Anyone in the courier business?
Discussion
Whats business like at the moment. Has the credit crunch affected your business in any way?
I’m thinking about starting up, the only problem I see is the shear volume of people doing it. I am fully aware that building long term relationships with clients is key to future growth and providing a reliable quality service is a must. How did you go about starting up, were you already in the industry?
I will be looking at all of the companies in the area offering a courier service and try to find ways of breaking in, maybe a niche market or something. Will obviously start with market research/business plan etc but I wanted to know your thoughts.
I’m also anticipating lots of marketing to try and get the name about by the way of leaflet drops etc.
So basically just a general question for now, how is it going and any things I need to be fully aware of first.
Will keep the office at home to start with to reduce overheads, possibly rent a van and see how I get on.
Any thoughts..?
Thanks in advance
I’m thinking about starting up, the only problem I see is the shear volume of people doing it. I am fully aware that building long term relationships with clients is key to future growth and providing a reliable quality service is a must. How did you go about starting up, were you already in the industry?
I will be looking at all of the companies in the area offering a courier service and try to find ways of breaking in, maybe a niche market or something. Will obviously start with market research/business plan etc but I wanted to know your thoughts.
I’m also anticipating lots of marketing to try and get the name about by the way of leaflet drops etc.
So basically just a general question for now, how is it going and any things I need to be fully aware of first.
Will keep the office at home to start with to reduce overheads, possibly rent a van and see how I get on.
Any thoughts..?
Thanks in advance
i can offer some help on a customer point of view.
I bought a company 8 months ago, they didnt use a courier, they delivered using their own cars.
So one thing i have put in place is a courier.
At my other company, we used TNT, so i started using them at the new one. But this has been costing us £18.50 up to 10kg's per consignment.
We had a guy knock on our door offering us his self employed service. He was doing same day delivery in a van, and he started to get his customer base, charging us the same rate as TNT. One day, he wasnt answering his phone. We then found out he had gone back to fitting kitchens and he couldnt earn enough to live on, and also the costs were way to much for him to manage.
Since then we have found interlink who charge us 6.50, small jiffy - 9.50 large jiffy, and 12.00 for a box up to 10kg's, its next day, and have a very easy online booking system. And unless someone could provide us with a professional service and these prices, then i wouldnt change.
To start up, what i would advise, is to target industrial estates and knock on doors. But offering same day i dont think works, as you are so limited ijn how much you can take. Collect all in the evenings and deliver the next morning. As you can take on more jobs that way, and plan routes instead of jumping on each call that comes in.
Hope this little info helps
I bought a company 8 months ago, they didnt use a courier, they delivered using their own cars.
So one thing i have put in place is a courier.
At my other company, we used TNT, so i started using them at the new one. But this has been costing us £18.50 up to 10kg's per consignment.
We had a guy knock on our door offering us his self employed service. He was doing same day delivery in a van, and he started to get his customer base, charging us the same rate as TNT. One day, he wasnt answering his phone. We then found out he had gone back to fitting kitchens and he couldnt earn enough to live on, and also the costs were way to much for him to manage.
Since then we have found interlink who charge us 6.50, small jiffy - 9.50 large jiffy, and 12.00 for a box up to 10kg's, its next day, and have a very easy online booking system. And unless someone could provide us with a professional service and these prices, then i wouldnt change.
To start up, what i would advise, is to target industrial estates and knock on doors. But offering same day i dont think works, as you are so limited ijn how much you can take. Collect all in the evenings and deliver the next morning. As you can take on more jobs that way, and plan routes instead of jumping on each call that comes in.
Hope this little info helps
What the 'big boys' have that you can never emulate is a depot network. Items are moved in a very planned way. When you're on your own you have to see the shipment from pick-up to delivery on your own. How far would you drive for a tenner? And how much time would that take?
Maybe think about offering local multi-drop services to a major?
Maybe think about offering local multi-drop services to a major?
http://codforum.org.uk/forums/index.php
This is the courier industry forum, spend plenty of time reading the forum before making any posts, there is alot to learn just by reading. You will get plenty of answers and then some. Good luck
This is the courier industry forum, spend plenty of time reading the forum before making any posts, there is alot to learn just by reading. You will get plenty of answers and then some. Good luck
Hi chaps, thanks for the replies.
I was on that codforum last night for a few hours just reading all about it. (excellent site to be using)....cheers
Its interesting to see how some people are doing ok out of it and others are struggling.
Will just keep doing my research before i commit.
Thanks again
I was on that codforum last night for a few hours just reading all about it. (excellent site to be using)....cheers
Its interesting to see how some people are doing ok out of it and others are struggling.
Will just keep doing my research before i commit.
Thanks again
V8mate said:
What the 'big boys' have that you can never emulate is a depot network. Items are moved in a very planned way. When you're on your own you have to see the shipment from pick-up to delivery on your own. How far would you drive for a tenner? And how much time would that take?
Maybe think about offering local multi-drop services to a major?
Above point is a good one, we used to operate a couple of vans on a self employed basis for a National company. They preferred to use contractors for rural routes who resided at the end of the delivery run, ie they finished at or around their home 50-70miles from the depot. In addition to the majors deliveries we took on adhoc work for the route to the depot in the morning locally. As we did work for the major we obtained prefferential rates for using their network, this allows us to offer local customers a national service. I Maybe think about offering local multi-drop services to a major?
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