If you are looking for commercial moving companies in Chicago that know what is involved in relocating a running business, A Plus Chicago Movers has commercial and office moving services for businesses all over the city. A Plus Chicago Movers handles situations that range from moving a single office to doing larger moves involving multiple locations. We are office movers in Chicago, and we treat all commercial moves with the same meticulous care we do our desks, chairs, workstations and filing cabinets. Whether you’re a small business relocating or a larger company organising a full office move, our Chicago-based team can assist you in planning, loading and transporting your business with minimal disruption to your day-to-day operations.
Commercial & Office Moving Services in Chicago
Commercial moving is the relocation of any type of business, whether it is an office, retail store, medical practice, non-profit organization or any other type of commercial space from one location to another. Office moving is one of the most popular types of commercial move. It involves moving the workplace environment including desks, workstations, files and all usual office equipment to a new location. The truth is that most businesses in Chicago who call a commercial moving company are just planning an office move. It may be the main office, a satellite office or a single department moving to a new floor or building. Commercial Movers or Office Movers, we are known by both names. The goal is to move your business with the least amount of disruption to your business.
Office and commercial moving differ from residential moving in a few practical ways. When you move a business, it has to follow a schedule based on the lease date or business hours, it has to use shared equipment and files instead of personal items and it often has to consider building rules such as loading dock hours or elevator reservations. If, however, your desired move is to or from a house and not a business, our residential and local move team will handle those types of relocations.
What Can a Commercial & Office Move Include?
A typical commercial or office move may include:
Offered by our team:
- Planning and scheduling of moves
- Loading furniture, kit and boxed goods
- Transports to the new location
- Furniture placement and unloading according to your layout
- Packing services upon request
- Temporary storage, if required between venues
What to consider planning for on your end:
- Saving and securing digital files and sensitive documents
- Telling your internet, phone and utility providers about the move
- Confirm building access, lift reservations or loading dock hours at either location
- Acting as the internal point of contact to coordinate with our team on moving day
- Determine what is being moved vs discarded or donated (our junk removal services can assist in clearing out items you’re not taking with you)
The level of service will depend on the size of your business and the number of locations involved – we’ll discuss the details before your move day.
Our Commercial & Office Moving Process
Step 1 – Discuss Your Move
Please tell us the details of your move. Please give addresses, approximate date of move, size of your office or commercial space, and any unusual requirements regarding what needs to be moved, such as specialised equipment or multiple locations.
Step 2 — Plan Your Move
We’ll handle the logistics for you, from scheduling and access to the buildings at both sites to availability of the lift or loading dock, and how the move should be sequenced to avoid unnecessary downtime.
Step 3 — Prepare and Load
We remove all furniture, equipment and boxed items from your existing home. And if you’ve requested packing assistance, we do that as part of this step.
Step 4 – Transportation
We will accompany you on your office or commercial move to the new address. We will coordinate timing to ensure your team knows what to expect.
Step 5 — Unloading & Sorting
Once we arrive at the new location, we will unload the furniture and arrange it according to your instructions so that your team can return to work in a space that has been designed exactly to your specifications.
Planning an Office Move in Chicago?
There are some Chicago-specific conditions that do not apply to all areas. Downtown offices and crowded commercial streets tend to have narrower scheduling windows. It is useful to consider:
- Building access – You may have to give notice in advance, give insurance certificates or be on a schedule for a move-in period to gain access to the building.
- Elevators and loading areas – Many of the buildings in the downtown area require reservations for elevators or limit moves to the freight elevators and set hours for the loading docks.
- Parking and street access – On busy streets, it isn’t always possible to park and have access onto the street from outside and this can impact on the way the move is arranged.
- Scheduling around business hours – When planning the moves, it is important to carry them out after business hours or on weekends so as not to disturb the staff and the neighbouring tenants.
- Coordinating employees – Organising the employees such as deciding who will pack the personal items and who will be on-site on moving day helps the process run more smoothly.
We serve Chicago and the surrounding areas including Evanston, Oak Park, Schaumburg, Naperville and more. If there are any requirements about your building we should be aware of, such as insurance certificates or a move-in window, please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.
How to Prepare for a Commercial or Office Move
A little bit of preparation beforehand can go a long way when moving offices. Now before your move date:
- Confirm your move date and share it with your team
- Check requirements of your old and new building (access, insurance certificates, lift reservations)
- Organise office items — decide what is moving, staying or being thrown away
- Label boxes and furniture by department, floor or room of destination.
- Plan furniture placement at new location in advance
- Back up and secure important documents and files
- Assign a team member to coordinate with movers on the day of the move
- Confirm access to arrival site, parking and loading facilities
- Inform your customers, suppliers and service providers of your new address and any downtime
- Add additional time for setup after the move before returning to full operations
Taking a look at this list a few weeks in advance will help avoid the last-minute rush and keep your business move on schedule.
