How to Finance A Mother’s Touch Movers Franchise: Trucks and SBA
By Chris Cornella
An A Mother’s Touch Movers franchise loan funds a business whose most important assets have wheels. Moving trucks, pads, dollies and straps do the work, trained crews carry the furniture, and an office books the jobs. Financing has to cover that equipment along with insurance, licensing and the payroll that keeps crews ready for busy weekends.
This article covers the costs to plan for, how SBA and conventional loans may fit, what the brand’s SBA directory note means and what lenders review. US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by A Mother’s Touch Movers; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures in any franchisor disclosure document can change, loan programs vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice.
A Mother’s Touch Movers Franchise Loan at a Glance
A Mother’s Touch Movers is a small moving franchise, and we could not access a public franchising page or disclosure document listing its fees. What we could confirm:
- Concept: residential and local moving services delivered by trained crews with company trucks
- Franchisor entity: A Mother’s Touch Movers Franchise, LLC
- Franchise fee, royalty and investment range: not published publicly; found in Items 5, 6 and 7 of the current Franchise Disclosure Document
- Net worth and liquidity requirements: not published publicly; ask the franchisor
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S3456, with notes on the lease addendum and lien position
- Main financed assets: box trucks, moving equipment, an office and possibly storage space, plus working capital for crews and insurance
Request the current disclosure document before you build a budget. Every lender will ask for it.
What Is A Mother’s Touch Movers?
A Mother’s Touch Movers is a moving brand built around careful, customer-focused service: the idea that a family’s belongings should be handled the way a parent would handle them. Franchise owners operate local moving businesses under the brand, using its name, systems and training.
Moving is labor- and equipment-heavy. Revenue comes from hourly or job-based charges, and the major costs are crew wages, truck payments, fuel, maintenance and insurance. Demand is seasonal, peaking in late spring and summer and around month-end when leases turn over.
How lenders see a moving franchise. Lenders like that moving is a recurring need tied to home sales and rentals, and that trucks hold collateral value. They focus on fleet condition, insurance and claims history, seasonality and the owner’s ability to hire and keep reliable crews.
A Mother’s Touch Movers Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee
Item 5 of the disclosure document states the fee, when it is due and whether any part is refundable. Lenders treat it as an intangible cost, typically funded with equity and an SBA 7(a) loan.
Trucks and moving equipment
Trucks are usually the largest line item. Budget for each truck, brand graphics, ramps or liftgates, moving pads, dollies, hand trucks, straps and shrink wrap, along with registration and any state mover licensing tied to the vehicles.
Office, yard and storage
Owners need space to park trucks, store equipment and run the office. Some moving businesses also offer short-term storage, which means warehouse space, racking and additional insurance. Deposits, early rent and any build-out belong in the budget.
Opening costs and working capital
Before the first job, expect costs for training, licensing, insurance deposits, scheduling software, phones, marketing and hiring. Working capital carries crew payroll, fuel and insurance until bookings build, and it bridges the slower winter months.
Total investment
The Item 7 table gives the estimated total and its line items. Expect categories such as:
- Initial franchise fee
- Trucks, graphics and moving equipment
- Office or yard lease deposits and rent
- Storage space and racking, if offered
- Computer, phone and scheduling systems
- Licenses, permits and insurance
- Training expenses and opening marketing
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
Check the estimate against local truck, insurance and rent quotes. Lenders trust a budget built on your market.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 lists recurring fees such as a royalty, a brand or marketing fund and any technology or call-center fees. Lenders deduct them, together with truck payments, fuel, maintenance, cargo and liability insurance and claims, before deciding how much debt the business can support. Projections that leave out fleet replacement or damage claims will be adjusted by the lender, and the supportable loan amount will fall.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
A Mother’s Touch Movers does not publish minimum net worth or liquidity figures on a public page we could access. Expect the franchisor to review your finances, background and management experience, and to require training before opening.
