How to Start a Shredding Service
Hospitals, insurance companies and small businesses that want to safely dispose of sensitive documents may turn to shredding companies. Since many individuals shred their own documents, the majority of your clients will come from the commercial market. Start your shredding service in an area with a high concentration of commercial businesses that would utilize your services, such as government agencies, hospitals and insurance companies.
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Instructions
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Select a location for your shredding plant within a reasonable radius of your anticipated clientele. Even if you intend to provide only mobile shredding, you will need a location in which to compress your shredding. Proximity to your clients is particularly important if you will be picking up documents or providing on-site shredding. Another option is to contract with a delivery service that will pick up your clients' documents and deliver them to your plant.
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Install security cameras in your plant.
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Contact your zoning office and environmental agency to ensure that your location is properly zoned and that your plant is in compliance with their regulations.
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Buy or lease equipment: an industrial shredder that can accommodate the materials you will shred in the capacity and time needed; tippers; balers to compress shredded materials; security containers; conveyors; and a truck to house your mobile shredder if you will offer on-site shredding. If operating as a mobile shredding business, you won't need the conveyor or baler; however, you will need a system for compressing and packaging your shredded materials.
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Obtain liability insurance, equipment insurance and bonding coverage.
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Implement a system for hiring trustworthy employees, including a vigorous screening process. Client privacy is of the utmost importance: One security compromise could ruin your business. Develop a policy on confidentiality, and present it to your employees.
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Submit an application for certification by the National Association for Information Destruction, which creates standards for secure destruction. NAID certification assures your clients that you adhere to the utmost safety standards, have hired and screened trustworthy employees, understand the appropriate destruction process, and are insured. Submit to a site inspection by NAID.
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Contact a recycling facility about taking your shredded paper.
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Create brochures with details on your service: the types of documents you shred, whether you provide on-site shredding, your commitment to security and confidentiality, and a price list.
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Contact local businesses and meet with managers, to develop a client base. Distribute brochures to them.
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Tips & Warnings
Plan to issue a certificate of destruction upon completion of each job.
Create a company website to serve customers and increase your visibility, or hire a web developer. The site should detail how outsourcing shredding can save a company time and money. Allow clients to request a quote on your site. Include your confidentiality policy and the fact that you are NAID-certified on your site. Detail the types of documents that should be shredded, as well as any hardware shredding you offer. Detail shipping and packaging instructions for clients.
