Courier companies business is growing and growing; with more of us doing our shopping online and expecting faster deliveries, the courier area is one that can be very lucrative. But how do you get started?

Here’s a 7 steps guide to set up your own courier business; let’s have a look!

1- Write a Business Plan

Every business needs a solid business plan. This plan should not only analyse both your competition and your target audience but should also address issues with your company’s finances and marketing methods. As you start your courier company, your business plan will help keep you on track toward reaching your goals.

One thing that should be addressed well in your plan is, “how you plan to get new clients”. For instance, you may want to take advantage of sites such as Delivery Quote Compare to drive new traffic to your business.

2- Invest In a Delivery Vehicle

You have two basic options when it comes to obtaining a reliable delivery vehicle that gets good gas mileage; you can either buy a vehicle outright or lease one.

If you decide to purchase your own vehicle, make sure to have it thoroughly inspected for defects before completing the sale.  Make sure that you have the right license, van insurance cover and tick all the legal boxes.

3- Decide Where to Set Up the Shop

If you plan on working out of your home, you need to make sure that the zoning in your neighbourhood allows home businesses. If you are looking at leasing office space, on the other hand, you should consider both the location of the office as well as the monthly fees.

4- Stock in Supplies and Equipment

Courier businesses require a lot of different supplies and equipment, ranging from cell phones and two-way radios to basic office supplies, GPS equipment, and bookkeeping software. Giving your employees gas cards to use anytime they fill up their tank can also be a smart move since it makes it easier to track expenses.

5- Market Your Business

Reach out to local businesses in your community to let them know that you are now offering courier services. Many different types of professionals use couriers including lawyers, business people, notaries, and medical professionals.

Create printed marketing material such as brochures and business cards that you can hand out to prospective clients. Also, consider placing advertisements online as well as in local print publications.

Trade shows can also provide a great opportunity for networking with businesses that may benefit from the services that you provide. Building a website where people can learn more about your company is essential in today’s high-tech world. Here are some more tips.

6- Hire Employees

Unless you want to do all of the work yourself, you will need to hire some employees. Before bringing anyone on board, be sure that you have thoroughly checked their background. They should have a spotless driving record. Inspect their vehicles to make sure that they are reliable if they will be using them to make deliveries. Having someone in the office at all times is also generally a good idea with this business model.

7- Delivery Choices

Determine whether or not you will offer special delivery services such as express delivery in one hour or less or overnight delivery. You also need to determine the type of materials you are willing to handle as well as the size of the packages that you are capable of delivering.

Start small with focus on happy customers, and it will automatically get on right growth track. Besides that you must know the fact that it will take some time for your courier business to get flourished, all you need to be is to be consistent!