Moving companies also need operating authority. Depending on whether you move households within one state or across state lines, you may need state mover licensing and federal motor carrier registration, along with the insurance those registrations require. Confirm with the franchisor what applies in your market, because lenders often want registrations and insurance in place before funding.
Ways to Own A Mother’s Touch Movers
Opening a new territory. A start-up has no history, so lenders rely on your equity, experience and business plan. Our page on transportation business start-up financing explains how new operations are typically funded.
Buying an existing franchise. A resale brings trucks, crews, customer reviews and a booking history a lender can underwrite. The franchisor must approve the transfer, and you must confirm how operating authority, insurance and vehicle titles move to you. See our page on financing a transportation business acquisition.
Adding territories. Strong owners may be able to add territories where the franchisor allows, financed largely on the first location’s results.
Financing Options for A Mother’s Touch Movers
SBA 7(a) loans. The SBA 7(a) loan program can combine the franchise fee, trucks, equipment, opening costs and working capital in one loan. The 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, and program rules can change; a single moving franchise is typically well below that limit.
SBA 504 loans. The 504 program suits owner-occupied real estate and long-lived fixed assets. It may fit an owner who buys a warehouse or truck yard as the business grows.
Conventional term loans. Owners with strong credit and collateral may qualify for conventional business loans, particularly when expanding or refinancing.
Truck and equipment financing. Box trucks are often financed individually, with each truck as collateral, and liftgates, storage racking and computers can be included. Our page on truck and equipment financing and leasing explains the options. The primary lender counts these payments in total debt service.
Working capital and lines of credit. Moving is seasonal. A line of credit can carry payroll and insurance through winter and fund extra crews and rental trucks before the summer rush. See our page on working capital and lines of credit.
Seller financing on resales. A seller may carry part of the price on a resale. Seller notes are typically subordinate to the primary loan, and SBA rules and lenders may limit how they are structured.
SBA Loans for A Mother’s Touch Movers Franchisees
SBA-backed loans are made by participating lenders with an SBA guarantee on part of the loan. For a franchise, the lender confirms the borrower is independent of the franchisor, and the SBA Franchise Directory simplifies that review.
The directory listing. A Mother’s Touch Movers appears on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S3456. A listing does not approve any borrower or guarantee a loan.
What the directory notes mean. The listing carries a pair of notes. First, when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Addendum may not be executed. In plain English, the franchise system uses a lease addendum giving the franchisor certain rights over a location’s lease; if you own the property and pledge it as collateral, that addendum should not be signed for that property. Second, the lender or certified development company must obtain the correct lien position on all collateral as required under SOP 50 10. That means the lender must make sure its liens on trucks, equipment and other collateral rank where SBA rules require, so any franchisor or equipment-lender claims on those assets should be disclosed early.
SBA application tips. Prepare the franchise agreement, disclosure document, sources and uses, truck quotes or titles, a lease or letter of intent, tax returns, a personal financial statement and a résumé.
How Lenders Evaluate an A Mother’s Touch Movers Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Lenders review each significant owner’s credit and tax history, and owners usually sign personal guarantees.
Net worth and liquidity. Expect questions about your cash injection and the reserves left after closing, which matter in a seasonal business.
Management experience. Experience leading crews, dispatching, running a service business or working in moving or logistics strengthens a request.
Business plan and projections. Base projections on your market: household moves, apartment turnover, competitors, crew size per truck, average job length and seasonal patterns. Include royalties, insurance, fuel, maintenance and claims. Our article on the franchise business plan for an SBA loan shows how to build one.
The franchise agreement. Lenders review the term, renewal, transfer and termination provisions and want the franchise term to run at least as long as the loan.
Fleet, insurance and claims. Lenders look at truck age and condition, insurance coverage and, on resales, the claims history and historical financial statements.
The Fleet: Trucks, Maintenance and Replacement
A truck that breaks down on a Saturday cancels jobs at the busiest time of the week. Staggering truck purchases, keeping a maintenance reserve and matching loan terms to each truck’s useful life protect both revenue and cash flow. Our article on truck fleet replacement planning explains how to decide when to repair or replace.
