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How to start a moving help business in Canterbury

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Canterbury asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

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Checked October 2026 In New Zealand dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for New Zealand: researched US figures converted to New Zealand dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are New Zealand's own.

To startNZ$2.2k–7.7kLean to full setup

Per monthNZ$5.5k–21kOnce established

Profit margin45–65%After your helper's pay, insurance and fuel

First customer1–3 weeksFrom today

DifficultyEasy to learn, hard on the body

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you're strong, careful and like hard physical work

Labor-only moving help is a simple way into the moving business: the customer rents the truck or container, and you and a helper do the heavy lifting. You need strong backs, a few dollies and moving blankets, and good reviews; small moves in your own vehicle can come later.

You'll like it if

You're fit and can lift and carry all day
You're careful with other people's things
You have a reliable friend or helper
You don't mind early starts and weekend work

Think twice if

You have back, knee or shoulder problems
Stairs and heat wear you out
You'd rather not work with a partner
You want steady hours every week

02What it costs

From NZ$2,209 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startNZ$2,209

What	Cost
Hand truck and dolliesA hand truck, furniture dollies and, later, an appliance dolly	NZ$170
Moving blankets and wrapFurniture pads and stretch wrap	NZ$75
InsuranceFirst year of general liability	NZ$1,950
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	NZ$0
Enclosed trailerOnly if you'll haul small moves yourself	NZ$0
Cards and flyersFor storage facilities, apartments and realtors	NZ$14
Total	NZ$2,209

Once you're running: about NZ$210 a month, plus about 30% of what you earn. Insurance and phone every month, plus your helper's pay, fuel, booking fees and wrap for each job.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per job NZ$620 NZ$210NZ$2,000

Jobs a week 6 120

Monthly costs NZ$210 NZ$0NZ$840

Typical in Canterbury: NZ$410–NZ$1,000 per job, 2–10 jobs a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleNZ$1.4k–3.5k

Weekend jobs with a helper, 4–8 a month

Full-time, on your ownNZ$5.5k–10k

Four to seven jobs a week with one helper

GrowingNZ$11k–21k

Two crews and your own truck

04Step by step

11 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

See what local labor-only movers charge, how busy they are at the end of the month and which apartment complexes and storage sites are nearby.
- Search "moving help near me"
- Note 5 movers and their hourly rates
- List storage sites and big apartment complexes
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that sounds strong and trustworthy. Make sure no one in Canterbury already uses it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3
Register your business in Canterbury
1 day to 2 weeks NZ$0–NZ$148

Most owners start as a sole trader; registering a company with the Companies Office keeps business debts separate.
- Start as a sole trader: free
- Register a company: NZ$148.05
4
Get your IRD number
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Inland Revenue, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Inland Revenue
- Open a business bank account
5
Sort out GST
1–3 days Free

You must register for GST once your sales pass NZ$60,000 a year. The rate is 15%.
- Know when to register for GST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Workers' comp, once you hire
- Cargo and commercial auto, if you haul
7
Find a reliable helper
1–2 weeks Free

Most jobs need two people. Find a dependable, careful partner and agree on pay per hour or per job before your first booking.
- One steady helper
- A backup for busy weekends
- Agreed pay and safety rules
8
Buy your equipment
2–3 days NZ$250–960

Start with a hand truck, furniture dollies, moving blankets and stretch wrap. Add an appliance dolly and straps as jobs grow.
- Hand truck and dollies
- Moving blankets and wrap
- Basic tools for beds and tables
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Charge per hour for two movers with a two-hour minimum, and a flat price for common jobs like a one-bedroom load. See the prices below.
- Hourly rate for two movers
- Minimum hours
- Stairs and long-carry charges
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

People book moving help a few days ahead, often at night. Show your rates and reviews and let them book a time online.
- Website with your rates
- Online booking
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first 10 jobs
1–3 weeks Up to NZ$210

Moving marketplaces, storage facilities, apartment offices and realtors send steady work. Fast, careful crews get five-star reviews and rebookings.
- Moving help marketplaces
- Storage sites and apartment offices
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in CAN

What Canterbury asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Start as a sole trader

There's nothing to register: you tell Inland Revenue you're working for yourself.

Inland RevenueFree

Register a company

Reserving the company name and incorporating, including GST. A company also files a yearly annual return, for a fee.

Companies OfficeNZ$148.05once

IRD number

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Inland RevenueFree

Truck parking permits

Some cities require a permit to park a moving truck on the street. Agree who applies before the move.

Your city or local councilVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Hand truckTwo-wheel, 600 to 1,000 lb rated

NZ$120–NZ$320Must have

Furniture dollyFour-wheel, buy two

NZ$25Must have

Appliance dollyFor fridges and washers

NZ$250Later

Moving blanketPer blanket, plain or quilted

NZ$12–NZ$25Must have

Stretch wrapRoll, for drawers and cushions

NZ$14–NZ$40Must have

Enclosed cargo trailer5 by 8 ft, for small moves

NZ$4,500Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Load or unload

NZ$250 per visit · 2 movers, 2 hours

Load or unload a truck or container
Furniture padded and stacked
Beds taken apart if needed

Apartment move

NZ$520 per visit · 2 movers, about 3 hours

Load at one end, unload at the other
Blankets, wrap and dollies
Furniture placed in each room

Small move with our trailer

NZ$820 per visit · Studio or one bedroom, local

Two movers and a trailer
Loading, driving and unloading
Blankets and wrap included

Labor-only move, 2 movers in CanterburyTypical: NZ$400–NZ$1,000

Average NZ$620

NZ$0NZ$340NZ$680NZ$1kNZ$1.4k

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

People search "moving help near me" a few days before they move. Reviews decide who they call.

Free

Moving marketplaces

Labor-only booking sites send jobs while you build your own customers.

Low cost

Storage sites and apartment offices

Leave cards with managers. Move-in and move-out days happen every month.

Partnership

Realtors

Agents recommend movers to every buyer and seller they work with.

Partnership

Reviews

Ask at the end of every job while the customer is relieved and happy.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Buy insurance

Week 2

Get equipped

Buy dollies and blankets
Find a reliable helper
Practice padding and stacking

Week 3

Go live

Website with booking
Google Business Profile
Join a moving help marketplace

Week 4

First jobs

Aim for 10 jobs
Visit storage sites
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to offer moving help in Canterbury?

Loading and unloading a customer's own rental truck usually counts as labor, not hauling. If you carry belongings in your own vehicle for pay, many states require a mover's license, and moves across state lines need federal registration. Check with your state.

What's labor-only moving?

The customer rents the truck, container or storage unit, and you do the lifting, padding and loading. It costs customers less than a full-service mover.

How many people do I need?

Most jobs need two movers. Bigger homes and heavy items may need three, so keep a backup helper you can call.

What if something gets damaged?

Pad and wrap everything, use the right dolly, and carry liability insurance. Agree in writing what you'll cover before the job starts.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources