The short answer
- A removals or man and van website has one job: get the quote request. Most people looking for a mover are on a phone, often in the evening, and many will not ring.
- It needs what you do and which towns you cover in the first screen, tap to call and WhatsApp, and a quote form that asks for pickup and drop off postcodes, the date, the size of the job and photos.
- Every request should get an instant reply so the customer knows it landed and when they will hear back.
- Trust comes from real photos of your van and team, Google reviews, and saying plainly that you carry goods in transit and public liability cover.
- You can skip the slideshow, the stock photos and a blog you will never update. A small, fast site that does these things beats a big one that does not.
Picture someone planning a house move. It is half nine at night, the kids are in bed, and they are scrolling through removals firms on their phone. They are not going to ring anyone at that hour. They want to send the details now and have a price in the morning. The firm whose website lets them do that gets the enquiry. The firm whose website only says "call for a quote" gets a maybe, and by tomorrow a maybe has usually become someone else.
We build websites for couriers, removals firms and man and van operators around Luton and Bedfordshire, and we see the same gaps again and again. None of them need a big budget to fix. Here is what the site actually needs, in order of how much it matters.
The eight things it needs
1. What you do and where, in the first screen
Within five seconds on a phone, a visitor should know that you do house moves, office moves, single items or same day courier work, and which towns you cover. "Removals and man and van across Luton, Dunstable and Bedfordshire" does more than any slogan. If you cover a wider area for long distance moves, say that too.
2. Tap to call and WhatsApp
Your number should be a button that dials when it is tapped, not text people have to copy. Add a WhatsApp button as well. Plenty of customers would rather send a quick message and a few photos than talk, and WhatsApp is where a lot of man and van work is already arranged.
3. A quote form that asks the right questions
This is the part most sites get wrong. A box that says "your message" leaves you ringing back to ask the same questions every time. A good form collects what you need to price the job in one go, and it should take under two minutes to fill in on a phone.
| Question | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Pickup and drop off postcode | Distance, travel time and parking |
| Date, and whether it is flexible | Whether you are free, and room to offer a cheaper day |
| Size of the job | Single item, one room, a flat or a whole house sets the van and crew |
| Floors, lifts and stairs at each end | The difference between a two hour job and a four hour one |
| Anything heavy or awkward | Pianos, American fridges and wardrobes that do not come apart |
| Photos | Saves a site visit for most small jobs |
| Packing or storage needed | Extra work you can price in |
| Name, phone and email | So you can send the quote however suits them |
4. An instant reply
When someone sends a quote request at night, they should get an email or message straight away that says it arrived and roughly when you will reply. It costs nothing once it is set up, and it stops them filling in three more forms while they wait. If you cannot reply the same day, a reminder that nudges you after a few hours is worth having too.
5. Real photos
Your van with your name on it, your team in uniform, a living room wrapped and ready to go. Customers are letting strangers handle everything they own, and stock photos of smiling models carrying an empty box tell them nothing. A phone camera in good daylight is fine.
6. Proof you can be trusted
Show your Google reviews, or link to them. Say plainly that you carry goods in transit cover and public liability insurance, and how much, if you are happy to. Add how long you have been trading and, if it applies, any trade body membership. These are the questions people worry about and rarely ask.
7. A rough price guide
You do not have to publish a full price list. But "man and van from £X an hour" or "one bedroom flat moves usually £X to £Y" filters out people who were never going to book and makes the rest more likely to ask. Being upfront about price is still unusual in this trade, which makes it a quiet advantage.
8. Fast on a phone
Google uses the mobile version of your site to decide where you rank, and customers will not wait for a heavy page over a patchy signal. Check yours on your own phone, on 4G, not on the office wifi.
Connect it to your Google Business Profile
Most removals and man and van customers find you on Google Maps first. Your Google Business Profile and your website should back each other up: the same business name, phone number and service area on both, the profile linking to your quote page rather than just your homepage, and reviews you reply to. If your site is not showing on Google at all, start with our guide: why isn't my website showing on Google?
What you can skip
- A homepage slideshow. Nobody waits for slide three.
- Stock photos. They make you look like everyone else.
- A blog you will not keep up. An empty news page from 2022 looks worse than none.
- Long pages about your values. One honest paragraph about who you are is enough.
- Clever animations. On a phone with a weak signal they slow the page and get in the way of the form.
What a site like this costs
A small removals or man and van site with a proper quote form does not need to be expensive. Our own prices are published: £450 up front, then £45 a month on Starter, or £67 a month on Growth, which adds the quote and booking forms, instant replies and enquiry follow up. The site is yours from day one. See pay monthly websites for the details, or read how much a website costs in the UK to compare every option, including doing it yourself.
Want a second opinion first? Send us your website and we will tell you which of the eight things above it is missing, free.
Frequently asked questions
Does a man and van business need a website?
Not to exist, but it helps to grow. A Google Business Profile gets you onto Google Maps, while a website gives customers a place to send a full quote request with photos at any time of day. Most firms that rely on new customers do best with both, linked together.
What should a removals quote form ask for?
Pickup and drop off postcodes, the date and whether it is flexible, the size of the job, floors and stairs at each end, any heavy or awkward items, photos, whether packing or storage is needed, and contact details.
Should a removals company put prices on its website?
A rough guide is usually enough, such as an hourly rate for man and van work or a typical range for a one bedroom flat. It filters out people who will not book and makes the rest more likely to ask for a quote.
How much does a website for a removals company cost?
It ranges from free DIY builders to several thousand pounds from an agency. Quantara Digital charges £450 up front, then £45 or £67 a month, and the site belongs to the business from day one.