Developing your courier business
We have been noticing lately the sad decline of owner drivers, and their drift back into paid work.
Some of the people giving up their courier business we had spoken to to offer work, and the one thing that stood out loud and clear from talking to all of them - they didn’t research their market prior to starting their business and were not quite sure what they were getting into.
I am often told that the UK courier industry is a saturated market, there are thousands of couriers and they are all cheap. We work in this market, and there is a vast difference between a good courier service that does what it says and a man with a van. Ultimately you get what you pay for, and that is why we are big advocates of business research and tailoring your services to the requirements of your local business community.
August is traditionally a quiet month for couriers, now is the time to do some research and see what is happening in your area.
Further investigation found that despite marketing quite heavily, new couriers were just not ready when the job came through, they were out with their families instead. Really, one courier asked us what we did with our business calls when we went to the cinema!
Self employment isn’t a hobby if you are expected to pay the bills, and if people depend then you need to be ready and eager to take the work. How many times do you think a potential customer will call back if they only get voicemail? How many times do you call back when you get voicemail?
Yes, it’s a saturated market, yes you can make a good business but only if you focus on it, and that means at times the family go out with out you and instead of sitting there waiting for the phone to ring, you are actively chasing potential clients.
Kevin

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