Updated October 21, 2026
Where paying customers come from
Customers for movers and courier work are not mysterious. Across the whole country they usually appear through a mix of local personal networks and online search. Expect paying leads from neighbours, friends and family; colleagues at work who need an ad hoc lift; student houses and schools needing pickups; small shops and web sellers who need occasional transport; local housing corporations and caretakers; and people searching online on sites and marketplaces.
Word of mouth is strong - one job done professionally will often lead to local repeat business. Online search and local classifieds feed steady demand: people look for someone who can collect a sofa, move a student room, deliver a parcel that’s too big for regular couriers, or transport a small load between towns.
- Neighbours, friends and family
- Workplaces and colleges
- Student housing and schools
- Small shops and online sellers
- Online search and marketplace listings
- Word of mouth and repeat customers
How to set a first price and talk about money
Start simple. Estimate how long a typical job will take, include loading and travel, and add a per-kilometre or per-hour element so you cover fuel and wear. Check local listings and competitors to see common ranges and avoid starting far below market - underquoting causes stress and arguments. For very small jobs set a sensible minimum fee so short call-outs remain worthwhile.
When you talk about price, be clear about what is included - driving only, loading and unloading, number of helpers, stairs, waiting time, parking costs. If you expect extra work or time, tell the customer up front and give a clear extra rate. If you use a Websta profile you can list services and prices there and accept card payments through Stripe with payouts to your own bank account.
- Estimate total job time and travel
- Include a minimum fee for short jobs
- Be explicit about included tasks and extras
- Show prices and accept card payments on your Websta page
What the first ten customers usually look like
Your first ten customers are often people you already know or those who found a short, local listing. Typical early jobs include single-item pickups from stores, IKEA deliveries, student room moves, furniture drops for online sellers, and urgent one-off courier runs. These jobs are usually short, local and require basic handling rather than fleet logistics.
Expect a mix of informal single-item work and a few repeat customers who liked your reliability. Over time you may get larger private moves or small business contracts, but the early months are mostly small, frequent gigs that build your reputation.
- Single-item pickups and deliveries
- Student and small apartment moves
- Furniture for online sellers
- Short local courier runs
- Repeat customers from initial jobs
What to sort out when taking money as an independent person
There are practical and legal checks to do in the Netherlands. Registering with the Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) is required for most people running a business activity - check KvK whether your planned work needs registration and what business description to use. For taxes, contact Belastingdienst to ask how to declare income from self-employment, whether you must register for VAT (BTW), and how to handle invoices and records.
Other items to check with the relevant authorities or providers include vehicle registration and road tax with RDW and Belastingdienst if you use a van for business, and what business insurance you need - ask an insurer about business liability and personal injury cover. If you remain employed while doing side work, check your employment contract or HR for any moonlighting rules. If unsure about legal specifics, ask KvK or Belastingdienst directly - they can tell you when to register, how to file VAT returns, and what records to keep.
- Ask KvK whether you must register and what code to use
- Ask Belastingdienst about income tax, VAT and invoicing
- Check RDW and Belastingdienst for vehicle tax issues
- Ask insurers about business liability and injury cover
- Check your employment contract if you have an employer
What tends to go wrong in the first months
Common early problems are avoidable with simple preparation. People underprice jobs and find themselves working for less than costs; they accept no-penalty cancellations and lose income; they are short of lifting equipment and take longer than estimated; they underestimate travel time and arrive late; and they lack documented agreements so disputes about damage or time are harder to resolve.
Other issues include poor communication - unclear meeting points, no phone contact - and no insurance for damage or injury. Keep basic tools, charge for extras, confirm bookings in writing, and set clear cancellation terms. Track mileage and expenses from day one so you can price better and report for tax.
- Underquoting and hidden costs
- No equipment or poor handling increases time
- Late arrivals from bad planning
- Lack of written agreements and no insurance
- Poor record-keeping for tax and pricing
How a Websta profile fits this work
A Websta profile is a single page showing your services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. It gives you one URL to send to customers and a place where people nearby can find you by service and place. Websta also runs a marketplace where people can post tasks and providers can make offers. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe, and you set your own prices.
On Websta the platform data for transport appears under category: movers and couriers, country: the Netherlands, countryCode: NL, matrixPath: /marketplace/transport. Note that in another country - Estonia - part of the catalogue was built from the public business register; those pages show registered trade and town and carry a notice that the person can claim or remove the page. Use a Websta page as your public brochure - list clear services, realistic photos, and simple booking terms so customers know what to expect.
- One URL to share with customers
- List services, prices, photos, online booking
- Payments via Stripe paid out to your bank account
- Can receive marketplace task requests
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to register my moving or courier work with KvK?
- If you regularly offer services for payment you generally need to register with Kamer van Koophandel. Contact KvK and ask whether your planned activity requires registration and which business description applies.
- How should I handle VAT and income tax?
- Ask Belastingdienst whether you must register for VAT (BTW), how to charge it, and how to report income tax from self-employment. They will tell you filing frequencies and required records.
- Can I accept card payments on Websta?
- Websta supports card payments processed through Stripe and paid out to your own bank account. You set your own prices and receive payouts to the account you connect.
- What equipment should I buy first?
- Start with basic items: a hand truck, straps, blankets for protection and a trolley for heavy items. Buy more specialised kit as you get repeat jobs requiring it.
- How do I avoid cancellations and non-payments?
- Confirm bookings in writing, set clear cancellation terms, collect a partial payment or card details where possible, and use a platform page or written invoice to document agreements.
About the numbers
Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.
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- Moving and courier services in the Netherlands: your Websta profile
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