Starting a Moving Company from Facebook Marketplace (Josh Moulson)

Josh Moulson's journey into the moving industry began when he faced a $14,000 quote to move from Auckland to Christchurch. Rather than accept it, he bought a truck for $14,500 and moved himself. This sparked the creation of Affordable Moving Solutions, now operating with 11 staff and five trucks after just three years.

The business sits in a sweet spot between high-end corporate movers and budget operators, typically charging around $1,000-1,500 for a standard local move. They've expanded services to include box rental, cleaning partnerships, and storage solutions. Josh emphasises quality service over racing to the bottom on price, evidenced by their position as Christchurch's highest-rated moving company on Google.

Their growth strategy includes potential commercial partnerships and an owner-driver model. Josh focuses on staff development, creating a career pathway from restricted licence holders to Class 4 truck drivers. Despite not being a traditional career choice, he's built a culture that supports personal growth while delivering professional service.

Looking ahead, Josh plans to expand into commercial real estate and storage facilities. He's also launching 'The Bropreneur', a platform aimed at building a community for knowledge sharing and business growth, drawing from his experience transitioning from offshore work to successful business ownership.