📦 How to Start a Labor-Only Moving Company in Tennessee (Quick Guide)

Tennessee is one of the fastest-growing states in the South, with booming cities like Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. If you want to launch a labor-only moving company—where you provide manpower but not the truck—here’s what you need to know to get started quickly and legally.

✅ Step 1: Register Your Business

• Form an LLC with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Filing fee: $50 per member, with a $300 minimum.

• Annual Report: Due every year; starts at $300 depending on member count.

• Get an EIN from the IRS (free) for banking, payroll, and tax filing.

• Local Business License:

  • Under $3,000 receipts: none needed.

  • $3,000–$100,000: Minimal Activity License ($15, renew annually).

  • $100,000+: Standard License + Business Tax filing with TN Dept. of Revenue.

✅ Step 2: Know the Rules for Labor-Only

• No intrastate authority required if you do not transport goods. (Authority applies only to motor carriers providing a truck/driver.)

• Be clear: you are labor-only—loading, unloading, in-home moves.

• If you ever add a truck, you’ll need Intrastate Authority and to file insurance (Forms E & H) with the state.

✅ Step 3: Protect Your Business with Insurance

• General Liability Insurance: Protects against property damage or injuries on-site.

• Workers’ Compensation: Required if you have 5+ employees (non-construction). Highly recommended sooner.

• Unemployment Insurance: Register with TN Dept. of Labor if you hire employees.

✅ Step 4: Contracts & Paperwork

• Always provide a written service agreement before work begins.

• Include: your company info, scope (“labor-only, no truck”), rate, estimated hours, and customer responsibilities.

• Have customers acknowledge in writing that no transportation is included.

✅ Step 5: Marketing That Works in Tennessee

• List services on U-Haul Moving Help, HireAHelper, TaskRabbit for immediate leads.

• Create a Google Business Profile to capture local searches like “moving help in Nashville.”

• Partner with apartment managers, storage facilities, and realtors—they’re often asked for mover referrals.

• In ads, always say: “Labor-Only – No Truck Provided.”

📈 Why Tennessee Is Great for Labor-Only Movers

• Net migration is booming—over 79,000 new residents added in 2024.

• Nashville and surrounding counties are among the fastest-growing in the country.

• Many residents use DIY rental trucks and just need professional loading/unloading help.