Starting a Courier Service
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Define your Area of Operation
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Will you use your car for your courier service, or will you instead rely on your bike and become a bicycle courier? With a car, you can pick up and deliver items across town, while a bike limits you to a rather narrow field of operations. If you have a bustling downtown business center with plenty of law firms, banks, and other offices that can sustain your business---such as downtown Denver--a bicycle courier business is the best option for starters. Conversely, if you do not have a downtown area which has a high density of offices, a car courier business is a must. Defining your area of operation is an important first step to starting a courier service.
Consider Becoming a Subcontractor
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If you are thinking of starting a courier service in an area that is already saturated with established courier businesses, consider shifting the focus of your business and becoming a subcontractor instead. Many times, these businesses will experience overflow, and your actual courier business could be the relief of the overflow other couriers cannot handle. It is wise to have access to a bike as well as a car, since you may have to dash from one part of town to another.
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Determine a Fee
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As a subcontractor, you charge less than you would if you were running your own business. At the same time, you need to charge enough to make it worth your while to operate your bike or car, and have money left over for your bills. Realistically consider how much money you need to make to break even, and then contact couriers in your area to find out what their fees are. If you can come up with a fee that is within the ranges quoted to you, set up a fee schedule you can hand to customers.
Make your Business Official
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Whether you will be starting a courier service or go into business as a subcontractor to existing couriers, make your business official by setting up a bank account for your business, getting a business license, buying insurance, and also printing up business cards. The more professional your setup, the more serious you will be taken as a business by potential clients. Finally, advertise your courier service locally through handouts, in the paper, the phone book, and also online.
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Resources
- Photo Credit ProfDEH/Wikimedia Commons
