Do you ever wish there were more hours in a day? The truth is, as a moving company owner, few people work as hard as you do. But no matter how hard you hustle, there are still only 24 hours in a day.

That’s where the right moving company software can make the difference.

Moving company software helps you grow profit by streamlining every part of your business—sales, operations, crew, storage, accounting, payments, and reporting—all in one place. And for ambitious movers, profit is the name of the game.

According to our annual benchmark report, the majority of the 400+ owners surveyed said they’re executing new pricing, marketing, and service offerings this year. But in order to do that effectively, you need strong systems. Systems that help you work on instead of in your business.

In this guide, we’ll break down all the top features to look for in a moving company software solution that drives real results for your business.

Moving company software is a specialized solution designed to help moving company owners manage their sales, operations, crew, storage, accounting, payments, and reporting more efficiently.

The best software is cloud-based and should include features that help movers capture and organize leads, structure sales, send accurate estimates, manage dispatch operations, automate recurring billing, simplify accounting, and get real-time reporting.

If you’re like most owners, you probably started growing your moving company business using a combination of spreadsheets, inboxes, and stitching together multiple small tools. But once the jobs start flowing in, it gets harder and harder to keep up.

With the right moving company software, you can get out of the daily grind and into the business, make better business decisions based on data not just gut feeling, and implement standard operating procedures to make your business scalable.

The goal: build a profitable business that's not making the typical 7% net profit or less — but that's making 20% net profit or more.

How, exactly? Let us count the ways.

1 | Boost Profit

With most moving companies making 7% net profit or even less, you're not just moving houses—you're moving mountains to scale your business. The right moving software can help you identify which jobs are most profitable so you’re not guessing. And, make your business more efficient. It can also help you:

• Improve efficiency across your business from sales to accounting
• Easily see which jobs are profitable for your business and which are not
• Run profitable marketing campaigns, convert more leads, and increase revenue
• Get accurate data on your revenue and know if you're making profit or running losses
• Track your numbers and set benchmarks for marketing, sales, operations and finances
• Get detailed reports on all operations
  
  

2 | Grow Revenue

Did you know that 78% of customers purchase from the vendor that responds first, even if they’re more expensive? Just think how much more business you could do if your sellers could follow up on every single lead within minutes instead of hours. 

The right all-in-one moving platform can help you:

• Build an efficient, consistent sales process
• Manage and track all sales communication in one place
• Capture leads from all sources in one single platform
• Get notified about every new lead
• Follow up on leads instantly with proven sales scripts
• Reduce manual work with canned sales templates
• Get reports on all important sales and marketing metrics
  
  

3 | Send Accurate Estimates

With the right solution, moving companies can build consistent and accurate estimates using a flexible auto-price engine. You and your team can create estimates in minutes instead of hours, without compromising on accuracy.

The right all-in-one moving platform can help you:

• Improve close rates by providing precise estimates in seconds
• Send estimates via text to reach customers before competitors
• Take detailed inventory with just a few clicks
• Let customers fill out inventory themselves via a digital portal
• Set crew base rates, define capacity, and manage trip and truck fees
• Send professionally branded, digital estimates (instead of messy Word docs)
• Let customers sign-off estimates and pay deposits digitally
• Customize estimates with valuation, storage charges, and more
  
  

4 | Streamline Operations

As any experienced mover will tell you: winning the job is only half the battle. You also need to optimize your team’s processes to make sure your bookings are turning a healthy profit. 

But building the plane while flying it isn’t easy. The best moving software will give you end-to-end visibility into each core area of your business for full control over your operations — even when you’re neck deep in the day-to-day.

A unified moving company software can help you:

• Build an efficient dispatch system in one tool
• Spend less time on dispatch, more time maximizing your schedule
• Plan long-distance trips
• Eliminate overbooking
• Adjust rates based on demand to improve profitability
• Sync resource calendar with Google calendar for bird's eye view of capacity
• Assign trucks and crew members using a simple drag-and-drop
• Create templates with pre-assigned crews and trucks for certain days / types of moves
• Let crew members confirm availability with a tap of an app
• Know when crew has arrived, when they're loading, and when they're on the go
• Automatically notify customers when the crew is on the way
  
  

5 | Impress Your Customers

Moving is stressful. In fact, according to one survey, 45% of Americans who hired a moving company found the experience so stressful, they were driven to tears. The right platform can improve every aspect of a moving business, making the process as zen as possible for customers.

