How to Start a Business as an Errand Service
If you are looking for a home-based business where you won't be tied to a desk all day, consider starting an errand service. Start-up costs can be quite low and you will spend your days helping people. Errand runners provide services such as grocery shopping, returning rental movies, waiting in line at the DMV and even walking someone's pooch. If there is an errand you can think of, you can offer the service for it.
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Things You'll Need
- Business license
- Business checking account
- Business insurance
- Business accounting software
- Business cards
- Marketing materials
Instructions
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Decide on a name for your business. Try to choose something catchy, easy to remember and that presents the image you want to portray for your business. If you are thinking of pursuing the higher-end customer you will want a name that reflects sophistication.
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Check with your local, city and state government office for business license requirements. You may also need to check with the zoning department to make sure that you can use your home address for your business address. Make sure you have all licensing in place before accepting any work.
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Meet with your insurance agent to make sure that you have sufficient liability insurance. You may also need to have different auto insurance since you will be using your car in your business.
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Register your business name with your Secretary of State. If you do business under a name other than your personal name, and that name isn't registered, you may be in violation of federal and state laws. It's very inexpensive to register, and it is known as "fictitious business name" registration.
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Set up a business account with your bank, using your fictitious business name.
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Decide how you will keep track of the business' finances. There are many excellent accounting software programs on the market made just for the small business person. Consider QuickBooks Simply Accounting, or, for the Mac, AccountEdge.
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Order business cards. There are many online business card outlets and some of them, such as Vistaprint, even offer free cards. Of course, they are hoping you will purchase your other business printing needs from them, but they have a nice line of free cards.
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Determine how you will market the business. There are many inexpensive ways to get the word out about your new errand service. Print up some simple flyers and distribute them door-to-door in the neighborhoods in which you want to work. Think about where busy executives may be, such as the gym, and leave flyers on cars in the parking lot (if it is legal to do so in your area).
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Make sure that you always answer your business phone or have a professional sounding voicemail message that will assure your caller that you will return the call promptly.
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Tips & Warnings
A big question you will no doubt have is what to charge for your services. Check the Web sites of other providers in your area. A lot of errand running services will post their fees on their Web sites. If not, call around as a potential client and see what they are charging.
