MOVIFIED NATION – PODCAST PLAYBOOK 002
EPISODE: How 4 Movers Built Million-Dollar Moving Companies from Scratch
GUEST: Matt Young • Austin Yarborough • Josh Shipman • Neacail Murdock
Companies: iHaul iMove • Central Coast Moving & Storage • Coastal Carrier Moving & Storage • Murdock’s Moving & Storage
There are episodes that feel like interviews — and then there are episodes that feel like you pulled up a chair at the movers’ table after a long day on the trucks. This one is the second kind.
Four owners from different cities sat down and opened up about what their early years actually looked like. Not the highlight reel. Not the Instagram version. The real stuff — the slow winters, the empty phone lines, the days the truck broke down and the crew still had to show up, the moments they felt like quitting, and the little wins that reminded them to keep going.
They talked about branding mistakes, uniform problems, unsafe jobs, grassroots marketing that unexpectedly changed everything, and the one thing that kept them all moving forward: they didn’t stop. Even when they had every reason to.
This playbook takes everything they shared and turns it into practical next steps — something real movers can actually use.
KEY LESSONS FOR MOVERS
Lesson 1 — Nobody Has a Smooth First Year. Nobody.
When you hear four different owners talk about the exact same struggles, you realize something comforting: you’re not failing — you’re just early.
The slow seasons, the bad hires, the days you stare at your scheduling board hoping a call comes in… every mover goes through it. Every single one.
Lesson:
There’s nothing wrong with you. This is simply what building looks like.
Lesson 2 — Professionalism Is the First Thing Customers Notice
Uniforms aren’t just clothing. They’re a message. They tell customers:
“We’re here to do this right.”
Everyone on the episode talked about how upgrading their appearance immediately upgraded their reputation. Customers started telling friends. Reviews got better. Referrals went up. All from matching shirts and a little pride.
Lesson:
Before you spend money on ads, make sure your team looks the part.
Lesson 3 — Grassroots Marketing Still Works Better Than You Think
These owners didn’t start with huge budgets. They started with sweat and consistency:
- Craigslist posts twice a day.
- Yelp reviews one by one.
- Google Business updates.
- Talking to realtors.
- Leaving flyers at storage facilities.
- Showing up in person — not just online.
This isn’t glamorous. It isn’t instant. But it works — and it still works today.
Lesson:
It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about how consistently you show up.
Lesson 4 — Safety Is Not Optional, Not “If You Have Time,” Not “When It’s Convenient”
Every mover learns this lesson eventually. Sometimes the hard way. Ramps that weren’t latched. Loads that weren’t strapped. Back doors left unlocked. These mistakes cost time, money, and sometimes even trust.
But the owners in this episode all agreed: when they tightened their safety habits, everything improved. Fewer claims. Smoother days. More confidence on-site.
Lesson:
Safe habits protect your team. Safe habits protect your reputation. Safe habits protect your business.
Lesson 5 — Your Business Grows Through Conversations, Not Campaigns
This industry is built on relationships — with customers, realtors, storage facilities, and even other movers. One good connection can bring you years of work.
Every owner on the episode talked about how their early growth came through partnerships, referrals, and showing up consistently in their local community.
Lesson:
Your network builds your net worth — especially in moving.
ACTION PLAYBOOK
Professionalism & Uniform
What to Do
- Provide clean, matching uniforms for every role — movers to crew leads.
- Make your logo visible and readable.
- Keep track of who has what so nothing “mysteriously disappears.”
- Reinforce the standard: no tank tops, cutoffs, random shirts, or “I forgot my uniform.”
- Follow up when expectations slip — because culture is what you tolerate.
Why It Matters:
Customers trust what they see. And a clean, unified look tells them, “You chose the right team.”
B. Grassroots Marketing
What to Do
- Post on Craigslist every day — morning and evening.
- Update your Google Business profile weekly with photos and quick posts.
- Ask for reviews like it’s your job — because it is.
