A man with a van - business idea

[Tom H P]

Hello there. I was wondering if anyone could provide any advice please?

I am considering purchasing a cheap (but neat) big white van to advertise myself as a man with a van. I would be offering removal services of any kind, including any form of transportation. Based in the South West, I would aim to keep my rates reasonable, but I was hoping to see if anyone had done this / knows of anyone - to see how successful it might be.

Does anyone know if there is still scope for this, despite current fuel prices?

Thanking you in advance,

Tom.

 

[thisthatandtheother]

Instead of a van, why not get a flat bed truck with the sides, there is a name but cannot think for the life of me what it is. With this you could offer waste removal. I use a man who done the same thing and if I cannot put a skip somewhere he is very handy. You would need a waste license though. Just another option for you

 

[fisicx]

Get a luton van if you are going to do removals.

It can be a nice little earner but it's hard work. I used a chap like this last time I moved and he earned his money - carrying stuff up and down stairs isn't easy but he said he could generally earn enough to have lots of long weekends.

 

[nikky12]

There could be many things you can do with the VAN but whats your idea thats more important.

You need to identify your preferences and interests then hunt for some business plan support here.

 

[Gillie]

Hello there. I was wondering if anyone could provide any advice please?

I am considering purchasing a cheap (but neat) big white van to advertise myself as a man with a van. I would be offering removal services of any kind, including any form of transportation. Based in the South West, I would aim to keep my rates reasonable, but I was hoping to see if anyone had done this / knows of anyone - to see how successful it might be.

Does anyone know if there is still scope for this, despite current fuel prices?

Thanking you in advance,

Tom.

I have a brother who does something similar to this - although he now has several vans - he uses them for various things though - one is strictly house clearances and removals whilst the others are used for gardening/handyman jobs etc. He originally was just going in to removals, but was getting so many people asking about odd jobs and other various things, that eventually he is known in the area as the Handyman and literally does most things that anyone asks them to do.

Its all about adapting to what the market wishes for I suppose.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

I am considering purchasing a cheap (but neat) big white van to advertise myself as a man with a van. I would be offering removal services of any kind, including any form of transportation.

It depends entirely on what the embolded section above means. I don't think you actually mean transporting people, but if you were to do that naturally you would need the relevant licenses to do so. There are also restrictions on certain hazardous materials that you cannot transport without licenses.

If you plan on packing the van with your customers goods, transporting it and helping to off load it at the other end you would need to inform your insurance provider of this, you would also need to consider 'Goods in Transit' insurance to cover your costs when something inevitably gets broken. You can mitigate some liability by having your customers load and unload the vehicle themselves and have robust terms and conditions.

 

[CabinLIving]

I beleive you will have to be careful with insurance, its one type of insurance carrying your own tools for your trade etc and quite different if you start courier(ing) someone elses goods. Correct me if I'm wrong but From what I recall the second is quite costly.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

I beleive you will have to be careful with insurance, its one type of insurance carrying your own tools for your trade etc and quite different if you start courier(ing) someone elses goods. Correct me if I'm wrong but From what I recall the second is quite costly.

As I said just prior to you posting this (I expect we posted at the same time ) he would need to consider Goods in Transit insurance, and this isn't actually that expensive. Public Liability Insurance probably wouldn't go a miss either, again this isn't that expensive.

 

[Gillie]

I beleive you will have to be careful with insurance, its one type of insurance carrying your own tools for your trade etc and quite different if you start courier(ing) someone elses goods. Correct me if I'm wrong but From what I recall the second is quite costly.

Yes it can be expensive - but if you get all your insurance from one commercial place it can often work out better as they will 'do' a good deal for you.

You do though have to factor it in your set up costs - it is vital as you will get various customers asking about it - they want to know if they can provide the insurance or if you have your own.

 

[matt seymour]

I considered doing man and van a while back and you can earn a reasonable living from it.

If you are going to do removals get a Luton van. In fact, get a Luton van regardless.

You'll need courier insurance or haulier insurance as well as goods in transit and public liability.

There are sites like shiply where people who want removals doing advertise the jobs and you can bid on them. It's not a bad place to start. Also drop some postcards/leaflets around local universities as students move about all the time.

A website and a google map/place would be helpful too. There are also Facebook buy and sell groups you can regularly post on to advertise your services.

 

[MrCloser]

Hello there. I was wondering if anyone could provide any advice please?

