Errand or delivery service
What will I be doing ?
It seems like so many home businesses require special training, a degree or a rich uncle. Not so the delivery business. In fact, few skills are needed and your greatest assets are a hard-working attitude-and reliable vehicle.
What does an errand or delivery services do ? It travels locally for others. It’s a taxi service for things rather than for people. What kind of things ? Pizza, packages, prescriptions, pets, plants and more. That’s up to you and your customers.
What will I need to start ?
Your errand or delivery service will require a vehicle-but it doesn’t have to be a truck or even a car. Depending on where you live and what you deliver, a bicycle or motorcycle may be a fine vehicle for the job. A good area map and knowledge of the roads and neighborhoods of your city are also important.
Who will my customers be ?
There are so many potential customers for your errand or delivery service that it’s difficult to know where to start. Here are a few prospective customers : doctors’ offices (delivering records or test bottles), shut-ins (groceries, medicines, mail), restaurants (delivering take-out food), businesses (delivering small packages or important records to customers), trucking services (picking up and delivering small packages), etc.
How much should I charge ?
You can charge for your services by the mile or by the job, but your pricing will be based on a combination of time and expenses. For example, you may decide to charge $20 an hour for your time and 50 cents a mile for your car. Or you may charge $25 an hour for you and your bike. You may have a higher rate for emergency (“I need it now”) errands and a lower one for less critical runs that can be combined with other runs.
How much will I make ?
Income for your errand or delivery service will depend primarily on your ability to get customers. You may decide to contract with one or two local restaurants for the evening hours while leaving your afternoon hours open for trips to the grocery store or pharmacy. Once you’ve learned how to promote your business, your income will grow.
Income for your full-time business will range from $15,000 to $30,000 a year with potential for more if you hire additional people. Expenses will include fuel and insurance for your vehicle. advertising and a telephone. Consider a cellular telephone that you can answer wherever you are.
How can I get started ?
If you’re considering starting a home-based errand or delivery service (or both), start looking arround for competitors. Watch local restaurant ads for any reference to delivery. (idea : if one restaurant offers food delivery, go to a competing restaurant and offer to do the same for them.)
Be sure to talk with your insurance agent about coverage and costs. Depending on what you’re doing, you may need to get commercial insurance. You may even need a special permit in your city. Keep your eyes open for traffic-and opportunities !
The SIC code for delivery services is 4212-05.
From the book of Dan Ramsey, Title : 101 Best Home Businesses, CAREER PRESS, 3 Tice Road, P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, 1-800-CAREER-1, 201-848-0310 (NJ and outside U.S.), FAX : 201-848-1727
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