Shop and retail unit clearance with free local quotes
Tell us about the unit once and get quotes from up to 3 independent local clearance teams. Free to use, no obligation to accept any quote.
- Free, no-obligation quotes
- Up to 3 local providers
- Fixtures, stock and waste
Who needs a shop or retail unit clearance
A shop clearance is usually driven by a deadline. A business may be closing for good, moving to smaller premises, or handing the keys back at the end of a lease. Landlords and agents also arrange clearances when a previous tenant has left fixtures and stock behind. Whatever the reason, the unit often needs to be empty and tidy by a fixed date, which makes it worth contacting local providers early so you have time to compare quotes. The work covers far more than a house clearance does.
Retail units tend to hold shelving, slatwall panels, gondolas, counters, mannequins, display cabinets, signage, till points and stockroom racking, plus whatever stock is still unsold. Back-of-house areas bring their own mix, such as staff kitchens, office furniture, filing and broken equipment. A good clearance team will expect all of this and will ask which parts of the unit you want emptied. Some customers need a full clearance down to bare walls and floor. Others only need the leftover stock and rubbish removed so that fitters can start on the next shop layout.
Still others want selected fixtures kept or sold on. Being clear about which of these applies helps providers quote accurately, and it avoids the situation where a team arrives expecting one job and finds another. You do not need to be a large chain to use this service. Independent traders, market stall holders with a unit, franchise owners and property managers all request retail clearances. The form takes a few minutes, and the free introduction means you can describe the unit in plain terms and let local providers decide whether they can help.
How a retail clearance job runs from quote to handover
The process starts with the form on this page. You describe the unit, its approximate size, what needs to go and when you need it done. Move & Clear then introduces you to up to three independent local providers who can send quotes. We do not do the clearing ourselves and we do not set prices, so each provider quotes in their own way. There is no cost to you for the introduction. For anything beyond a small unit, expect providers to ask for photos or a short video, or to offer a quick visit.
Shops hide a lot of volume in storerooms, mezzanines, basements and behind false walls, and a quote based on the shopfront alone can be wrong. Walk the whole unit with your phone, including the back door, any yard area and the route out to where a vehicle can stop. Once you accept a quote, agree the date, arrival window and who will be on site to let the team in. Larger jobs may need several people and more than one vehicle, and heavy fixtures can mean a two or three day plan.
Ask the provider to confirm in writing what is included, such as dismantling, carrying, loading, disposal and a sweep of the floor afterwards. On the day, the team will usually dismantle fixtures first, then clear stock and loose items, then do a final walk through with you. Take photos of the empty unit before you leave. If you are handing back to a landlord, a dated set of pictures of each room, the floor, the ceiling and the shopfront is useful evidence of the condition you left it in.
Closing a shop often involves more than the shopfloor. Our guides to office clearance and e-waste & it disposal cover the back office and electronics, and warehouse clearance covers larger stockrooms and storage units.
What happens to leftover stock and display fixtures
Not everything in a closing shop is rubbish. Sound shelving, rails, counters and display units often have a second life with other businesses, charity shops, schools or community groups. Some clearance providers will take usable fixtures as part of the job, and may adjust their quote to reflect that. Others simply remove everything. Ask each provider how they treat items with resale or reuse value, and whether this changes what you are asked to pay. Leftover stock deserves a decision before the team arrives.
You can try to sell it on to other traders, run a final sale, return it to suppliers where agreements allow, or donate it to a charity that accepts that kind of goods. Charities have their own rules on what they can take, particularly for electrical items, toys, cosmetics and clothing, so contact them in advance rather than assuming they will collect. What cannot be sold or given away has to be disposed of properly. Metal racking and shelving can often be recycled as scrap. Timber, cardboard, plastics and mixed waste follow different routes, and providers should be able to explain where each type ends up.
Items such as electrical goods, batteries and certain packaging need separate handling, so mention them when you describe the job. If you want to keep anything, such as signage with sentimental value, a till, a display cabinet or branded fittings, label it clearly or move it to one area before the team arrives. Tape a note on each item. Also check whether you or the landlord own particular fixtures, because some units are let with fitted shelving or counters that must stay in place under the lease.
Food, perishable stock and cold storage
Food retailers, newsagents, delis, florists and convenience stores face a particular problem: stock that goes off. If you are closing, plan the perishable clearance separately from the fixtures. Sell down what you can, and where safe and permitted, consider donating surplus food to a food redistribution group. They will have their own requirements about dates, packaging and storage, so check with them well before the final week of trading. Fridges, freezers, chiller cabinets and walk-in cold rooms need special attention.
Switch-off and defrost should be planned so that stock is moved first and water does not leak into the floor or neighbouring units. Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant gases and must be taken away and treated properly rather than dumped. Ask providers whether they can handle large cold equipment and how they dispose of it. Spoiled food, waste oil, cleaning chemicals and bin contents can be smelly and unpleasant to deal with, and they raise hygiene concerns for the next occupier. Some providers handle food waste as part of a general clearance, while others prefer it bagged and separated beforehand.
Be honest about how much is left and what condition it is in, so the team arrives with the right equipment and protective gear. Other shops may also hold items that need care, such as paint, solvents, aerosols, gas bottles, batteries, fluorescent tubes, lamps and display lighting. These should not be mixed into general rubbish. Tell providers about them in your request so they can arrange suitable handling. If you suspect any material may contain asbestos, leave it undisturbed and speak to a licensed specialist before anyone starts work.
