Setting Up a Courier Business
The demand for couriers has never been higher than it currently is. The amount of items that are ordered online every day is staggering and somebody has to deliver those items. This being the case, it’s easy to assume that if you set up your own courier service you’d have a very good chance of success. However things are not quite that simple.
Although couriers are in high demand, the courier industry is highly competitive, with major players like Parcelforce and DHL to compete with as well as countless freelance couriers. If you are confident you can succeed in such a competitive industry though then below are some great tips for getting started.
Getting a premises
One of the first things you’ll need to do when setting up a courier firm is a business premises that you can run your operation from. When looking for the right premises you should think about how much space you need and what you’re able to afford to pay for rent. The main factors that will affect the cost of a business premises is its size and location. You might have to make some compromises when looking for a premises depending on your budget.
Getting insurance
Another thing you’ll need to run a courier business is the right type of cover. Courier insurance policies can be highly tailored to suit your individual needs.
Some common types of cover in a courier insurance policy include –
- Public liability insurance – Public liability insurance is a must when working with the public. If your business was to face a liability claim for any reason then you would need to fight it and if you lost, have enough money to pay out in compensation.
- Road risks – You of course need to cover your drivers for road risks too. You can choose from a third party only policy; third party, fire and theft or fully comprehensive.
- Goods in transit insurance – Goods in transit insurance will ensure that if any of the goods you’re transporting are lost or damaged, then you’d be compensated for the value. This is an extremely important type of cover, especially if you’re transporting valuable goods.
- Breakdown assistance – It’s vital that you have breakdown assistance included in your policy too. This way if any of your drivers were to break down, you can ensure that they’re back on the road again ASAP.