Some owners rent trucks during peak season instead of buying more. That keeps debt lower but costs more per job, so lenders like to see the trade-off reflected in projections.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Growth may come from adding trucks and crews in one territory or from acquiring more territories where the franchisor permits. A second A Mother’s Touch Movers franchise loan is usually underwritten on the first location’s track record. Lenders also weigh remaining liquidity and whether a manager can run daily operations.
Real-World Scenarios
A first-time owner starting with one truck. A buyer with management experience finances the franchise fee, one truck, equipment and working capital with an SBA 7(a) loan and secures licensing and insurance before closing.
An owner adding trucks before summer. An existing franchisee finances additional trucks with equipment loans and uses a line of credit for seasonal crew wages.
A buyer acquiring an existing franchise. The lender underwrites the seller’s tax returns and claims history, confirms lien positions on the trucks and the seller carries a subordinate note.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Budgeting for trucks but not insurance, maintenance and damage claims
- Ignoring the winter slowdown when planning cash reserves
- Leaving operating authority and insurance until the last minute
- Pledging collateral without addressing the SBA directory notes on the lease addendum and lien position
- Buying too many trucks early instead of renting for peak demand
For more, read the franchise loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your A Mother’s Touch Movers Franchise
Step 1: Request the disclosure document. Review Items 5, 6, 7, 10 and 17 with a franchise attorney.
Step 2: Confirm licensing and insurance. Learn what operating authority and coverage your market requires.
Step 3: Build a local budget. Price trucks, equipment, space, insurance and payroll, then add a contingency.
Step 4: Talk with a financing specialist. Discuss which loan structures may fit. Our SBA loan calculator can help with early payment estimates, which are for planning only and are not an offer.
Step 5: Assemble your documents. Gather tax returns, a personal financial statement, a résumé, the franchise agreement, truck quotes and a lease or letter of intent.
Step 6: Coordinate approvals. Align franchisor approval, licensing and loan approval so they finish together.
A Mother’s Touch Movers Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does an A Mother’s Touch Movers franchise cost?
The estimated initial investment appears in Item 7 of the current disclosure document. It is not published on a public page we could access, so request the document before budgeting.
What is the franchise fee and royalty?
The initial fee is in Item 5 and recurring fees such as the royalty are in Item 6. Lenders deduct ongoing fees before calculating debt service.
How much liquid capital or net worth do I need?
The franchisor does not publish minimums publicly. Expect the franchisor and your lender to look for enough equity to fund part of the project plus reserves for slower months.
Is A Mother’s Touch Movers eligible for SBA loans?
The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S3456, which simplifies the lender’s review. Eligibility still depends on the borrower, the project and lender approval.
Can I finance moving trucks separately?
Often, yes. Trucks are commonly financed with equipment loans or leases, and the payments count toward your total debt service.
Can I buy an existing location?
Yes, if an owner is selling and the franchisor approves. Lenders can underwrite the business’s history, and you will need to transfer or reissue licenses and insurance.
Do I need moving industry experience?
Not always, but management, dispatch or logistics experience helps with both the franchisor and the lender.
Does the franchisor offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the disclosure document. Our article on franchisor financing vs. SBA and bank loans explains how to compare options.
How long is the franchise agreement?
The term, renewal and transfer rules are in Item 17 and the franchise agreement. Lenders want the term to run at least as long as the loan.
What documents do I need for an A Mother’s Touch Movers franchise loan?
Typically tax returns, a personal financial statement, a résumé, the franchise agreement and disclosure document, a business plan with projections, truck quotes and a lease or letter of intent.
Final Thoughts
An A Mother’s Touch Movers franchise loan works best when it is built around the fleet: realistic truck budgets, insurance and licensing in place, and enough working capital to ride out the off-season. Address the SBA directory notes early and lenders can focus on your plan.
US Professional Funding helps franchise buyers and owners finance start-ups, acquisitions, trucks and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing programs and our trucking and logistics financing.