Look for a platform that makes it easy to impress, while improving the overall moving experience. The right solution will help you:

• Deliver flawless customer service from the first call
• Increase repeat business, referrals, and positive reviews
• Use accurate estimates to eliminate risk of bait-and-switch accusations or bad reviews
• Send beautifully-designed, mobile-friendly estimates 
• Let customers manage their move through a convenient mobile-friendly portal
• Send automated and personalized text message updates throughout the process
• Give the sales team access to a customer’s entire communication history
• Build a strong reputation and dominate your market
  
  

6 | Make Accounting Effortless

Accounting errors can be costly. With an all-in-one moving platform, you can streamline your accounting processes and unlock peak efficiency in your accounts receivable, expenses, and payroll management.

The right solution will help you save hours of admin work while increasing your accounting accuracy. It can help you:

• Automate payroll calculations, saving countless hours for your accounting team
• Reduce errors in payroll and ensure accurate, on-time paychecks for movers
• Streamline accounts receivable, expenses, and payroll management
• Synchronize invoices and transactions using integrations with tools like QuickBooks
• Create role-based hourly rates and time tracking via mobile app 
• Gain comprehensive payroll records and insights for better financial management
• Access accurate reports and real-time insights for data-driven decision-making
  
  

7 | Manage Storage Efficiently

In 2024, 21% of movers say they’re planning to diversify their revenue streams by offering a broader range of moving types and services. For many, that means branching out into storage.

With powerful all-in-one software, you can manage your storage accounts and bill customers effortlessly in the same place where you run the rest of your business. 

Look for a solution that lets you:

• Centralize storage accounts in a single user-friendly platform
• Create new individual and commercial accounts using preset forms
• Upload existing storage accounts in minutes via Excel
• Set up custom rates for different warehouses, zones, and customers
• Enable automatic billing and payment via credit card or bank transfer
• Receive real-time aging accounts reports
• Get a complete view of performance, occupancy, and schedules
• Provide customers mobile-friendly access to all storage information
• Track containers, reduce scheduling conflicts, and manage all move-ins and move-outs

Not all moving software providers are the same. And you don’t have time for slow onboarding and complicated configuration processes.

You need a solution that will get you up, running and generating profits, quickly. Here are some of the key characteristics to look for in a moving company software provider.

1 | Experience and Credibility

Not all software solutions were created with movers in mind. Look for a system that is already widely used (and loved) by some of the top moving companies. Check key review sites for real user ratings, paying special attention to platforms with at least 100 positive ratings from real mover company owners.

2 | Modern, Easy-to-Use Experience

In 2024, there’s no excuse for clunky software. The ideal moving software has perfected the art of intuitive, smooth-functioning software that’s simple for anyone to use. To make sure you’re choosing the best and most user-friendly tool for your team, check review sites like Capterra for the ease-of-use rating as compared to other systems.

3 | Fast and Reliable

Look for a software provider that has experience serving the moving industry. This means they’ve perfected the process of building simple, intuitive software based on the needs of real users. With a reliable partner, you don’t have to worry about long learning curves, unreliable data, or bugs that take weeks to resolve. You get simple software that works.

4 | Quick Onboarding

When you’re moving forward at a rapid pace, you need onboarding done in weeks, not months. Unfortunately, many software providers require extensive customizations that can drag the onboarding process out for multiple months. This means you’re investing in a product you can't immediately use. With an all-in-one platform purpose built for profitable moving company growth, the priority is to get users up and running quickly. Look for providers that offer assistance from expert implementation specialists with experience in the moving industry.

5 | Strong Community

As the old saying goes: if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. A best-in-class provider will have built a strong community of moving peers over the years. Look for partners that offer private communities where you can access support from like minded movers whenever you need it.

6 |  Built Specifically for Movers

With an experienced moving software provider, you can rest assured knowing they’ve spoken to movers of all types and from all regions. This wide breadth and depth of industry insight means they’ve identified important patterns and built their software to solve problems before they impact your business.

