Buying a Business and Building a Team: How Brian Tustin Is Raising the Standard in the Moving Industry
March 26, 2026 •
Michael sits down with Brian Tustin, owner of First Rate Movers, to discuss his path from the hospitality industry to purchasing and growing a moving company. Brian shares how his experience managing restaurants, retail spaces, and co-working environments prepared him for entrepreneurship, even though he ultimately stepped into a completely different industry.
Brian explains how he discovered the opportunity to buy a business through BizBuySell, the lessons he learned during the first year of ownership, and how focusing on people and culture helped him build trust with his team. The conversation also explores hiring the right employees, building systems that allow a company to grow, and why reputation and transparency are critical in an industry where trust matters. Brian also reflects on the importance of vulnerability in leadership and how being open about challenges can strengthen relationships within a team and community.
Tune into this episode to also learn:
● Why buying an existing business can be a powerful entry point into entrepreneurship.
● How focusing on character and personality helps build stronger teams.
● Why systems and processes are essential for growth and freedom as a business owner.
● How vulnerability and transparency can strengthen leadership and team trust.
What we discussed
● [00:01:13] Brian’s background in hospitality and how his early career shaped his approach to leadership and service.
● [00:04:44] Discovering the opportunity to buy a moving company through BizBuySell and deciding to take the leap into ownership.
● [00:07:57] How Brian built trust with existing employees during the transition to new ownership.
● [00:10:56] Why moving companies rely heavily on word-of-mouth and repeat customers more than many people realize.
● [00:13:48] The challenges within the moving industry and why transparency is critical to building a strong reputation.
● [00:15:45] How Brian hires and develops great team members by focusing on character before skills.
● [00:19:39] The importance of building systems and processes that allow business owners to delegate and grow.
● [00:23:11] Why vulnerability and openness can strengthen leadership and relationships within a business.
3 Things To Remember
- Buying an existing business can provide a faster path into entrepreneurship while allowing you to build on an established foundation.
- Hiring the right people based on character, attitude, and culture fit can make a significant difference in the success of a service-based business.
- Strong systems, processes, and open communication allow businesses to grow while creating healthier teams and stronger leadership.
Memorable moments
(00:07:57) “Everyone has a story. If we just take the time to understand someone else’s story, the relationship gets that much stronger.”
(00:13:50) “Unfortunately there are some really bad players in the moving industry, which is why reputation and transparency matter so much.”
(00:23:11) “When we can be vulnerable and let people into the hard stuff, we can really build something beautiful in our relationships and businesses.”
Useful Links
Connect with Michael Pallozzi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpallozzihfm/
First Rate Movers: https://firstratede.com/
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
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