How Much Do Commercial & Office Movers Cost in Chicago?
The costs of commercial and office moves are not the same, since no two business moves are alike. The various factors which typically affect the cost of a move are:
- The overall size of the move (number of rooms, desks or workstations)
- The nature and quantity of furniture and equipment involved
- Whether the move is to one or many places
- The distance from your current to your new address
- How much time and labour the move will require
- Whether you require moving services in addition to packing
- Construction features such as stairs, lifts and loading access
- Scheduling requirements (e.g., after-hours or weekend moves)
- Any special handling requirements for particular items
These factors vary so much that we do not quote a flat rate for either commercial or office moves – a rough estimate would not reflect what your move actually involves. The best way to get proper pricing is to get a quote according to your particular business, premises and schedule.
Commercial & Office Moving in Chicago — Who Is This Service For?
Our services work for Chicago businesses in situations such as:
- Moving into a larger office to make room for growth
- Reducing the size of your home
- Moving to a different block or neighbourhood in Chicago
- Opening a new commercial site for the first time
- Combining two or more offices into one
- Relocation of retail, medical or professional practice space
This is a service for you if you are moving a business and not just a house. A business that is already functioning. If you are unsure of the category you should select, please call +1 (773) 221-8151 and we will help you determine the right choice.
How Professional Office Movers Can Help
If you undertake the move of your office on your own, with packing and carrying done by your staff, your team will be taken away from their normal duties for several days. But, hiring professional office movers can put an end to this in a number of ways that are practical.
- Less staff involvement. This will reduce the need for staff involvement and will enable your team to focus on their client work and not the furniture.
- Organized handling. The handling is designed in such a way that the items are loaded and placed in a planned way rather than one item at a time.
- Better coordination. Coordination would be better with just one point of contact rather than several staff members handling the logistics on moving day.
- Fewer surprises. There are no surprises, as there is a clear procedure for loading and placement, which minimises the likelihood of items being lost or damaged during transportation.
It is hard to state how many hours will be saved as every move is different but, as a general rule, an organised and professional way to move a business is a more predictable way to approach the move than doing it on an ad hoc basis.
FAQ
What do commercial movers in Chicago do?
They help businesses move their offices, equipment, and furniture from one location to another. They pack, load, transport, unload, and set up items. They often work outside regular business hours to avoid disrupting work. Some also offer storage and packing supplies.
Commercial moving companies move businesses—such as offices, retail spaces, and other commercial establishments—from one address to another. This process generally involves loading the furniture and equipment, transporting it to the new address, and then unloading and positioning the items in accordance with the business’s layout.
How far in advance should I book office movers?
It would be advisable to book office movers at least several weeks before your intended date, particularly if the move has to take place after hours, on a weekend, or during times when building access is restricted. Booking early will give you greater flexibility when arranging the logistics with your building management.
Can commercial movers move office furniture?
It is indeed a fundamental aspect of commercial and office moving services to transport desks, chairs, filing cabinets, conference tables, and other office furniture. Make sure to let your moving company know in advance about any particularly large or odd-sized items so that they will be able to plan an appropriate method.
What factors affect the cost of an office relocation?
The amount spent on moving the office depends on the scale of the move, the distance between the two locations, the building’s access features such as stairwells and elevators, whether packing is necessary, and the scheduling needs for example moves that take place after normal hours. The best way to get an idea of the prices is to obtain a custom quote.
How much do commercial movers in Chicago cost?
The amount you’ll pay for a commercial move will vary according to the size of the move, the distance between the two locations, the labor involved, the packing requirements, and the ease with which both buildings can be accessed. Since each business move is unique there is no fixed fee. The best way to obtain a price is to get a quote and provide details about your space, your timeline, and the items you’re moving.
What types of businesses can use commercial moving services?
Such services are suitable for almost any organisation that is moving its physical premises — this includes small businesses, corporate offices, retail stores, medical facilities, schools, and government or institutional offices. A Plus Chicago Movers has carried out moves ranging from small offices to public agencies and healthcare facilities all over the Chicago area.
What should I do before a business move?
Before you move, make sure that your moving date has been confirmed, check the building access requirements at both the old and new locations, decide whether your team or the movers are going to pack the items, label the items either by department or by where they are going, back up any sensitive files, and inform your clients and vendors of your new address since having a clear plan in advance will make moving day go more smoothly.
How can I minimize business disruption during a relocation?
Choosing to carry out the move during the evenings, on weekends, or during slower periods of business helps to reduce disruption, and likewise planning which parts of the move should take place first so that the most important departments can get back running as quickly as possible. One of the main reasons for keeping downtime to a minimum is to select movers who plan their operations around your working hours rather than having your hours adapted to theirs.