7 | Strong Customer Experience

Look for a provider whose work doesn't stop at making your job easy. The right partner wants you to succeed at every step. That means giving your customers the most seamless and professional experience possible. With the right features and customizations, your software can help get them talking.

8 | Fast, Simple Configuration

How fast can you get started with your new platform? Look for ready-to-go invoices, emails, inventory lists, and more to make it easy to get up and running quickly. But remember, your provider should also be able to tailor their software to meet your specific needs.

9 | Dozens of Integrations

Growth doesn’t happen in silos. The right platform will let you seamlessly connect with the tools you already know and love — from MailChimp to QuickBooks, Google, and more. You can rest easy knowing your data stays synced and your team members always have the latest info at their fingertips.

10 | Constant Product Innovation

Your provider should be committed to innovation. Best-of-breed platforms tend to roll out new product updates every two weeks, with the driving mission of helping you build a better business. There should be a system in place to provide feedback and enable adaptive innovation, constantly adding new features based on your needs.

11 | Dedicated Customer Success Manager

To get the maximum return on your investment, look for a provider that offers a dedicated Customer Success Manager (CSM). This person will be by your side, from setup through every step of the onboarding process and beyond.

12 | In-App, Real-Time Support

In addition to a dedicated CSM, you also need direct access to the help you need, when you need it. Look for a provider that offers seamless, in-app support anytime you need it via chat, phone call, or email.

As you work your way from a founder-centric to founder-leveraged business, you need a system that can help you do it all — book jobs, dispatch moves, manage moving crews, and calculate payroll — all while giving you ultimate clarity into the most profitable ways to grow.

Rather than paying for multiple tools that each do different things, an all-in-one system can help you streamline your business from A to Z.

Here are the key features to look for.

Flexible Auto-Price Engine

As moving companies grow, it’s usually the owner that tends to handle all pricing and proposals. But you’ve got bigger things to worry about. Look for a robust pricing engine that enables anyone in the business to price and send proposals. By creating your own base settings and pre-defined pricing rules, any member of the team can produce an estimate with pricing that's accurate and professional.

Features to look for:

• Flexible auto-price engine that lets you create base settings for minimum job hours, not-to-exceed amount, crew base rates, truck fees and more
• Ability to set predefined rules for long distance or local moves
• Mobile-friendly estimates with pre-loaded list of inventory items so you can stop duplicating cube sheets
• Ability to generate precise estimates quickly — so estimates go out in minutes, not hours
  
  

Built-In Sales Scripts

Elevate your sales team with a system that includes industry-leading scripts built straight into the platform. With a streamlined view of exactly what to say and when to say it, you can ensure consistent performance across your team — something you won't find with all moving software vendors.

Features to look for:

• Email and SMS templates for every step in the sales process
• Ability to centralize leads and customize templates based on lead channel
• New lead notifications and follow-up reminders
• Ability to contact leads via call, email, and text message

“We noticed a huge increase in our booking rates and efficiency in following up with leads and opportunities since switching to SmartMoving.” — AL Movers

Business Visibility

You can’t scale your business if you don’t know your numbers. With the right platform, you can track and benchmark crucial metrics across marketing, sales, operations, and finance for unparalleled business insights.

You’ll gain a clear understanding of your leads, bookings, and spend versus your earnings. From there, it’s easy to fine-tune for profitability and do more of what’s working.

Features to look for:

• Profitability reports to identify your most and least profitable jobs
• Wide range of built-in reports to choose from
• Ability to easily view your conversions and booking percentage
• Access your profit and losses in real-time
• Easy tracking for refunds, damages, and missing deposits
• Access ratings for every crew member on your team based on customer reviews
  
  

Let Your Crew Use Any Device

With the right platform, your crew can use any phone or tablet to get pre- and post-move information and communications on the go. No need to buy specific gear. Crew management should be easy and cost effective, with a simple, flexible process designed for your team's success.

Features to look for:

• Automated texts to your crew and customers
• Monitor your crew's progress and the hours each job takes
• Templates with pre-assigned crews and trucks for specific days or long distance moves
• Data dashboards to identify delays and plan better moves
  
  

Storage Management

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: storage should mean more revenue, not more paperwork. Instead of having to chase down customers every month just to get paid, look for an all-in-one moving software that helps you monitor your accounts and occupancy in the same place.

