Bellhop: Heavy Lifting for Low Pay

What is Bellhop?

Bellhop is a moving marketplace that connects consumers with both drivers and physical laborers.

How it works

If you want to sign up to be a mover (i.e. not a driver, but someone willing to pick up and move furniture), you click on the “become a mover” link on their site and fill out an application. This explains the requirements, which include being 18 or older and able to lift 100 lbs; having a smart phone; downloading the app; and being able to pass a background check and online interview.

Assuming you qualify, you’ll then be able to plug in your availability and take jobs. Jobs pay between $15 and $20 an hour, plus tips.

If you want to be a driver, you need a box truck, have $1 million in liability insurance and $50,000 in cargo insurance, be registered with the Department of Transportation and be able to pass a background check. The site failed to return several phone calls inquiring about how drivers are paid. However, Indeed estimates that you earn $25 an hour. The site does not pay expenses, though. So, whatever you’re paying to put gas in your box truck is on you. Our guess is that you’ll earn about the same as movers, which is not much.

However, your job is simply to drive. A mover will meet you at both the pick-up location and the delivery location. You do not handle the cargo.

Bellhop review

Bellhop provides a moving marketplace where people who need to move submit jobs that are picked up by contracted drivers and movers.

But the site is cagey about how everyone is paid, however. The site says you can earn up to $21 per hour as a mover. But this estimate includes tips, which are not guaranteed. It does not say what your earnings expectations are as a driver. Job site Indeed estimates drivers earn $25 per hour, before expenses.

Demanding work

Given that you need to get to and from the moving job, without pay; and that the job requires heavy lifting — literally — this isn’t great pay. You’ll be carrying people’s furniture, refrigerators and other heavy items, to and from driver trucks into apartment buildings and homes. That’s pretty sorry wages for a physically demanding job. And what we see from worker reviews only emphasizes that point.

Workers on Indeed have said they earn anywhere from $17 (movers) to $25 (drivers) per hour. And many complain about the pay and disorganization that causes jobs to take too long and discourages tips.

Moving can be a very lucrative side hustle. Just not here.

Pay

Bellhop pays once weekly by direct deposit.

Recommendations

The best-paid moving jobs require a truck or van, but even moving assistant jobs pay better with Dolly and TaskRabbit. You can deliver packages for Amazon Flex and earn about the same, or more, than you do here. And there you’re only required to lift about 45 pounds.

If you happen to have a truck, there are far better-paying moving jobs with GoShare. But, of course, these require that you shoulder vehicle expenses, such as gas, insurance and repairs.

What their movers say: (from Glassdoor)

You get paid $13-15 per hour as a college student for moving. Perfect summer gig for those who don’t mind working hard. Hours slow down a lot after summer is over. Sometimes management doesn’t coordinate schedules very well (they might give you two jobs in one day with very little time allowance in between) or they completely misjudge how long a job will take.

Some jobs are far from your location and quick, will eat up gas, making it not worth the drive.

(from Indeed)

When I first started at Bellhop I felt that I was being heard by management and was being fairly compensated for labor and travel. But after over a year with the company, their policies changed and I no longer felt that way. Though myself and others were ‘heard’ by management, no meaningful change occurred over several months and I had to quit.

Long jobs that ran way over the estimated time, inexperienced coworkers who tanked our chances for tips, and “bad” moves with poor compensation from Bellhop ultimately led to my decision.

Low pay

The main problem while I was there was that you regularly end up on jobs with people either who did not want to do the work or were unable to for whatever reason. I liked the physicality of the work, but when people drag their feet time would regularly go past the scheduled shift and that would mess with the rest of my day.

Don’t fall for the $21/hr(if people tip). It’s a lie. They don’t calculate taxes and when you add in self-employment tax, it pays less than you would get at a normal moving company. You’ve got to buy your own equipment. Management is basically not there. And if you have a move you can’t back out of it after 72 hours or they will penalize you for it. No job security either. In the winter and fall they shave the roster down. Customers also lie on the inventory report and bellhop doesn’t do anything to stop it. You’ll think you’re doing a quick move and then the customers add on more items when you get there.”

Curve balls

When working in the furniture moving business, expect curve balls. Many customers do not accurately list items. Low travel compensation and no health benefits.

Living in Arizona during the day when it’s 100+ degrees outside(115 during the summer). It really isn’t worth working for a moving company making less than $10 an hour after gas. I worked 2/12 hours in 112 degree weather and made $30 ,$5 went into gas. My friend nearly passed out twice, I don’t feel it’s worth the $30 we made while risking our own safety.

Updated 3/10/2025