How to Start an Errand Service
Business Overview:
Learning how to start an errand service could be the ticket to your freedom, not only from the office but from being dependent on others for a paycheck. These days people are busier than ever and are more than willing to pay someone to run their errands for them. Picking up dry cleaning, going grocery shopping and buying gifts are just a few errands that can be handled with this exciting business idea. You will find that when you look into how to start and operate an errand service, marketing will be crucial to the success of your business. You will spend most of your day in your car so it would be smart to make your vehicle your number one marketing tool. Place magnetic posters on the sides of you car promoting your business. Be sure your business name and phone number are easy to see. You might also consider creating a website where people can go for more information. Often people in their cars can’t stop and write down a phone number but they can remember a catchy web address. Even the simplest of websites will work. Explain your services and include contact information. Print up business cards and leave them in places like grocery stores, coffee shops and bookstores. Your clients will likely be on the affluent end of the spectrum so target places they frequent and areas in which they live. Once you get your business name out there and you get your first few clients, you are likely to get a good deal of repeat and referral business. As long as you offer high quality services at reasonable prices, with excellent customer service, in no time you will need to have a fleet of vehicles to handle all your business.
A Day in the Life of an Errand Service Business Owner:
Your day will begin with a check of your schedule to see what errands are on your agenda. You will spend most of your day taking care of clients’ needs, contacting them from time to time to clear up questions you may have. If your schedule is light, you will work on your marketing campaign. You will distribute business cards and fliers around town, check into placing ads online and make sure your website is up to date. If you have a staff working for you, you will coordinate with them throughout the day to ensure they are on task and on schedule. Finally, you will record any new business and check on your finances to see that everything is in order.
About Your Customers:
Your customers will likely be busy individuals who are in need of some help with their everyday errands.
What You Need to Start:
- Errand service business plan
- Marketing plan
- Vehicle
- Staff (if needed)
- Website (if desired)
The Good:
- If you like helping people and running errands, this is the perfect business.
- You can charge top dollar for errand services.
- The startup costs are very low.
- You can hire a staff of drivers and concentrate on just the marketing.
- You can easily run this business part time.
The Bad:
- If you don’t figure the cost of gas into your pricing, your profits will suffer.
- Deadlines and traffic can be a problematic combination at times.
Resources:
- International Concierge and Lifestyle Association
- International Concierge and Errand Association
- Bureau of Labor Statistics on Service Occupations
- Wikipedia on Personal Concierge and Errand Services
About The Author
Templateify
Praesent nec tortor quam. Quisque ac malesuada augue. Sed dignissim gravida odio ut bibendum. Cras fermentum euismod turpis. Nunc nec diam ante, et faucibus ipsum. Etiam imperdiet mattis elit et molestie. Nulla feugiat mollis leo vel egestas. Pellentesque convallis
0 comentarii