Moving employees between cities and countries involves many moving parts: policy, suppliers, documentation, budgets and, most importantly, people. A relocation management company (RMC) helps organisations bring all of these together into a consistent, well-supported process.

This guide explains what a relocation management company does, how fees are typically structured and what to look for when choosing a partner.

What is a relocation management company?

A relocation management company is an organisation that helps employers plan, coordinate and oversee employee relocations. RMCs work with HR and mobility teams to apply relocation policy, coordinate suppliers, support relocating employees and report on programme performance.

What does a relocation management company do?

A relocation management company offers a range of services that cover the full relocation journey. The scope depends on the organisation’s policy and the level of support it chooses.

1. Policy design and benchmarking

Policy design and benchmarking help organisations define what support each employee receives. An RMC helps create policies that are clear, scalable and aligned with destination-specific considerations, and compares them against industry data from bodies such as WERC. Common approaches include lump sum relocation, core-flex relocation policies and tiered relocation policies.

2. Supplier coordination

Supplier coordination brings together the household goods provider, temporary housing provider, destination services provider and other partners. The RMC aligns these suppliers around one timeline so the move runs smoothly.

3. Employee and family support

Employee and family support helps relocating employees and their families settle with confidence. This can include move counselling, home finding, school searches and language and cross-cultural training.

4. Expense management and reporting

Expense management and reporting give HR and finance teams visibility of relocation spend. Through the MOVEPLUS™ platform, relocation-related expenses are processed through a secure portal with multi-stage verification to support policy alignment, accuracy and timely reimbursement.

5. Coordination with legal, tax and immigration partners

Coordination with legal, tax and immigration partners helps each move stay aligned with changing requirements. Immigration lawyers, tax advisers and legal counsel deliver their specialist services, while the RMC helps keep information, documents and timelines connected.

Domestic vs global relocation management

Domestic relocation management covers moves within one country, while global relocation management covers moves between countries. Global moves add visa and work permit steps, home and host country tax considerations and cultural preparation, which increases the number of parties involved. Our guide to moving employees internationally covers these steps in detail.

How much does a relocation management company cost?

The cost of a relocation management company depends on the services selected, the number of moves and the complexity of each relocation.

Common fee models

RMCs usually use one or more of the following fee models.

Fee model	How it works	Suits
Per-move fee	A set fee for each relocation managed	Organisations with variable move volume
Per-service fee	Fees for individual services such as home finding	Organisations wanting selected support
Programme fee	An annual or contract fee for an agreed scope	Organisations with steady, higher volume
Self-service or technology fee	Access to a platform and tools with lighter support	Lump sum and early-career moves

Factors that affect cost

Several factors influence the overall cost:

• Domestic or international move
• Employee level and household size
• Number of services included
• Volume of moves per year
• Level of reporting and technology required

For a breakdown of what a relocation budget typically includes, see our guide to relocation cost estimates.

Benefits of working with a relocation management company

Working with a relocation management company gives organisations consistency, visibility and a better employee experience. Key benefits include:

• One policy applied consistently to every move
• Access to an established network of suppliers
• Central data on moves, spend and trends
• More time for HR teams to focus on strategic priorities
• Clear, supported journeys for relocating employees and families

If you are weighing up whether to run relocations internally, read in-house relocation vs a relocation management company.

How to choose a relocation management company

Choosing a relocation management company starts with understanding your move volume, locations and level of support needed. Useful questions include:

• Does the RMC offer both full-service and self-service options?
• How does the technology platform give visibility of moves and spend?
• Can the platform integrate with existing HRIS systems?
• How does the RMC coordinate with immigration lawyers and tax advisers?
• What support is available for families and partners?
• How is employee experience measured?

For a step-by-step selection process, see how to choose the right corporate relocation partner and the right RFP questions to ask.

How MovePlus supports relocation management

MovePlus acts as a strategic partner to organisations, helping transform mobility from a series of logistical tasks into a structured, visible and employee-focused talent strategy. MovePlus offers both full-service and self-service options, so organisations can match relocation support to each move.

The MOVEPLUS™ platform brings relocation data into one centralised place, supports integration with existing HRIS systems and gives HR and mobility teams clear oversight of every move, from key dates and documents to approvals and expenses. Get in touch to discuss how MovePlus can support your next assignment.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the difference between an RMC and a moving company?

A moving company handles the physical move of household goods. An RMC coordinates the wider relocation, including policy, suppliers, employee support and reporting, and usually works alongside moving companies.

2. Do relocation management companies charge employees?

In most corporate programmes, the employer pays the RMC. Relocating employees receive support in line with their employer’s policy.

3. What is global relocation management?

Global relocation management is the coordination of employee moves between countries, including visa, tax, housing and settling-in steps.

4. How long does it take to set up an RMC partnership?

Set-up time depends on programme size and complexity, and usually covers policy review, supplier onboarding and platform configuration.