Many local businesses use the services of local delivery couriers to collect stock and deliver it to business premises, deliver orders to customers, and more. If you enjoy driving around your local area and want to be your own boss, you may want to consider starting your own local delivery company. It offers a great opportunity to improve your income and be in charge of your own working hours, and this type of work does not have many requirements in order to get started. If you’re considering starting your own company as a local delivery driver, here’s what you’ll need to get started:

Driving Licence:

First of all, you’ll need to have a full, clean driving licence in order to start a courier business in your area. Depending on the licensing requirements from your local council, you may also need to have held your driving licence for a certain number of years - typically three. You will also need to have a clean driving licence to be able to start your own business in most cases, although this may not be required as long as you have a maximum of three points. To get more information, you should contact your local authority to enquire about licensing requirements for delivery businesses.

Local License:

You may need to apply to your local council to get a business license for the work that you are carrying out. You can usually find more information on how to do this on your local council website or by contacting their offices directly.

Transportation:

You will need to have suitable transportation for the delivery work that you are going to be carrying out. Consider which businesses you plan to work with and compare suitable vans. There is a large market for both new and used vans and trucks and finding the right one for your business might not always be easy. Thankfully, there are various review sites where you can compare different delivery-suitable vehicles that are recommended for this type of work. Fuel efficiency is a top consideration since you are likely to be driving a lot.

Insurance:

Making sure that you have the right insurance for your delivery vehicle is important. Without the right insurance, your policy may be void and you may be at risk of breaking the law. In most cases, business insurance is the minimum requirement for a vehicle that is used to carry out any kind of work that earns money. You can compare van insurance quotes at Quotezone. Quotezone is a comparison website where you can find business van insurance quotes and more by simply entering your details to get quotes for all policies that are available to you. Along with insurance for your vehicle, you may also want to consider getting public liability insurance or other types of business insurance to make sure that you are fully covered for any potential incident.

Business Services:

To get your small business off the ground and build your local reputation as a delivery driver, you may require a range of small business services. You will likely need an online presence to make it easier for your potential clients to discover your services and get in touch. You can hire a web designer to build a website for you or do it yourself using website building services like Wix, WordPress or Squarespace. Another key business service that you should consider hiring is an accountant. A good accountant can help you manage your taxes and ensure that your tax return is accurate each financial year.

Marketing:

Once you’re set-up, it’s time to start marketing your local delivery service and get the word out about what you do. There are several ways to market your small business both online and offline. Social media is a good place to start as many local business owners are likely to use social networks like Facebook and Twitter for both personal and business purposes. It’s also worth getting a presence set up on LinkedIn. You can also carry out offline marketing in your local area by handing out flyers and business cards or placing posters in key areas. You may need to get permission from your local council to market in your local area.

Ongoing Costs:

Finally, consider the ongoing costs of running a delivery business and how they will impact your profit. There are several costs involved with the work itself including insurance for your vehicle and business insurance. You will also need to calculate the cost of filling your vehicle with fuel regularly, maintaining the vehicle with regular MOTs and servicing, and repair costs. Depending on what you will be delivering, you may also need to invest in equipment such as moving dollys to make the job easier.

If you want work that allows you to be your own boss, work in your local area and enjoy high demand, it’s worth considering starting a local delivery business.