Relocation companies charge a variety of fees that vary by company. First, they will charge you a fee for creating and administering your relocation program. We’ve seen packages range from $2,000 - $100,000. What goes into your fee depends on the relocation policy you create and the decisions you make around costs. For example, will you simply reimburse an employee for their moving costs, or will you outsource the entire moving process to a relocation company? Do you plan to cover the entire cost of the move or just a portion?

Other fees you might be charged include referral fees for relocation real estate agents or freight companies, for example; non-compliance fees for services outside your relocation policy or contract; cancellation fees; and more. As you talk to relocation companies, make sure you get a clear picture of all fees that might be applicable for your company.

A relocation management company will design, implement, and manage a relocation policy for your company. The services they offer vary by company, but in general, they include some or all of the following:

• Dedicated account manager: You’ll have a dedicated account manager from the relocation company who will run point on your relocation program. As experts in everything from relocation trends and best practices to taxes and legal, they’ll monitor your account, manage policy consulting and benchmarking, oversee third-party service providers, and more — all to ensure you are offering the best possible relocation benefits at the best cost to you. 
• Relocation counselor for relocating employees: As an employee begins a relocation, they are assigned a relocation counselor who will serve as their single point of contact for the entire relocation process. At the start, this counselor will get an understanding of the needs of the employee and, if applicable, their family, and will provide support where necessary and as it aligns with your relocation policy and benefits. The counselor then manages each relevant service, whether it’s sourcing appraisers for a home sale, finding temporary housing in the new location, scheduling movers, etc.
• Policy development: A relocation company will design a relocation policy that fits your organization’s needs and budget. What’s more, they’ll proactively monitor your policy to see how it compares to your competitors’ policies. This applies for domestic relocation packages as well as international relocation.
• Moving planning and costs: RMCs will manage and pay for all moving services, from hiring and coordinating a moving company or van line, packing and shipping of an employee’s goods, helping with a home sale, finding a new home, and covering costs associated with buying or selling, or breaking a lease for renters.
• Travel: Relocation companies will cover relocation-related travel costs, like an employee’s flight to their new location. In some cases, they’ll also cover travel for an employee’s family.
• Temporary housing: In some cases, a relocated employee will need to stay in temporary housing while they’re getting settled. In that case, RMCs will help find temporary housing and cover the costs.
• Spousal support: For certain positions, relocation benefits can extend to an employee’s spouse. For example, an RMC will help an employee’s spouse find a job in their new city.
• Tax and legal: RMCs understand the tax and legal implications associated with an employee’s relocation, both domestically and internationally. As such, they can ensure that all tax and legal requirements are met and understood by all involved parties. ‍
• Group moves: If you're setting up a new office, you might want to move a team of existing employees to work out of that space. In that case, moving management services can help you manage the associated logistics of relocating a handful of people.

Before you commit to one relocation company, schedule calls with them to get a sense of their services, pricing, and more. To direct the conversation, here is a list of questions to consider asking:

• How does your process work?
• What service providers do you have relationships with? What kind of cost savings can you pass on to your clients?
• Do you focus on relocations within the United States only, or both domestic and international?
• Do you provide immigration services for international assignments?
• Is there a tech component that will require integration with our existing tech stack?
• What will you need from us to get our relocation program off the ground?
• What ongoing maintenance do you provide as it relates to growing/sustaining our relocation benefits?

You should get a good sense of how implementation works when you have your demos with relocation companies. For example, they’ll be able to tell you if you need any special tech integrations or if they simply need you to provide them with certain company information. 

As you get started, be sure to also think about how you’ll actually cover relocation costs. For example, will you pay a lump sum in an employee’s first paycheck that covers their out-of-pocket moving expenses? Will you have them submit an expense report with moving-related receipts? Will you pay for services directly?

To decide which route is best for you, discuss these options with your RMC to see what they recommend based on your company’s unique needs and budget.