Features to look for:

• Dashboard to stay on top of invoices, move-ins, and storage performance
• An easy way to import and centralize your storage accounts
• Ability to create new accounts using simple pre-set forms.
• Customizable storage rates for different warehouses, zones, and customers
• Visibility into the containers occupied and print container tags as needed
• Customizable mobile portal where customers can access all their storage information
• Real-time storage occupancy tracking to avoid overbooking warehouses
  
  

“The modules within SmartMoving allow seamless communication between the sales, operations, and overall customer experience. We also utilize the storage module which enhances efficiency within the organization."  — Kurt Hintz, Owner, Mac’s Moving and Storage

Compliant, Digital Documents

From bills of lading to credit card authorization forms, your moving software should make it easy to centralize, digitize, and tailor your documents. Seek out a solution that gives you complete control over documents and formatting, while making it easy to adhere to State-specific regulations.

Features to look for:

• Digital signatures to simplify documentation processes
• Done-for-you State-compliant documentation
• Customizable branding for a professional look

“There was a lot of potential for human error between scheduling and dispatch. We were still using carbon copies – and the generation of movers we have coming into the door these days – they are often seeing carbon copy sheets for the first time with us.” — Adam Gurwell, VP of Moving Ahead Services

Profitability Management

Here’s one you definitely won’t see in every solution. The right moving software will power your profits forward, far above the 7% baseline. You’ll be able to see which jobs are profitable for your business so you know exactly what to change and where to double down.

Features to look for:

• Expenses auto-fill upon job completion
• Dedicated Profitability Tab for all profit insights at a glance
• Ability to target gross profit goals directly through the system
• Automatic fuel costs and revenue calculations
  
  

Comprehensive Multi-Branch Management

Your software should be able to grow with your business. Look for a solution that can accommodate different locations and brands, allowing for unique pricing, payments, and documents for each branch as you scale.

Features to look for:

• Ability to quickly toggle back and forth between different branches
• Pre-set guidelines for pricing, payments and documents
• Customizable branding for unique branches and brands
  
  

Franchise Drop-In

When growth is the goal, you need moving software that seamlessly integrates into your existing franchise system. With the right platform, franchisors can easily create and access franchisee accounts, while franchisees maintain visibility for only their specific locations.

Features to look for:

• Comprehensive franchise drop-in
• Customizable permissions for franchisor and franchisees
• Central dashboard for viewing all locations
  
  

Accounting and Payments

Your payroll and accounting systems should propel you forward, not hold you back. With a reliable unified system, you can automate your bookkeeping and can get paid faster, with fewer invoicing mistakes along the way.

 

Features to look for:

• Ability to quickly sync job level details and payments using Quickbooks and other accounting systems
• Automate payroll calculations to save hours of admin
• Option to take payments by linking your credit card reader to a mobile app
• Easily track unpaid invoices to avoid costly discrepancies
• Real-time aging accounts reports
• Automated reminders to customers with outstanding invoices
  
  

Integrations

The best moving company software systems will already have an established list of providers they integrate with. But why stop there? With a robust API and easy third-party integrations, you choose the systems you use to run your business

 

Features to look for:

• Ability to integrate with your marketing automation software like MailChimp
• Robust list of lead generation providers
• NEX integration to easily forward interstate leads for a commission on completed moves
• Insurance integration to easily offer insurance as part of the booking process

No two moving businesses are the same.

To choose the platform that best fits your needs, consider whether you want something that’s great for now vs. something more customizable that you can adjust and adapt as you grow your business.

Here are some of the top moving company platforms available:

Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/180048/SmartMoving-Software/reviews/

SmartMoving is the #1 rated moving platform for scaling companies looking to grow profitability. Efficiently manage sales, operations, crew, storage, accounting, payments, and reporting—all in one place.

Get an unbeatable user experience, rock-solid reliability, and the fastest onboarding in the industry. Join hundreds of top moving companies that trust SmartMoving to power their businesses, boost profitability, and save hundreds of hours.

You get everything you need to run and grow your business in one user-friendly platform.