I am considering purchasing a cheap (but neat) big white van

Most 'cheap' vans have been worked to death, white ones in particular.
Just a fuel pump for a transit or the usual MOT welding could cost you what you paid for on the van in the first place with little added value. Getting something better would probably work out cheaper and more reliable in the short to medium term.

 

[Digital Ark]

Hi

I just got a local 'man with a van' to help empty the junk from my garage today and take it to the local tip. Definitely a market.

Simon

 

[roydmoorian]

Hi

I just got a local 'man with a van' to help empty the junk from my garage today and take it to the local tip. Definitely a market.

Simon

Was he a registered waste carrier and did he leave you a "waste transfer note" or will he be fly tipping your rubbish along with everyone elses ?

 

[LicensedToTrade]

A 'Man with a Van' is typically just another word for 'Income Tax Evader'.

 

[MrsPWN]

I recon you should go against the grain and be "man with a red van" or maybe green and you can capitalise on being eco friendly as well, like dump trips, recycling etc

 

[Tax-UK]

Removals is actually a big industry with several sub-industries or niches. I have seen the accounts of a company turning over £2 million pounds. This particular one collects rubbish from abandoned houses, drug houses or any other house which normal cleaning companies would not touch. They aim to do to pickups per day, the first collection covers the costs and the second is pure profit

 

[Tom H P]

What a huge amount of help. Thank you very much everyone for your time and for your advice.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Have a look at this chap.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KENT-THAN...306?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item35b47277aa

 

[Tom H P]

Very interesting link. Thank you very much indeed.

 

[Aaravkmr]

Vans are not expensive, and if you are willing to give up your current car (assuming you have one) you could probably get a great trade in.

 

[Tom H P]

Thank you all so much for your replies.

Potentially, the vehicle and transportation costs for a MAN with VAN company include:

breakdown cover
waste licence
tax / mot / van insurance
goods in transit insurance
public liability insurance
courier insurance

Is this correct? It seems like a lot of insurance but it does make sense.

Thanks again,

Tom.

 

[roydmoorian]

Thank you all so much for your replies.

Potentially, the vehicle and transportation costs for a MAN with VAN company include:

breakdown cover
waste licence
tax / mot / van insurance
goods in transit insurance
public liability insurance
courier insurance

Is this correct? It seems like a lot of insurance but it does make sense.

Thanks again,

Tom.

Why not put on an accent and forget about the licences & insurances & taxes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14017865

 

[Mitch3473]

Thinking outside the box for a bit..I live in Spain and there is always a call for transport to and from the UK.Be it full removals to small multi drop items.Try advertising on expat forums and in expat papers and magazines in both Spain,and France,seeing as you'll be passing through.

 

[matt seymour]

Thank you all so much for your replies.

Potentially, the vehicle and transportation costs for a MAN with VAN company include:

breakdown cover
waste licence
tax / mot / van insurance
goods in transit insurance
public liability insurance
courier insurance

Is this correct? It seems like a lot of insurance but it does make sense.

Thanks again,

Tom.

Yes, you will need all that, but you might be able to get haulage insurance instead of courier depending on exactly what you intend to do.

There's a fair few quid to be made out of taking away people's old washing machines and other metals as well. I had a guy take away a dishwasher and cooker today at about 2pm and his van was already full just from that day. He had about £200 worth of scrap on there. Not bad for not even a whole day's work.

If you offer to take this stuff away for free like he does, you'll have no shortage of takers believe me.

The only possible downside is that quite a few people are starting up offering this kind of service because of how easy it is to get in to, so there is a bit of competition.

I'd stay away from "courier" work, as that really is getting a bit swamped.

 

[efutures]

Hello there. I was wondering if anyone could provide any advice please?

I am considering purchasing a cheap (but neat) big white van to advertise myself as a man with a van. I would be offering removal services of any kind, including any form of transportation. Based in the South West, I would aim to keep my rates reasonable, but I was hoping to see if anyone had done this / knows of anyone - to see how successful it might be.

Does anyone know if there is still scope for this, despite current fuel prices?

Thanking you in advance,

Tom.

Try advertising for free right now on local classified sites online. If you get a few calls, just tell them you are backed up and refer them to someone else. It's an easy way to test your market before you go and splurge for a van.

 

[cjsdh]

Ah, is a question worth exploring.