When the Wheels Stop Turning: What I Learned From Losing Two Moving Companies

Running a business in the moving industry isn’t easy, margins are thin, expectations are high, and when things go wrong, they go wrong fast.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of building companies I truly believed in. But I’ve also lost two of them, each time, it felt like part of my identity went with it.

This is not a post about regret, it’s a post about resilience, reality, and the lessons no one talks about, especially in the moving industry.

2012: When the Numbers Lied

The first collapse came in 2012. We were mis-sold a base rate swap product by the bank, one of those seemingly “safe” financial tools that quickly turned toxic when interest rates dropped.

It became a slow death spiral, the cost of the product ballooned while revenues stayed flat. We tried to absorb it, cut elsewhere, fight our way through, eventually, there wasn’t a way out.

2022: When the Support Disappeared

The second time was even harder, we had built something promising, we survived COVID, but just as we were preparing to scale, our investor pulled out.

The hardest part wasn’t the operational fallout, it was the relationships, years of trust with partners, suppliers, and our network disappeared overnight, friendships were damaged, reputation dented.

The Industry Doesn’t Talk About Failure, But It Should

Failure in the moving industry is still treated like a sin.

It’s not talked about, it’s seen as weakness, but the truth is: failure happens.

And I believe that over the next five years, we’re going to see more of it. Owners are exhausted, margins are tighter, global instability and shifting supply chains will create even more pressure.

If you’re not doing fine, it can feel like you’re the only one, you’re not.

The Human Cost of a Business Failure

When a moving company fails, it doesn’t just hurt financially, it affects everything, home life, mental health, your confidence, your relationships.

People don’t always understand what it takes to keep going under pressure. The decisions you make, the sacrifices, the emotional weight, and when it falls apart, all people see is the failure, not the fight.

But I’m Still Here

I’m not sharing this for sympathy.

I’m sharing it for someone who needs to hear it, someone in the same situation, despite everything, I’m still here, and I’m still committed to an industry I've grown up in.

My Advice to Any Owner Facing a Tough Time

If you’re running a moving or logistics company and facing pressure, here’s what I’ve learned:

• Talk to people early – Don’t suffer in silence.

• Cut fast, pivot faster – Waiting kills companies.

• Protect your cash – Cash is oxygen.

• Let people judge – It doesn’t define you.

• Stay ethical – Reputation lives beyond the company.

• Don’t let ego trap you – Letting go is sometimes the bravest choice.

A Word on Reciprocity in the Industry

Let me say something I’ve never understood.

When one of my companies was struggling, we owed money to overseas agents. But many of those agents could have sent us work, jobs we could have handled to help clear the debt through contra.

They didn’t.

Were they worried we’d fail to deliver? Maybe. But I also think the old guard in this business has been built around taking, not giving. We talk about partnerships, but in practice, reciprocity often disappears when risk enters the equation.

Why is it like this?

Where’s the mutual support we preach at conferences?

If we want the next generation to see this industry as collaborative, we need to model that behaviour, especially when times are hard.

The Road Ahead: Consolidation and Change

This industry is shifting, more consolidations, more exits, more transitions, some will be graceful, some won’t.

There’s no shame in stepping back or starting over. The real mistake is pretending everything’s okay when it’s not, and missing your opportunity to change direction.

Final Thought

I’ve packed boxes, loaded containers, led teams, raised investment, built tech, and lost companies.

Failure doesn’t define you.
What you do next, that’s what matters.

If you’re in a tough place and want to talk , no pitch, no judgement, just a confidential chat, I’m here.

You’re not alone.