The ONS counted 3,234 removal businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in 2024, with turnover of £1.4bn. Storage is counted under warehousing and storage, which is dominated by large logistics warehouses, so it is a rougher guide for a small self-storage or container-storage business.
| 2024 | Removal services | Warehousing and storage |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses (VAT or PAYE registered) | 3,234 | 4,477 |
| Total turnover | £1.4bn | £36.0bn |
| Average turnover per business | £442,000 | £8,038,000 |
| Staff costs, % of turnover | 36.9% | 33.0% |
| Bought-in goods and services, % of turnover | 28.0% | 57.1% |
| Left after staff and bought-in costs, % of turnover | 35.2% | 9.8% |
Source: ONS Annual Business Survey, 2024 results (published 26 May 2026). It covers businesses registered for VAT or PAYE, so the smallest sole traders are not included. Averages are pulled up by the largest firms. For sole traders and partnerships, the owners’ own pay is not in staff costs: it comes out of what is left.
Removals is labour-heavy: crews, packing and driving. Staff costs took 36.9% of turnover, while bought-in costs were lower than in most transport trades.
Removal services: turnover rose 29% between 2019 and 2024, against a 24% rise in consumer prices, so it grew in real terms. The number of businesses rose 32%. Staff costs went from 31.7% to 36.9% of turnover, and what was left after staff and bought-in costs went from 21.2% to 35.2%.
Warehousing and storage: turnover rose 56% between 2019 and 2024, against a 24% rise in consumer prices, so it grew in real terms. The number of businesses fell 23%. Staff costs went from 23.8% to 33.0% of turnover, and what was left after staff and bought-in costs went from 15.1% to 9.8%.
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