- Drop flyers at apartment buildings and storage units.
- Visit realtors with something branded: folders, pens, cards — anything that leaves a trace.
- Track where each lead comes from so you know what’s really working.
Why It Matters
This is how almost every million-dollar mover at the table built their early customer base. Not with money — with effort.
C. Safety & Securement
What to Do
- Check ramps, straps, and door latches before every move.
- Train every new hire on securement on day one — not day ten.
- Assign a crew lead to double-check high-risk items.
- Use real incidents as teaching moments.
- Do weekly truck walkthroughs, even if it feels repetitive.
Why It Matters
Your crews can’t perform well if they don’t feel safe. And your business can’t grow if you’re constantly fixing preventable mistakes.
Sales & Communication
What to Do
- Answer the phone fast — it’s one of your best sales advantages.
- Confirm moves twice: the day before and the morning of.
- Leave something behind after every estimate: a card, folder, or magnet.
- Follow up after the job. Ask sincerely how things went.
- Handle issues quickly and personally — the owner’s voice goes a long way.
Why It Matters
Strong communication turns one-time customers into repeat customers.
E. Hiring & Onboarding
What to Do
- Have every new hire sign a uniform/conduct agreement on day one.
- Teach safety before teaching speed.
- Pair new hires with strong leaders.
- Set clear expectations early — not after problems begin.
- Reinforce standards during slow seasons — not just busy months.
Why It Matters
Your culture isn’t built when it’s easy. It’s built when you choose consistency even when it’s hard.
F. Branding & Identity
What to Do
- Keep your company name simple and recognizable.
- Make your logo clear and readable across shirts, trucks, and social.
- Use real photos of your crews, not staged models.
- Connect with your community — it’s your biggest marketing channel.
- Build long-term partnerships with businesses that serve your ideal customer.
Why It Matters
Your brand should feel like it belongs in your city — not like a cut-and-paste template.
CHECKLISTS & MICRO-SYSTEMS
Uniform & Appearance
- Matching shirts
- Clean clothing
- Proper footwear
- Crew introduces themselves professionally
Safety Essentials
□ Ramp latch locked
□ Back door secured
□ Heavy items strapped
□ Weekly truck inspection done
□ Crew lead signed off
Grassroots Habits
□ Craigslist post updated
□ Review request sent
□ Flyers replenished
□ Realtor visited
□ Google Business photo uploaded
90-DAY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
This Week
- Inspect every truck for risks
- Reinforce uniform standards with the entire team
- Reactivate or refresh your grassroots channels
Next 30 Days
- Hold a safety training session
- Restart realtor outreach
- Build a uniform inventory and tracking system
Next 90 Days
- Create a slow-season action plan
- Refresh your branding if needed
- Build a consistent review process that runs every week
HOW YOU KNOW YOU’RE WINNING
- Customers comment on professionalism
- Reviews start coming in consistently
- Safety issues decrease
- Partnerships begin to form
- Your team feels more unified
- Your confidence starts to grow
- Culture feels stronger and more intentional
Conclusion
If there’s one thing this episode proves, it’s that every successful mover you see today started in the same place you are right now — figuring it out as they go. The slow seasons, the tough hires, the messy days, the early mistakes… they’re all part of building something real. These four owners didn’t grow because they were perfect. They grew because they stayed consistent, kept raising their standards, and refused to quit when it got hard.
You don’t have to do this alone.
And you shouldn’t.
That’s why the Movified Nation Mastermind exists — a place where movers learn faster, solve problems together, and level up with people who actually understand the pressure of running a moving company.
If you’re ready for clarity, community, and real accountability…
If you want to grow alongside owners who are pushing for the same things you are…
Join the Movified Nation Mastermind.
It’s the support system every mover deserves — and it might be the move that changes everything for you.
Join Movified Nation today — and gain the mentorship, systems, and support that will help you scale with confidence.
Join Movified Nation today — and gain the mentorship, systems, and support that will help you scale with confidence.
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