Start an independent business courier. Currently, shipments are one of the services and processes most required by companies and businesses that seek to be able to efficiently move products, documents, packages, and other items from one place to another in a fast and effective way, but also used by the private-public. In this sense, if you have a vehicle or a motorcycle, offering this service will give you a new income channel using your own means.
The best thing about this type of business courier is that when it comes to shipments, it will not be necessary for us to have specific knowledge in a certain area or experience in the work.
To see what you need to get started, review the following points, and stay until the end to find out more about this business idea.
How a business courier works as an independent car messenger
This business consists of providing the shipping service using the means of transport, which, in this case, will be the vehicle. It is an activity that allows management independence, we will be aware of the requirements of local companies to carry out the requested work.
I recommend that you get in touch with advertising companies, for example, since they constantly need to send their articles to their clients. Another point that you should keep in mind is that the companies and businesses that request your service must be within your reach.
Now how do you set a fee for service? To set a price you can take into account several aspects, including the distance you are going to travel from one point to another, also the approximate time of the journey, including the dimensions and weight of the product or item that you will have to carry.
What do you need to be a business courier or a car messenger?
To start a business like this, it is extremely important that you make sure you have all the vehicle documentation and as a driver up to date, as this will be key when offering the shipping service. Make sure your car meets all operating conditions and perform periodic checks to identify any possibility of failure.
To get clients, which can be a bit difficult in the initial stage, we recommend offering a personalized service that offers priority attention to your clients’ companies, so that they feel much more confident with you.
With the growth of your business courier and the increase of customers, you may soon need more vehicles and personnel that can take care of subsequent orders, so that you will need to hire staff, drivers and even a receptionist to keep track of the shipment record and new orders.
How do I start my car delivery or business courier?
Start by making a business plan that includes a list of potential clients, the specific task that you are going to develop, the type of transport that you are going to use, in this case, the car, the promotional strategies, and in general, a map that specifies how your business is going to move. According to the mode of operation and the first costs, we must make a quote that allows us to identify approximately an investment value to pay the first expenses.
Although a business courier like this does not imply renting a place of operation, we recommend that you have an office or at least a small space accommodated at home from which you can contact your clients, keep track of trips, and other aspects within the management of shipping packages.
On the other hand, in order to promote your business and to be known in the market, you must start with advertising strategies, which must include both digital and physical media. A good option will be to appear in service directories, main social networks, even a website from which you can send virtual proposals to companies or sectors that require your service. Physical advertising can reside on flyers or business cards that you hand out to potential clients.
Key tips for being a freelance car messenger
The compliance and efficiency of the service you offer will be the image of your business courier, that is why it is so important that you take care of each process and management to try to comply and arrive on time. There are many applications that allow you to know closed streets, better travel and route options to get there in less time, possible alternative routes, etc.
Possible problems or wear and tear that your car suffers will be at your own expense, so it is extremely important that you are aware of its operation and condition not only on a physical level in appearance, an aspect that is important to give a good image to customers, but also also internally in terms of its correct operation. Remember that the car you take for the service can be bought, rented or loaned, but you must include the value of the service to make a profit.
Weaknesses: although if not it will be necessary to have expertise in some areas besides driving completely, many drivers leaning on these businesses to generate income, not take into account the knowledge of the main ways of operation and such as peak and plate aspects, among other restrictions.
Not taking these types of aspects into account limits and reduces your chances of being hired again or recommended.
Pros: a business courier is capable of providing significant profits, in addition to allowing some flexibility, however, you must be aware of the requirements of your customers. You have the possibility of starting individually or in partnership, as well as choosing the type of business courier you want to focus on to offer the shipping service.
A good way to start getting the first customers is to approach nearby, small and medium businesses that do not yet have their own transport fleet to send their packages, this will be a way to cover their needs and start to gain experience in the market.
Success stories
Many business courier and shipping sector began to grow step by step, little by little since a venture requires commitment and the greatest possible firmness in each step to continue growing. That is why the following franchises have become important references that are worth reviewing to know their mode of operation, evaluate possible strategies, and set a guide for our project.
Good communication and contact with customers will be pillars that will allow you to gain their trust, make sure that your service is the first they think of when they want to make a shipment.