From Rental Trucks to Denver’s Best Moving Company: The Grit, The Tech, and The Future of Moving
Shout-out to my team. We’re not perfect, but we are the best! https://www.headband.biz
If you’re reading this and you’re in the moving game—or even thinking about getting in the game—you already know what time it is. Moving isn't just a business; it’s an absolute grind. It’s physical. It’s mental. It’s a relentless test of will.
I started where a lot of guys start: renting U-Hauls, sweating my ass off, breaking my back, and eventually buying a small cargo van. Today, I own and operate a prominent moving company here in the Mile High City - Denver, Colorado. And let me tell you, that growth? It wasn't some smooth, linear line on a chart pointing up. It looked more like a heart monitor after snorting a can of Red Bull.
This blog post isn’t about some magical formula for success. It’s about the raw ingredients I know for a fact you need to make it: hustle, grit, and the resilience to never, ever give up. It's also about a massive new tool that I wish I had from Day One—AI—and how it's changing the game for the everyday entrepreneur.
The Truth About the Up-and-Down
Here’s the thing they don’t tell you in business school: Being a business owner, especially in moving, is a roller coaster. There are seasons where you’re so packed you’re turning away work, and other seasons where you’re staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring.
The difference between the companies that last and the ones that fold within two years is resilience and money management. There have been times when I have completely exhausted my bank accounts to fuel growth. Growth, in this business, is a cash-sucking monster. The more jobs you get, the more trucks, crew, and insurance you need. It hurts.
I’ve faced financial hardships that would make most people quit. I’ve looked at my accounts and wondered, "What am I doing?" But I was resilient. I never gave up because I knew two things: First, I know how to execute and move at a high level. Second, I genuinely care about my clients.
That’s the core of it. If you’re transparent, you care about people's belongings, and you work your ass off, the work will always be there. But you have to have the stomach to weather the financial storm to get to that level of trust and reputation.
The AI Advantage: Leveling the Playing Field
Now, let’s talk about something that gets me incredibly excited for you, the next-gen moving entrepreneur. This is the biggest thing I wish I had for this and all the other businesses I’ve started over the years. This is a game-changer.
We are living in the era of AI tools. For a hustler, this is the ultimate force-multiplier.
Think about this: If you’re a 1-to-2 truck operation, you’re often playing every role. You're the mover, the dispatcher, the salesman, the accountant, and the customer service rep. It’s exhausting. And let’s be honest, those expensive CRMs and third-party software’s can eat your already razor-thin margins - this is coming from someone who has spent $25,000+ on CRM’s and software in the last 4 years.
AI changes that. Right now, as you're starting, you can engage with free or low-cost AI tools to:
Instantly Create Content: Write killer blog posts, social media updates, and even response templates for client emails.
Draft Legal Docs: AI can help you draft independent contractor agreements, client liability waivers, and other standard forms (of course, always have a lawyer eye it later, but AI gets you 90% there for near-zero cost).
Optimize Routes: AI can analyze routes better and faster than you can on Google Maps, saving you fuel and crew time.
Handle Basic Customer Service: Setup an AI chatbot on your site to answer FAQs around the clock - if you need help creating a chat bot please let me know ;)
This tech is going to allow the average hustler to run a profitable, streamlined operation without the bloated overhead of yesteryear. Don’t ignore it. Make it part of your process from Day One.
Respecting the Rush: The "Summer Hustle" and Beyond
In Denver, and most of the country, moving has one big rule: You have to make your money in the summer. The spring and summer rush is where your profitability is defined for the entire year.
During the busy season, you can have all the work you can handle. And let me give you some hard-earned advice: You should try to make every single dollar you can during this season. Work late. Book those last minute jobs. Buy that second truck if you can staff it (or rent a second truck). Get aggressive. Do not leave money on the table.
But here is the critical next step: You have to manage that money. This is coming from someone who grew up very poor, who chased instant gratification in the past, and who hasn't always managed money well. I had to learn this lesson the hard way.
Just because your bank account is full in July does not mean you are rich. August will end. September will slow down. And winter will come.
The Final Advice on Finances
I’m not a financial advisor. I’m a mover who’s made mistakes. But if your goal is to build something that takes care of your family for years, or if your ultimate goal is to one day sell your operation for a life-changing amount, you have to get dialed in with your finances.
Take that summer rush money and save it. Hold on to it. Plan for the lean months. Your job isn't done when you drop off the furniture; your job is done when you’ve properly budgeted, saved, and set your business up to survive and thrive all year.
Moving is simple, but it is not easy. It’s about being resilient through the financial pain, using every smart tool (like AI) to your advantage, and being dead-serious about managing the money you work so hard to make.
So, keep hustling. Keep moving. Use the grit. Use the tech. And build something incredible.
and remember…
WORK HARD, WORK SMART, AND DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL SHIT!
DJ WAGNER