Access, trading hours, loading and heavy fixtures
Retail units often have tighter access rules than a house. High street shops may have no private parking, restricted loading bays, pedestrian zones or timed delivery windows. Shopping centres and retail parks usually add landlord or management rules, which can include set delivery hours, service corridors, lift bookings, floor protection and limits on what can pass through the mall. Find out these rules early and pass them to every provider. Trading hours matter if neighbouring shops are still open.
Noisy dismantling, trolleys and large loads moving through public areas may be restricted during the day, so some clearances are scheduled early morning, in the evening or overnight. Evening and weekend work can affect the quote, so ask how it is priced. Confirm who holds the keys, alarm codes and any security passes, and make sure someone can be reached on the day. Heavy and awkward fixtures need planning. Glass display cases, mirrors, shopfront glazing, stone or solid counters, safes and long runs of racking are hard to move and can injure people or damage the building if handled badly.
A competent team will use the right lifting equipment, protect floors and doorways, and keep the public away from the work area. Mention weights and sizes if you know them. Upper floors, basements and narrow stairs change the job as well. Tell providers whether there is a goods lift, how many steps there are, and how far the carry is from the unit to the vehicle. Take photos of the route as well as the room. If a parking permit, suspended bay or traffic management is needed, ask who is responsible for arranging it before the day, not on arrival.
Leaving the unit to lease terms, and your waste duty of care
Before you book anything, read the clearance and reinstatement wording in your lease, or ask your agent or solicitor what it requires. Some leases expect the unit to be returned empty and clean, while others require fixtures to be removed, signage taken down, or the shopfront and floors made good. Take advice if the wording is unclear. A clearance team can remove items, but it cannot decide what your lease obliges you to do. Anyone who removes waste from your premises for a fee should be a registered waste carrier.
In England this is checked with the Environment Agency, with SEPA in Scotland, Natural Resources Wales and the NIEA in Northern Ireland. Ask each provider for their carrier licence number and check it on the public register. A business has a duty of care for its waste, which continues even after the vehicle has left. Ask for a waste transfer note or similar written record of what was taken, by whom, and where it is going. Keep it with your business records, as you may be asked for it later.
Be cautious about quotes that are vague, cash only with nothing in writing, or from someone unwilling to share their licence details. Fly-tipped waste can be traced back to the business that produced it. When comparing quotes, check each one covers the same scope. Look at whether dismantling, disposal costs, stairs, evening work, specialist items and a final sweep are included, and what happens if the job turns out larger than described. Ask for proof of insurance. Avoid choosing purely on the lowest figure, as a cheap quote that leaves items behind can leave you with a lease dispute.
Providers cover different postcode areas, so browse the areas we cover to see local information, or enter your full postcode in the quote form at the top of this page.
What affects the cost of retail & shop clearance
Prices are set by each local provider, so we do not publish fixed figures. These are the things that move a quote up or down. Compare up to 3 free quotes to see a fair price for your job.
- Size of the unit, including storerooms, upper floors, basements and any outside yard or storage areas.
- Amount of stock and fixtures, and whether racking, slatwall or counters need dismantling first.
- Heavy or fragile items such as glass cases, safes, mirrors and shopfront fittings needing careful handling.
- Access constraints, including loading limits, lift availability, long carries and centre or landlord delivery rules.
- Timing, such as short notice, evenings, weekends or out-of-hours slots to avoid trading times.
- Special waste, including food, fridges and freezers, chemicals, batteries, lighting and anything needing specialist disposal.
Our transparency promise: quotes are free and come direct from the providers. We don't add fees to your price, and you're never obliged to accept.
FAQs: retail & shop clearance
How do I get quotes for clearing a shop?
Fill in the short form with details of the unit, what needs to go and your deadline. Move & Clear then introduces you to up to three independent local providers who can send quotes. The service is free and there is no obligation to accept any quote. Photos of each area help providers give a more accurate figure.
Can the clearance team take away shelving, counters and slatwall?
Many providers can dismantle and remove shop fittings such as shelving, counters, slatwall, racking and signage. Mention what is fixed to walls or floors, and whether the landlord owns any of it. Ask whether dismantling is included in the quote, as some providers treat it as a separate part of the job.
What should I do with unsold stock before the clearance?
You could sell it to other traders, hold a closing sale, return it to suppliers or donate suitable items to a charity that accepts them. Contact charities first, as they have rules on what they can take. Anything left over can be removed and disposed of by the clearance provider.
Do I need to worry about waste carrier licences for a shop clearance?
Yes. Anyone taking waste away for a fee should be a registered waste carrier. Ask for their licence number and check it on the public register for your part of the UK. As a business you also have a duty of care for your waste, so ask for a waste transfer note or written record.
Can clearances happen outside normal trading hours?
Often, yes. Early mornings, evenings and weekends are common for shops with neighbours still trading or centres with delivery restrictions. Check your landlord or centre rules first, then tell providers the available time window. Out-of-hours work may affect the quote, so ask how it is handled.
What if the shop has a fridge, freezer or food waste?
Tell providers when you request quotes. Fridges and freezers need proper treatment because of the refrigerant they contain, and food waste needs hygienic handling. Plan to run down perishable stock beforehand, and ask about donating surplus food through a suitable redistribution group before it spoils.
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Find retail & shop clearance in your area
Providers cover different postcode areas. Pick your nearest area to see local information, or use the form at the top of this page and enter your full postcode.