How to Start a Grocery Delivery Business

People have so many demands on their time these days, even the most mundane household duties like grocery shopping are popping up as service-oriented businesses. Follow these steps to put your expertise to use in your own grocery delivery business.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Find a good location for your business. Search out busy vacation areas where people are willing to pay for the service. Consider a retirement village; seniors often have limited mobility or lack of available transportation.
2. Incorporate your business to protect your assets from company mistakes. If you or one of your employees are in an automobile accident and you are found to be at fault, the injured party could come after you and your company unless you are incorporated.
3. Contact stores in your area to work out a program. Grocery stores have started to offer their own online ordering and delivery of groceries, but it can be easier and cheaper for them to contract with an independent contractor deliver the groceries.
4. Decide on the delivery charges and fees. There could be a flat delivery fee on top of the cost of groceries or a cost per item charge. Visit other grocery delivery business websites to find out what is popular or standard around the country.
5. Determine the delivery timeline. When will you be available to deliver groceries? If the person orders by 5 p.m. Friday, will you deliver on Saturday morning? Determine what hours you are willing to work, taking into account the time it takes to do the shopping if this is included in your service.
6. Determine how far you will travel to deliver. You could serve one city, and then charge extra for deliveries beyond the city limits, or you can just serve one neighborhood. Start small and add more delivery areas as you get more comfortable with the business and workload.
7. Market your grocery delivery business by advertising in store. Advertise through direct mail in the neighborhoods to which you wish to market yourself. Post flyers in the community centers and community boards in the neighborhoods.
8. Fill the delivery van with gas and groceries and start delivering.

Tips & Warnings

• Get liability insurance to cover you and any employees while making deliveries.
• Speak with a business planning attorney about incorporation and about payroll issues.