Used Household and Office Goods Moving Revenue Benchmarks
The average used household and office goods moving business in the United States generates $1.4M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 8,856 used household and office goods moving businesses in the U.S., employing 102,346 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $48K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Used Household and Office Goods Moving Business Actually Do?
Long-distance moving companies (household and office) operating under DOT regulation. Include van lines (United, Mayflower, Allied) and independents. Interstate rates are federally regulated by weight and distance.
Who buys: Consumers relocating cross-country, corporations relocating employees, businesses moving offices.
Average Revenue
$1.4M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$121K
per year
Total Businesses
8,856
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$70K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$48K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
2.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Used Household and Office Goods Moving Charge?
Long-distance and specialty movers charge by weight and distance for households, project-based for offices.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Long-distance household (per lb) | $0.50–1.20/lb |
Long-distance flat (1-bedroom apartment cross-country) | $2,500–5,500 |
Local office move (per hour, crew of 4) | $180–350/hour |
Full office relocation (mid-size, 50 employees) | $5,000–25,000 |
Storage-in-transit | $100–300/month |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete used household and office goods moving business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a used household and office goods moving business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the used household and office goods moving industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fuel & vehicle costs | $30 | $421K | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $491K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $84K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $42K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $294K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $70K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
13.05%
openings/year
Closure Rate
14.23%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.69%
annual
Businesses Closed
5,742
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Used Household and Office Goods Moving Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
26 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a used household and office goods moving business do?
- Long-distance moving companies (household and office) operating under DOT regulation. Include van lines (United, Mayflower, Allied) and independents. Interstate rates are federally regulated by weight and distance. Consumers relocating cross-country, corporations relocating employees, businesses moving offices.
- How much do used household and office goods moving charge?
- Long-distance and specialty movers charge by weight and distance for households, project-based for offices. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average used household and office goods moving make per year?
- The average used household and office goods moving business generates $1.4M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $70K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many used household and office goods moving businesses are there in the US?
- There are 8,856 used household and office goods moving businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 102,346 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a used household and office goods moving business?
- Startup costs for a used household and office goods moving business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the used household and office goods moving industry?
- The average employee in the used household and office goods moving industry earns $48K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The used household and office goods moving industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.7%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 13.1% and 14.2% respectively.
Approximately 46% of used household and office goods moving businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 5,742 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the used household and office goods moving industry earns $48,088/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 10,130 establishments employing 98,498 people, the typical business has about 10 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The used household and office goods moving industry has declined 8% since 2000 (from 45,868 to 42,221 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Used Household and Office Goods Moving revenue with other industries: