Today, almost every city has courier services. They are an intermediary between the sender of the goods and its recipient. Starting your own courier service is a great option to start your own business.

There are a few key points to consider when starting your own courier service. Firstly, rural areas and small towns are not suitable for this business. Secondly, it is necessary to determine the specifics of the transported goods. Obviously, the delivery of documents and transportation medical preparations – different topics. Third, consider whether you need a car for courier delivery. If yes, which one. A courier-pedestrian will also handle the delivery of documents within one or two districts. And the delivery of large parcels will obviously require a car. In addition, it is necessary to resolve the issue of driver compensation and related costs. One option is to enter into a long-term contract with a taxi service or hire a courier driver with a private car.

An important point in the work of the courier service is the dispatcher, who must be available around the clock. Most of the deliveries are carried out during the daytime, but the customer can order delivery at night. By the way, round-the-clock mode will distinguish your company from competitors.

You can start a business alone. At first, you will be able to perform the functions of a dispatcher, courier and owner all rolled into one. But when the business starts to work in full force, you can’t do without assistants. The staff, as a rule, includes a dispatcher, couriers, drivers, a secretary and an accountant. If the fleet will consist of several cars, it is worth thinking about the mechanics. And when delivering large-sized products, loaders will also be required.

The work of couriers directly can be performed by people with low qualifications or without it. The main requirement is diligence and accuracy. All staff should be able to work with documentation, and drivers and couriers should be able to easily navigate the city.

The work of the courier service

In order for the courier service to work clearly and smoothly, an office is needed. Of course, at the first stage, you can do without it by taking orders by phone. But if you want to become the owner of a solid business, it is better to rent at least a small office space.

To promote a business, you need advertising. Place ads in newspapers, magazines and the internet. One easy and economical option is to distribute leaflets in well-traveled areas.

The cost of courier services depends on the time spent on delivery, the quantity and weight of the cargo. To achieve the minimum level of profitability of this business is possible only if you have ten cars and fulfill sixty orders per day. Despite this, there are more and more cars delivering sushi and pizza to customers.

One of possible problems– attempts to reduce the cost of road delivery. For example, some restaurants fulfill an order if its cost is more than eight hundred rubles. In addition, traffic jams on the central streets hinder business development.
In order for the start of the business to be successful, it is beneficial to open a courier service together with postal services. Since newspapers and magazines go to specific addresses, the customer base is essentially ready and well suited for distribution. advertising products, letters and gifts. This approach will significantly increase the profitability of the business.

The work of the courier service almost does not depend on the season. But there are some bursts of activity on holidays when there are many orders for the delivery of flowers and gifts. Plus, the urgency of delivery, for which you can take an increased rate.

Courier Service Clients

As a rule, there are no problems with clients. Even with faxes and Email paper documents are still popular. Banks, law firms, and other organizations that send papers to partners are all your potential clients. And also this manufacturing enterprises who need urgent delivery. You can choose a narrow specialization and deliver goods from online stores. The main thing is to convince them to use the services of your courier service.

Delivery services can be offered to catering establishments. But for this, couriers or drivers must have sanitary books, transport - a sanitary passport, and the dishes themselves - a safety certificate. Today, many companies use the services of courier services, so there should be no problems with the clientele.

Operating time client base It will take some time, you need to be prepared for this. And given that firms and organizations are endlessly closing, moving, changing phone numbers, it is important to correct this information.

Starting a business from scratch is difficult, but the money invested in a courier service pays off quickly. Before opening, think through all the details, including the pros and cons for you personally. Design detailed business plan. And when the first success comes, continue to work in the chosen direction. Attract new customers, expand business contacts. This is very important for business development.

* Calculations use average data for Russia

Starting investments:

Revenue:

Net profit:

Payback period:

Courier service is a business without serious investments and requirements, so anyone can start it. The advantages of this area: high demand for services, a wide range of customers and profitability up to 90%.

Delivery service is a business that will suit both an experienced and aspiring entrepreneur. In Russia, the industry began to develop actively since the 90s and today is one of the promising areas in the service sector. The idea is attractive because it does not require large investments and at the same time guarantees a fairly high profit. You can start with a minimum set of resources and gradually develop your business. Moreover, with the growth of online commerce, delivery services are more relevant than ever. That is why starting a courier service is a great solution for an entrepreneur.

But this business, like any other, has its own nuances and pitfalls. Before throwing all your energy and money into opening a business, you need to study the main aspects of this type of activity.

Analysis of the field of activity

Relevance. According to the research agency Data Insight, online commerce is growing at least 25% annually, even despite the crisis. At the same time, most online stores attract delivery services from outside in order to save money. Result: the number of orders is increasing, and with them the demand for courier services. So now the business is relevant and will feel good as long as online commerce develops, because more than 90% of all orders for delivery services are delivered by online stores.

Advantages and disadvantages. An assessment of the pros and cons of a business allows you to make a decision about starting your own business and foresee what difficulties you need to be prepared for.

Advantages and disadvantages of courier service

Competition. The attractiveness of the business naturally led to the fact that many people came to the courier services market. Today on Russian market presented wide range courier services. The share of international leading companies is about 30%. New businesses cannot compete with them. Therefore, firms operating within the same city or region will represent real competition for you. The conditions for doing business are not easy: price dumping, market glut and the struggle for customers, especially for large orders.

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To stay afloat, courier services are pursuing an active business development strategy, offering customers more opportunities and services. Therefore, even at the start, you need to decide on the strategy of your delivery service and pay attention to the following parameters:

Business area.

cargo specifics.

Delivery method.

This is the initial data with which you will start working. They characterize your organization and determine its place in the market.

Delivery service

Types of services. The courier service provides the population with services for the prompt delivery of letters, documents, small and bulky cargo for a fee. Depending on the scale of activity, the courier service can deliver between countries, between cities and regions, within the same city. Another important criterion is the specifics of the cargo. Conventionally, the work of courier services is divided into the delivery of correspondence and cargo. In practice, most players specialize in both directions.

The types of services provided by the courier service may be different. The most demanded delivery of goods from online stores. Most often this is a small-sized cargo.

What options do courier services offer their customers:

pre order;

urgent order (within a day);

courier rental;

shipment insurance;

order at night - delivery of goods from 22:00 to 7:00;

lifting cargo to the floor.

Business area. At the initial stage of work, it is better to focus on work within the same city. Get good reputation, gain experience - and then gradually develop. For good start you will need to find 2-3 large clients with whom you will cooperate on an ongoing basis. Qualitatively fulfilling these orders, you can count on a stable profit and invest it in further development.

Cargo specifics. Immediately decide what kind of cargo you will work with. Because the organization of all activities depends on it. A comparison table will help you make a decision, which shows the characteristics of different types of cargo.

Comparison of areas of work of the courier service

	Correspondence	Small cargoes	Small cargoes
	Not required	Required	Required
Car park	Not required	Required	Required
Loading and unloading equipment	Not required	Not required	Required
Material liability		Low/high
Security and alarm costs	Minimum	Minimum	Depends on the size and workload of the warehouse

An ideal option for a beginner in this business: delivery of correspondence and small cargo around the city. It will be much cheaper and easier. The specifics of the delivery of oversized cargo has its own difficulties, which will not only “eat up” part of your budget, but also require certain experience, skills and responsibility. In the future, of course, it makes sense to add cargo delivery to the services and expand the geography of activities.

Method and type of delivery. Also, choose in advance what type of delivery you want to deal with. Limit Frames target audience and develop a profitable offer for your potential customers.

The cargo service industry offers many options: online shopping products, delivery of flowers, gifts or food, important documents, etc. You can combine several directions.

To decide, study the demand in your city. What is missing in the courier services market? What niche is free? What can be improved in this area? What problems do your future clients face? When you answer all these questions, you will be able to choose a promising direction.

Every day, many companies and people use the services of courier services. Your potential clients are:

online stores;

cafes and restaurants;

flower shops.

Today, almost all online stores cooperate with courier services and use their outsourcing services. Moreover, many prefer to conclude contracts with local small firms.

Ready-made ideas for your business

Another large segment is cafes and restaurants. Almost all catering establishments provide a delivery service to their customers. And this is also done by a third-party courier service.

Separately, it is worth mentioning about flower shops. Many of them trade through social networks and offer delivery services. But it is not profitable for them to keep their courier on staff, so they resort to outsourcing.

Almost all large companies need couriers to deliver various documents. In addition, there is such a service as "courier rental" - i.e. an employee can not only deliver documents, but also perform additional assignments. For example, stand in line at the tax office and hand over / pick up documents. Thanks to this service, the client saves time, and you get additional profit.

Ready-made ideas for your business

So the range of potential customers of the delivery service includes an unlimited number of individuals and legal entities. Courier services are in demand in all areas of activity.

After you decide what we will deliver and who will be our client. Now we need to figure out how to deliver it. The method of delivery depends on the specifics of the order, and on the territory, and on your strategy. Let's consider in more detail.

Possible delivery methods

Pedestrian courier. If you are working within a small locality, you can get by with a pedestrian courier. The method is reminiscent of the classic image of the postman. You can also use bicycles, mopeds, scooters. It is clear that only correspondence and small parcels will be delivered in this way. This may not be a very profitable solution.

Courier with car. First, the volume of initial investments will increase. You will need to purchase a car or hire a courier with a personal vehicle (and this is paid extra). Secondly, fuel costs will increase. But you will get fast way deliveries, more orders and the ability to deliver oversized and heavy packages. In addition, you can use unusual delivery formats. This will allow you to stand out and form a competitive advantage.

bike mail. Fast shipping documents on small vehicles (bicycles, scooters, mopeds). It is cheap, environmentally friendly, and in the case of traffic jams, even faster. Also, for example, argues the American express mail UPS, which delivers parcels on bicycles with a trailer. Students can be hired. One downside is seasonality. It is not very comfortable to ride a bike in rain or snow. But this method of delivery can be made an additional service in the warm season.

Congratulatory courier service delivers flowers, Balloons, gifts and other holiday paraphernalia. The services of such an organization are used by people who cannot personally congratulate their loved ones. The courier service does it for them. At competent advertising the service will be in demand. In this case, great marketing ploy there will be a bright design of the courier car, so that it is immediately clear: "this car is carrying a holiday."

Round the clock delivery. Not every courier service provides such a service. Therefore, you can occupy a free niche and start with less competition. Delivery at night has many advantages: the tariff for such orders is higher, and they are delivered faster (because there is less traffic and traffic jams). The downside is that you have to hire additional staff for shift work.

Delivery of auto parts, building materials, assistance with moving. There are very few companies that would provide such services, but there is demand. The car broke down on the road, you need to transport things or Construction Materials for building or renovation. In all these cases, you will need the service of your courier service. But then you have to buy trucks and hire movers.

As you can see, the delivery service is a very variable business. You can combine characteristics in different ways: type of cargo, target audience, delivery method - and look for the “formula” that will be successful for you.

Business registration

From theory we pass to practical actions. The first serious step to start is the registration of a business.

The courier service can work both in the status of an individual entrepreneur and an LLC. Most often, small firms prefer to work as an individual entrepreneur - there is less paperwork with him. To register, you must write an application in the prescribed form and attach to it a receipt for payment of the state duty, which is 800 rubles. The following should be indicated as types of activities according to OKVED: 64.12 - Courier activities. You can immediately enable additional codes:

52.61.2 - Retail through teleshopping and computer networks (electronic commerce, including the Internet)

63.40 - Organization of cargo transportation

64.11.11 - Activities for the reception, processing, transportation and delivery (delivery) postal items

74.82 - Packaging

74.84 - Provision of other services

So you surrender Required documents for registration of IP documents and after the period specified in the notification, pick up from tax statement from EGRIP. On the same day, it is recommended to write an application for the transition to the selected tax regime. You can choose STS 6% of income or STS 15% income minus expenses.

Premises and office

The courier service belongs to the category of business where the location and office do not play an important role. In this case, you will need a mini-office for receiving corporate clients and entering into agreements with them. You can also place a small warehouse there.

An office for a courier service does not have to be located in the city center. For the client, it is more important how quickly you can deliver the package and how much it will cost. Therefore, the ideal space for an office is 20 sq.m. with internet and telephone, away from the city center. In the office, it is enough to equip one workplace for a manager who will look for clients, communicate with us, distribute tasks between couriers, control the timing and payment of orders. The set of equipment in the office is minimal: a computer, an MFP, a telephone, a document rack.

When looking for a suitable office, pay attention to various business centers where you can find a premise already furnished and equipped with all communications. The cost of renting such an office will cost you about 10-15 thousand rubles per month. It all depends on the city and the territorial location of the building itself. Also, do not forget to buy stationery for your office: paper, pens, paper clips, tape, etc.

Equipment

The main production equipment in this case is a car. Well, of course, if you have not decided to open a bike mail. The choice of transport on which orders will be delivered should be approached with special attention.

How to choose a car for a courier

Characteristics. To begin with, let's define the main characteristics that an ideal car for a courier service should have:

low fuel consumption;

low cost of maintenance and repair;

small dimensions of the car: compactness and mobility makes it easy to park and move around the city faster.

So the main requirement for a courier car is efficiency and mobility. This way you save money and time.

Models. Based on these characteristics, we will give examples of popular cars that are most often used for delivery services.

If you give preference to the domestic auto industry, then the suitable options are:

• OKA (VAZ 1111).

If you choose among foreign cars, then this:

German cars (Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen Golf, Opel Corsa,);

Korean (Kia Picanto, Hyundai i20, Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Getz).

French (Citroen C1, Peugeot 107);

Japanese (Toyota Yaris, Toyota Vitz, Nissan Cube, Nissan March, Honda Fit);

Italian (Fiat Panda).

All of these cars have a small engine capacity - this allows you to save on fuel consumption. The average cost of a car for a courier is 400 thousand rubles. You can save money by renting a used car. But keep in mind that in this case you risk buying a car that will often break down. And delays in the work of the courier service can lead to serious consequences.

Scheme of the courier service

Before proceeding to the selection of personnel, you need to draw up a detailed scheme of the courier service and prescribe the functions of each employee. The general scheme of work looks like this:

An order is received from a customer.

The manager accepts the order, negotiates the amount of payment with the client, records all the necessary data (name, contact phone number, order parameters). Next, the manager passes the task to the courier.

The courier, according to the received task, goes to point A to pick up the correspondence/parcel and payment. Then he takes him to point B, where the receiving party signs the acceptance certificate, thereby confirming the fact of receipt.

The courier calls the manager, and he, in turn, notifies the customer about the receipt of the parcel or envelope by the addressee.

At the end of the working day, the courier delivers the signed documents and proceeds to the manager.

This scheme is not generally accepted and the only correct one. You can customize it to suit your business concept.

Courier service staff

An entrepreneur can open a courier business on his own. It is quite possible to combine the functions of a dispatcher, courier and director. At the initial stage, when there will be few orders, you can handle it alone. This will help save on salaries for employees. But then you still need help. By the way, replacing the entire staff of the courier service is a very useful experience. You will feel the business “from the inside”, understand the process of work, learn the nuances and then be able to better navigate the business.

The staff of the courier service usually includes a dispatcher (manager), courier drivers, foot couriers and an accountant. If you plan to deliver bulky goods, you will have to hire movers. Students can be hired as walking couriers: they are usually paid from 300 rubles a day - the costs are small, but their work relieves the volume of orders well.

Ready-made ideas for your business

The main requirement for courier drivers is that they must be able to navigate freely in the city. But you can not rely only on the ability of drivers. Be sure to equip courier vehicles with navigators. For a small company, two couriers will be enough. Their salary usually consists of a fixed salary and a percentage of the amount of completed orders. If you want to save money, you can find employees with a private car. But then you have to pay them more.

Try to find employees with similar experience. In the early stages, their experience will help you, especially if you are new to this business.

You can assign the functions of an accountant to yourself. There is nothing difficult in the IP documentation to understand and maintain accounting on your own. There would be a desire and time. Because your main function in this case, management. You must monitor the work of all staff, coordinate their actions, solve problems that arise, look for new customers and promote your business.

Advertising courier service

It's time to ask the question "where to look for customers"? Let's try to figure out where you can meet your potential customers and how to attract their attention.

Participation in tenders. On the Rostender website you will find many offers to conclude a contract for the provision of courier services. Contract amounts vary from a few thousand to millions of rubles. It all depends on the capabilities of your courier service. To get acquainted with suitable options, select the region in which you plan to work, read the terms and conditions current offers, make sure you meet the stated requirements and apply. At the end of the tender, the results will be posted on the site and you may receive this order.

Electronic reference books. If your activity is limited to the territory of one region or city, then you can use electronic directories. Find the phone numbers and e-mail of those companies that are your target audience. Call or send an electronic proposal for cooperation. Try to compose offer reflecting the individual needs of a particular business.

Announcement Sites. Place ads about your services on various resources such as Avito. There you can also study the demand for courier services and respond to the application.

Intermediary sites. You can use third-party portals - for example, You Do. This platform is an intermediary between those who are looking for certain services (including courier services) and those who provide them. Register on the portal as an executor-courier.

Printable advertisement. Use brochures, business cards, flyers. Make flyers describing your services and a great offer. Arrange to place them on stands near cash desks in stores, in organizations, on bulletin boards.

As you can see, there are many channels for promoting courier services. At first, use all available advertising methods. Plan marketing expenses right away to get orders from the first month of work.

financial question

When an aspiring entrepreneur seriously thinks about starting a business, he is interested in two main questions: how much should he spend and how much can he earn? Let's figure it out. The table shows the main items of initial expenses. Based on this, in order to open a courier service from scratch, you will need at least 260 thousand rubles.

Initial investment to open a courier service

In addition to the initial investment, plan monthly expenses. The table shows an approximate calculation fixed costs. In the first months when you will be self-employed, there will be no such payroll costs. However, when drawing up a business plan for a courier service, be sure to include this article.

Fixed costs of courier service

Now that you've got your costs figured out, let's move on to the fun part of planning: calculating your expected profit. To do this, you need to know how much courier services will cost and the number of orders. The cost of delivery depends on many factors (city, cargo specifics, route complexity, additional options, delivery time, etc.). Therefore, it is difficult to give any exact figures. On average, one order for the delivery of correspondence will cost 80-100 rubles in the city; delivery of small cargoes is approximately 250 rubles, and a contract concluded with one legal entity. face will bring already 20-30 thousand rubles.

Having a stable flow of orders, a courier service can earn 100-250 thousand rubles a month. Of this amount, you will be left with 50-150 thousand rubles of net profit. The profitability of the business reaches 90%.

Thus, the approximate indicators of business profitability will be as follows:

Revenue - 250 thousand rubles per month

Net profit - 150 thousand rubles per month

Profitability - up to 90%

Payback period - 4-5 months.

Risk factors

When compiling your business plan, be sure to pay attention to the risk component. Think about the risks you may face when providing courier services and how you can avoid losses. Any risk is a loss of profit. Therefore, precautionary measures should be taken to avoid problems.

What you need to pay attention to the owner of the courier service:

High competition. Earlier, we talked about the fact that there are many participants in the courier services market that a novice entrepreneur may encounter. You can solve the problem of competition even at the level of choosing a strategy, if you correctly identify your target audience, form an interesting and profitable offer for it. Once you become a full-fledged market participant, you can attract customers by providing Additional services at competitive prices, competently advertising their services.

Dependence on weather and transport conditions . The quality of the courier service does not always depend on internal factors. Bad weather or traffic jams in the city can prevent the courier from delivering the order on time. It is almost impossible to solve this problem, as well as to insure against it. In addition, in such conditions, there is a possibility of damage to the vehicle. For example, sudden ice can lead to an accident. All this will bring you unforeseen expenses. The use of various programs to identify traffic jams and competent logistics solutions will help reduce the risk.

Personnel problem. The courier delivery business is characterized by high turnover. The salary is small, there is often no career growth, the work, albeit simple, but dreary. It is not uncommon to accept students who consider the work of a courier as temporary. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that you will often have to look for employees, and these are also certain costs. If you are interested in your company's employees working for a long time and with dedication, set a decent salary, provide good working conditions, use various methods of motivation. Or be prepared to be constantly on the lookout.

Before starting to create a delivery service, you have to seriously think about everything and decide what kind of delivery you are going to do. You can work with public catering, you can become an intermediary of online stores, you can serve legal entities, you can provide services to individuals. Or combine several directions. Each option has its own nuances that must be taken into account. Think about what territory you can work in, based on your budget. The more extensive the boundaries of delivery, the more expensive it is to create an enterprise.

The courier delivery service is a business that you can start alone and only spend money on travel and IP registration. Such an approach, however, will not promise great profits. Most likely, you will earn only a little more than a hired courier (the average salary is 25,000–35,000 rubles), while you will work many times more. We'll have to look for customers, take calls and orders, spin. In large cities, where the market is close to saturation in terms of the number of offers, it makes sense to carry out serious investments(from several million rubles to several tens of millions of rubles) and create a quality service. Customers most of all complain about the quality of services. Payback good service, provided that you correctly determine the needs of your target audience and accurately calculate everything at the start, it can take about three years.

room

The delivery service needs an office space that will house dispatchers and management. Couriers will also arrive there to resolve pressing issues. In the office you have to receive clients, so take care of the presentable appearance of the building or at least the premises in which your company will be located. The legislation does not provide for special requirements for such offices.

Logistics companies that cooperate with online stores usually have their own warehouse. If you are going to create a large-scale service, it is better to rent a larger room. You do not need a class A warehouse - it is quite possible to meet $100-130 per sq. m. m per year. You can offer your customers paid use of your facilities. Storage of inventory during the day usually costs the store on average 50 rubles per cubic meter. You can also take care of packing - picking one order by courier service employees costs 10-50 rubles.

Problems with the service arise, among other things, due to the unwillingness of courier services to work around the clock and on holidays. A flexible schedule and a willingness to quickly provide services will help attract customers who find themselves in a difficult situation.

The documents

After registering a legal entity, take care of the documents that will protect you and the client in case of a conflict. The courier must provide the client with an invoice in two copies, a cash receipt. If he uses a car, the usual consignment note must be replaced by a consignment note (TTN). It makes sense to accompany a valuable product with an act of no claims to appearance and quality.

Invoice forms can be downloaded on the Internet, in the 1C system, ordered at a printing house. Be careful not to lose them. You will have to report to the tax office, including with their help, so all TTN should be in order. Remember that the waybill must contain your data and customer data, contain information about the cargo (size, weight, etc.) and payment.

If the couriers will accept payment, you can not do without cash register. In case of his absence, the company faces a fine of 30,000–40,000 rubles.

Other expenses

Staff

Couriers are the most important employees delivery services. They most of all communicate with customers, so you need to approach the selection process very carefully. First, you should choose people based on their preferences and expectations. The most nervous job for a courier is food delivery. The execution of the order must be started immediately after receipt, there is little time for the road - an average of an hour and a half in Moscow. In this case, there is no way to plan a route. The most rewarding work is the delivery of documents. As a rule, all addresses are known the night before, the courier has the opportunity to build the most convenient route between points.

In Russia, the work of a courier is perceived as something second-rate, so the task of the creator of the project is to convey to the employees the idea that their work is important and useful. Often, logistics companies complain about the disappearance of couriers along with goods or money. It doesn’t hurt to insure yourself in such a case - the official registration of couriers in the state works well.

Equipment, transport and software

The simplest cash register equipment costs about 10,000 rubles. If you are going to become a major player, take care of the information infrastructure. Customers usually choose courier services that offer an API (Application Programming Interface). This is an external application embedded on the site that fully automates the process of ordering delivery.

You may need to invest in other infrastructure as well. Couriers can distribute smartphones or tablets with your company's application installed. A special program will also have to be written to monitor how orders are delivered, what reviews the client leaves.

Promotion

Illustrations: Natalia Osipova

Thank you for your help in preparing the material: Bringo, Smartomato, Homeassist

Are you interested in starting a courier service business? Are you in need of a sample courier service business plan template? So, here detailed guide About, how to start a courier business from scratch.

Now for those who don't know what a courier service business is or what it means, a courier service is a commercial company that delivers packages from one location to another for a fee. The list of popular courier brands that are no longer limited to courier services and delivery, but also provide full-time transportation and logistics, includes UPS, FEDEX, DHL, ABC Courier, etc.

Starting a courier business can be a lucrative opportunity, but there are practical things to consider and logistics to consider when there is a possibility that you might overlook them. In order not to waste your time, see below the steps for starting a successful courier company.

How to start a courier business - a typical business plan template

1. Prepare a business plan.

Prepare a comprehensive business plan following the guidelines available from your local small business association and paying particular attention to financial management details.

2. Determine the type of packages you will deliver.

The next step to starting a courier business is to decide if your services will be limited to envelopes and small packages, or if you will be handling large shipments. Naturally, your decision will depend on the capacity of your warehouses and means of transportation. Will you be delivering dangerous goods such as medical and industrial chemicals? If yes, then you and your team should be well aware of how to deal with and transfer such substances.

You can also choose to ship perishable goods. However, you must take into account that this cargo is always time critical, so your manpower and vehicles must meet certain requirements. You must make your branches known. Your ability to deliver a wide variety of cargo will increase your earning potential. However, you should expect to spend more start-up capital. For example, to successfully ship perishable goods, you may need to invest in refrigerated trucks to do so.

3. Decide on the coverage of your service area.

In other words, you must define a package delivery limit. You must make a choice and mark the places around the world where you intend to deliver. Also decide if your services will be limited to a region or country. See if you can handle deliveries across the country. See if you have the resources and network to ship internationally. Bear in mind that the same rule applies to everything. Note that the wider your geographic coverage, the greater the amount you will be required to invest at startup.

4. Determine your delivery price.

You must install pricing policy, and print it in an easy-to-read format. There are several factors to consider when creating a price list. The first thing to take into account is the specificity in total cost transportation costs for gasoline that will be consumed from, say, point A to B. The second factor is the number of packages that will be delivered to a certain area. The third thing you should consider is whether there will be only delivery from point A to B or whether you will be able to take delivery back from point B to A. Fourth, take note of the rates your competitors charge their customers.

In conclusion, the factors mentioned above are only a small part of the whole picture. Keep in mind that you must gain hands-on experience in the industry if you are really serious about starting your own courier service. To get that experience, work for a courier service company - that's the only way to get ahead. Working for a courier company will give you a "feel" for how the system works.

5. Meet with business consultants.

To ensure a successful jump-start, you should consult with a business legal professional who is familiar with the courier service business to advise you on issues such as local zoning laws, which is especially important if you run a home business.

You should contact an accountant who is so familiar with the courier service business to provide advice on how to maintain and maintain a history of your business's past performance, tax returns, the advantages and disadvantages of full-time employees versus independent contractors, and how set up an accounting system. You should also consult with an insurance specialist who is familiar with the courier service business for advice on how to obtain proper insurance. entrepreneurial risks for your office and also for its content, along with coverage for trucks, workers' compensation insurance (if necessary), cargo insurance and medical insurance.

6. Get the necessary permissions for entrepreneurial activity.

Where to get money to start own business? This is the problem faced by 95% of new entrepreneurs! In the article, we have revealed the most relevant ways of obtaining start-up capital for an entrepreneur. We also recommend that you carefully study the results of our experiment in exchange earnings:

You must also obtain the necessary business permits and you must license your business and vehicles; Facilitate a discussion giving reasons for and against incorporating as a company.

7. Get the necessary equipment.

The material resources you will need to start a courier business are listed below. You don't have to limit yourself to these positions, but a thriving courier business will certainly require them:

Vehicle

Transportation is paramount for any delivery service. If you are planning on delivering large items and packages, investing in a covered truck will be your first step. If you're still getting comfortable in the courier business, then it's best to work with what you already have in your garage and deliver goods that will fit nicely in your current vehicle.

You must also make sure that you have the resources to cover fuel costs for several weeks before your customers pay their bills. And don't ignore your vehicle's insurance as it should also cover professional commercial use. Before choosing an insurance company, you will need to know whether you and your Insurance Company financially to cope with any possible contingencies.

GPS system and mobile phone

The GPS system is also important. At present, many cell phones there is this function and it will of course guide you during deliveries. You must purchase city cards in the area you will be covering. The maps are also available in paper format and can be purchased at almost all bookstores. Even if you have GPS, maps are invaluable, especially if the GPS is malfunctioning.

A mobile phone is also important because it will allow you to contact your customers while on the road or anywhere else, as well as allow potential customers to contact you wherever you are. You must also establish a communication system between you, your customers and your drivers, bearing in mind that it is illegal to speak in mobile phone while driving in many areas.

Computer and printer

You need to print invoices, tax returns, and other important documents for your courier business. You will also need a database of your own clients and firms that you have previously dealt with. These are just some of the things you need when starting a courier business.

Buy T-shirts and baseball caps with your company name printed on them. This will create the appearance of more professionalism. Pick a color and use it on every imaginable piece of equipment in your business, including name pens, clipboards, notepads and your vehicles when your business starts to grow. You must advertise your courier business by placing ads in trade publications, local newspapers, and by courier or mailing your flyers to local businesses.

9. Run your own courier business.

At this stage, you are ready to start and run a courier business; here are some additional tips to help you. You must take your vehicles to a mechanic for a major overhaul. Given that you wouldn't want your vehicle to break down, once you've started the business you should take it to a mechanic for a full service and you should also consider a backup vehicle. Order magnetic signs for your Vehicle. You must order these because you will need one for each vehicle front door.

