How to Start a Moving Company Business in Connecticut
Local and long-distance household moving, sometimes with packing and storage. Here's the Connecticut-specific path — structure, licensing for moving company work, taxes, insurance, and landing your first customers.
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moving company license in Connecticut: do you need one?
In-state household-goods movers usually need state authority (often the PUC); moving across state lines requires FMCSA registration (USDOT + MC number) and specific insurance filings. In Connecticut, the state board or agency that handles moving company licensing is linked below — check it, and your city or county business-license office, before you advertise or take a job. If Connecticut doesn't license moving company work at the state level, a local business license (and often liability insurance) is still expected.
What it costs to start a moving company business in Connecticut
Plan for $10,000–$50,000 (truck lease/buy, equipment, insurance, authority) to get operational. On top of that: about $120 to form a Connecticut LLC, then an annual report is due (~$80), a free EIN from the IRS, and general liability insurance — a few hundred dollars a year for most solo operators.
What a moving company business needs before day one
Local and long-distance household moving, sometimes with packing and storage. The parts that actually matter for moving company: State mover/household-goods authority (PUC), USDOT/MC number for interstate, Cargo + auto insurance, Truck and equipment, Booking and estimates.
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You can operate as a sole proprietor with no filing, or form an LLC for liability protection — for hands-on moving company work most owners choose the LLC. The Connecticut LLC filing fee is about $120 and formation takes 3–5 business days online. Then get a free EIN, open a business bank account, and register for Connecticut sales tax if you'll sell taxable goods or services.
The full Connecticut LLC walkthrough — fees, forms, and steps ↗
What to charge for moving company in Connecticut
Local by the hour — 2 movers + truck $110–$160/hr (3-hr minimum), 3 movers $150–$220/hr. Long-distance by weight and distance. Packing, materials, and heavy items (piano, safe) are add-ons. Check what the established moving company businesses in your city actually charge before you set your rates — pricing to undercut them is the fastest way to work the first year at a loss.
Getting your first moving company customers in Connecticut
Google + reviews, Yelp, U-Haul/Bellhop-style marketplaces, and realtor/apartment referrals. Reviews are everything in moving — one bad review costs jobs. Apartment complexes, realtors, and senior-move partnerships bring repeat volume. Heavily seasonal — May through September is roughly 60% of annual volume, month-end and weekends peak. Apartment-complex preferred-vendor lists and realtor referrals bring off-season work.
The mistake most first-year moving company owners make
Treating reviews as marketing instead of survival. In moving, one visible one-star about a scratched floor or a late crew can dry up bookings for a month — damage-claim handling and crew vetting are the actual growth levers.
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Build my launch plan for CTFrequently asked
How do I start a moving company business in Connecticut?
Confirm the licenses for moving company work in Connecticut, pick a structure (sole proprietor or LLC), get a free EIN, register for Connecticut taxes if you'll collect sales tax, open a business bank account, get general liability insurance, then set up your Google Business Profile and line up your first jobs.
Do I need a license for a moving company business in Connecticut?
In-state household-goods movers usually need state authority (often the PUC); moving across state lines requires FMCSA registration (USDOT + MC number) and specific insurance filings. Check the Connecticut licensing agency and your local city or county before you advertise.
How much does it cost to start a moving company business in Connecticut?
Plan for $10,000–$50,000 (truck lease/buy, equipment, insurance, authority), plus about $120 to form a Connecticut LLC. An EIN is free and general liability insurance runs a few hundred dollars a year for most solo operators.
What should I charge for moving company in Connecticut?
Local by the hour — 2 movers + truck $110–$160/hr (3-hr minimum), 3 movers $150–$220/hr. Long-distance by weight and distance. Packing, materials, and heavy items (piano, safe) are add-ons.
How much do moving company businesses make in Connecticut?
It depends on your rates and how booked you stay. See the moving company income and pricing breakdown for typical owner take-home and what to charge.
How much does a moving company business license cost in Connecticut?
It depends on exactly which moving company license or permit applies — a state professional license commonly runs $50–$300 plus any exam or renewal fee, and a local city/county business license is often another $25–$100. That's separate from the ~$120 Connecticut LLC filing fee if you form one. Check the Connecticut licensing agency above, or use the License Finder tool, for the exact fee for moving company work.
How much does moving company business insurance cost in Connecticut?
General liability insurance for a solo moving company operator typically runs $300–$800 a year, more if you carry commercial auto coverage or a higher liability limit. Clients, landlords, and some license boards require proof of coverage before you can start moving company work in Connecticut.
Where do the first moving company customers come from?
Google + reviews, Yelp, U-Haul/Bellhop-style marketplaces, and realtor/apartment referrals.
Official sources
- Connecticut — form your LLC or corporation
- Connecticut — business tax registration
- Connecticut — professional & occupational licensing (check moving company)
- IRS — apply for an EIN (free)
Fees and filing details on this page were verified against the official state sources in September 2026. Rules change — confirm on the official site before you file. This is educational information, not legal or tax advice.
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