher rate.

Skills that help
  • Safe lifting and careful packing
  • Confident driving and route planning
  • Friendly, reliable customer service
Watch out for
  • Goods in transit insurance and public liability insurance, plus hire and reward cover on your van policy
  • Check van weight limits and whether your driving licence category covers the vehicle you choose
  • Physical strain and injury risk, so use proper lifting techniques and consider a helper for heavy items
  • Parking, congestion or low emission zone charges in some cities, check the rules locally
  • Quote clearly in writing to avoid disputes over damage or extra time

Deep research report · UK

Everything you need to start: man and van for small moves

Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a man and van business in the UK?

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on the van you choose, your insurance and the equipment you buy. Treat these as estimates and get insurance quotes before you commit to a van.

How much can a man and van earn from small moves?

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £4,500, depending on your area, how often you are booked and how many hours you work. The estimate starts from about 12 hours a week.

What insurance and rules should I check before starting?

Check goods in transit, public liability and hire and reward cover on your van policy. Also check van weight limits, whether your driving licence category covers the vehicle, and any parking or low emission zone charges locally.

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