How to earn money as a mover and courier in Namur

Where customers for movers and couriers are in Namur

Most paying customers come from four sources: people moving house or apartment within the city or to and from other towns; offices and small businesses that need furniture shifted or items delivered; online searches when someone in Namur types 'mover near me' or 'courier today'; and word of mouth from friends or previous clients.

Namur has residential areas, a small commercial centre, and a number of office buildings. Customers are scattered throughout rather than concentrated in one neighbourhood, so you need a way for people across the whole city to find you - either through someone they know or through an online profile. A Websta profile with your services, prices, and online booking gives you that presence without having to build a website yourself.

Setting your first prices

Start by finding out what other movers and couriers in Namur charge. Look at Websta's marketplace for movers and couriers in your area, ask people you know in the trade what they ask for, and check classified ads or Facebook groups where people post jobs. In a city of Namur's size - not a major capital but a working regional city - prices are moderate, not bottom-line cheap and not premium.

For moving work, most pricing depends on the job size, distance, and how many people you need. For courier work, it is usually per delivery or per hour. Write down what you would charge for a typical small move (one room), a medium move (a flat), a house move, and a single-item courier delivery. Be honest about what that price needs to cover: your time, fuel, van hire if you do not own one, and the fact that some jobs will take longer than you thought. A common mistake is pricing too low to avoid losing a first customer - this usually leads to burnout or loss of money.

Update your prices after your first ten jobs based on what you learned about how long work actually takes and what customers will pay.

Your first ten customers usually look like this

Early customers are often people in a hurry - someone moving house in two weeks, a small business that needs furniture moved today, or an online seller shipping an item. They often find you through search, word of mouth, or a Websta listing. A few may be one-off jobs. Others might become repeat customers if you are reliable and clear about what you charge.

Most first customers will test you with a smaller job before trusting you with a large move. This is normal. What matters is showing up on time, doing the work well, and being clear about the price upfront. People remember reliability and fair dealing - both lead to word of mouth recommendations.

In the first months, you may also have quiet weeks with few jobs. This is why movers and couriers usually do this work alongside another job or build it up gradually. Do not expect steady income from day one.

Setting up as self-employed in Belgium

Before you take payment for moving or courier work, you need to be registered as self-employed or as a sole trader with the relevant Belgian authorities. This is a legal requirement, not optional. You will need to register with the social security office for the self-employed (RSI - Régime Social des Indépendants) and with the tax office. Registration takes a few weeks.

Once registered, you must keep records of all money you earn and spend on the work - van hire, fuel, equipment, insurance. Every euro counts for your tax return. You will pay social contributions and income tax, calculated on your actual earnings.

Insurance is also essential: public liability insurance covers you if you damage a customer's property; goods in transit insurance covers items you are moving; and vehicle insurance for any van you use. Do not skip this.

For specific questions about your situation - for example, whether you need a business licence for courier work in your province, or how to register - contact the Belgian Federal Public Service for Economy (SPF Economie) or the RSI office in your region. Rules can differ slightly by province.

Common problems in the first months

Underpricing is the most common problem. You accept a job that seems straightforward, then it takes three hours instead of one, or the building has no lift and stairs are narrow. You have already quoted a low price, so you lose money. After this happens a few times, you learn to ask questions upfront and price conservatively.

Another early mistake is not having a clear system for booking and payment. You may agree on a job over the phone, the customer is not sure of the date, or you are unsure whether they have paid. A Websta profile with online booking and Stripe payment handles this for you - the customer confirms the date and time themselves, and payment is processed before the job, so there is no confusion.

Some customers will cancel or reschedule at the last minute. This is frustrating when you have blocked time for them. Set a clear cancellation policy and stick to it - for example, 'cancellations within 24 hours are charged at 50 per cent'.

Equipment breaks or wears out faster than expected. A dolly wheel fails mid-move, or your van needs repairs. Budget for maintenance and replacements from the start.

How a Websta profile helps you earn

A Websta profile is a page that shows your services, prices, photos of your work, and an online booking calendar. It is not a full website to build yourself - Websta does that for you. People in Namur who search for movers and couriers can find you, see what you charge, check your availability, and book directly. No back-and-forth messaging or phone calls to confirm details.

When a customer books through your Websta profile, they pay by card. The payment goes through Stripe and is paid out to your own bank account - the money is yours, not held by Websta. You set all the prices yourself.

A profile also gives you a link to share with anyone who asks about your work - friends, previous customers recommending you, or people who find you on social media. Instead of saying 'call me', you can send a link to your profile with all the information they need.

For a city like Namur where customers are scattered and many look online for services, being visible and easy to book is how you win jobs.

Building a realistic income from movers and courier work

Earning money in this trade requires the work itself - showing up, packing, driving, unloading - plus the work of finding customers. The first few months will be slower than later months if you do this well and build word of mouth. Do not expect a full income immediately unless you already have customers lined up.

If you do this alongside a job, aim for two to four jobs per week to start. If this is your main income, you need more, but that means more effort marketing yourself and following up on bookings.

The money comes from customers paying for the service. You keep what you charge after you pay your costs - insurance, fuel, equipment, taxes, social contributions. There is no salary, no guarantee, no bonus. What you earn depends on how many jobs you do and how much you charge.