You should consider dedicating one credit card to all your business related expenses. commercial activities. This will make it easier for your accountant when it comes time to reconcile your accounts and pay your taxes. Also keep records or routes based on your work mileage, excluding personal mileage. Personal mileage obviously cannot be deducted from taxable income subject to tax withholding.

In conclusion, it is important that you know that your personality is another extremely important factor if you want to run a successful courier business. You will need to focus on customer service, meaning that you are available and responsive, caring and adaptable. Building trust with your customers is a combination of quality service and, of course, building a good relationship with them. Like many other types of business, running a courier service business requires a lot of patience and determination. Count on a lot of losses, but with proper management and the right connections, you're sure to make more.

Opening a courier delivery service attracts entrepreneurs because it does not require large investments and experience in this field. However, this type of business, like any other, has its pitfalls and nuances. In the business plan, we will highlight the main aspects of this type of activity.

Objective of the project: making a profit by providing courier services to businesses and the public.

The attractiveness of a courier services business is determined by the following factors:

1. Low barriers to market entry.
2. Increasing demand for this type of service.
3. No eligibility requirements.
4. Wide opportunities for business development and scaling.

The amount of initial investment is 149,000 rubles.

The break-even point is reached on the 4th month of operation.

The payback period is 7 months.

The average monthly profit of the 1st year of the project implementation is 43,726 rubles.

2. Description of the business, product or service

3. Description of the market

Every day, many organizations and people resort to the services of courier services. Before opening a delivery service, it is necessary to determine which market segment will have to be served. Potential clients courier services are:

• online stores with delivery of goods;
• flower shops;
• cafes and restaurants;
• publishing houses;
• bookstores.

In the age of technology, online shopping is becoming more and more popular. However, not every organization offering a delivery service has its own staff of couriers. Most online stores resort to outsourcing, and they conclude contracts not with market giants, but with local small firms.

Flower shops are another large segment. Many of them are located in in social networks and offer delivery services. Not having their own courier on staff, they will gladly become your regular customers.

To date, there is not a single more or less large city in which there are not a large number of pizzerias, cafes, restaurants, pancakes and other various establishments. Catering. Most likely, the owners of such establishments will not refuse to have additional profit from the delivery of their dishes to customers at home. Therefore, the courier service can provide their delivery services.

Almost all large organizations need couriers to deliver various packages of documents to some government services. An example would be tax office. The courier from the delivery service will be able not only to take the necessary documents, but also to stand in line with everyone else. Thanks to such services, customers will be able to save their time, and you, as a business owner, will get additional profit.

4. Sales and Marketing

5. Production plan

The main goal of the project is to open a courier service and maximize its profits.

Overview of the real estate market for the selection of the optimal premises.

Requirements for the premises of the beauty elephant:

• Location: can be either the city center or a residential area;
• Room area 10-15 m2;
• Parking is desirable.

• Registration of a legal entity.

Activities can be carried out as individual- IP, and entity- OOO.

• Opening a current account.

6. Organizational structure

Staffing schedule:

• manager - 1,
• couriers - 2-4,

The total number of employees is 3-5 people.

As a rule, the owner of the business acts as the manager in such a small company. The salary is set at 30,000 rubles. Wage couriers piecework and is 30% of completed orders. In the first 2 months it will be enough to hire 2 couriers, however, with an increase in customers, the staff will need to be expanded.

Responsible staffing needs to be taken into account. After all, only serious and diligent employees will help to get good reviews about the company as a whole. If you do not have experience in the provision of courier services, then it is all the more desirable to hire professionals in this field who will help you establish the whole process and organize the correct work with clients.

Before official employment, arrange probation at least for a week. This will help to understand how the future employee treats the client, whether he is able to provide the level of service you set.

Basic recruitment requirements:

• Having your own car;
• Competent Russian written and oral speech;
• A responsibility;
• sociability;
• Activity;
• Reliability.

fixed costs	Salary	The number of employees	Sum	Average salary per month per employee
Supervisor	20 000	1	20 000	32 822
Courier	9 500	4	38 000	25 528
Insurance premiums			17 400
Total payroll			75 400

7. Financial plan

8. Risk factors

Before you enter this business, you should know what dangers may lie in wait on the path to success. When opening a courier service, it is important to remember the following difficulties.