Courier Startup

[Sentinel Shield]

I asked a few months back, but just hoped to get more of a response this time around.

Does anyone have any info on setting up a courier business, what regulations are involved etc?

Thanks in advance

 

[CIulian]

sure you want to start a courier business? I work for a courier, they grow by day because they invest sick, sick money in it. you wouldn't believe, just to implement a small strategy like "leave parcel with neighbour" they had to spend over 2 million. the market is way to competitive, and literally dominated by 2 or 3 major players. DHL is losing money, Yodel is losing money. think again...

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Do you mean a courier company or a agency, there is a big difference one needs to be able to delivery to the whole of the UK as a muct whilst the other just services a local area as part of a big company, Check out Franchise magazines

 

[Sentinel Shield]

Thanks CI

I feel we have a strong point of difference, very strong.

 

[Kevincloud]

insurance liability.
go self employed.
website.
business cards.
landline that is forwarded to a mobile phone number.
get your terms sorted (cancellations can be a nightmare)
advertise in all the free directorys.
network at local business events.
try and get local newspaper coverage.
be competative, but dont go too cheap,
have you looked at shiply to get yourself some income before you are Established.
possibly partner up with other local couriers
(own my own motorcycle courier business in north wales)
lots of hard work to get customers - but the money is there

 

[Sentinel Shield]

Thanks Kevin

Are there any regulatory registrations required, or is insurance the only thing?

 

[Kevincloud]

there are regs/standards to carrying certain types of things ie live organs, radioactive material etc lol, but you can get copies of those offline its more a case of following the guidelines than an actual licence to carry..handy to brush up on but very rarely come across it

 

[Rico Plymouth]

Hi Sentinel,
Being a courier or setting up a courier business is relatively straight forward.
I think Kevin covered the majority of what you would need.
It all depends what level you want to go for?
If you just want to be a courier, you could find that working for one of the 'nationals' could be beneficial. Yes the rates can be lower than going direct, but the volume is there to hopefully reduce as much dead mileage as possible. It would also give you a good insight to the industry.
Going for it yourself is an option, but what do you do if you get a few customers, then they both want you at the same time to go different ways? how would you cover it without letting one down?
can you find (harder than you may think) enough customers to provide an income and service all of their needs?
What type of service do you want to offer? Many people, as seen above get a courier mixed up with an overnight parcel carrier. Yes DHL and Yodel are struggling, Citylink just got sold for a pound, TNT and UPS were looking to merge, but they are a seperate sector in the industry. To me a definition of courier is collect from A and deliver DIRECT to B. No offence meant to anyone by that comment.
Is it sameday you want? Is it overnight parcels? is it retail delivery? What size of vehicle would you use? and the main one is the area you are in.
Do you have much competition where you are? I would strongly advise to research the industry in depth, and get a clear idea of WHAT exactly you want to do. Too many people get made redundant or unemployed, think they can just buy a van and that's it.
But on the flip side, get it right, and it can be a great job, lots of adventures and everyday is different!
Just ensure you have a HEALTHY pot to start up with as it can be a long haul getting the customers and more importantly getting paid!
Good luck and feel free to ask if you require any more advice.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Me and Mike at Rico Plymouth go back a long way fortunately for me I have kept my youthful looks and all my hair unlike Mike

You have to be a Norfolk Poultry farm short of a turkey to want to do this .
You could end with a small fortune at the end of it all but you would have to start up with a big fortune .

I could go on and on about why its a bad idea but every time I do nobody takes any notice of me so I say do what you like !!!!!!

There is no money in this industry I only survive because I run every morning and drink cherry juice I think that's the reason why but Im not all that sure

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

No if was starting a business now It would be with one of you wizz kids on here that don't shave and drink frothy coffee

 

[Kevincloud]

No if was starting a business now It would be with one of you wizz kids on here that don't shave and drink frothy coffee

i partially shave actually, and have my coffee black..

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

i partially shave actually, and have my coffee black..

You will never get anywhere I think the future industry leaders wear jeans and tee shirts and look like something dragged out the river

 

[Kevincloud]

you forgot about the loafers with no socks

 

[Sentinel Shield]

Thanks guys *sips unpronounceable coffee* our concept is indeed a pure courier, direct delivery from one business to another. Often this means air or sea travel.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

The problem is there is very little demand for dedicated loads. Very little !!

Look at it from the customers point of view . He has a pallet to send from London to Manchester .

He does not want to spend £300 for a dedicated van when the pallet networks can do an overnight delivery for £50 !!!!
There is little or no demand !!

 

[Sentinel Shield]

Unless it is time critical and security is paramount, thinking of valuables or perishables.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Unless it is time critical and security is paramount, thinking of valuables or perishables.

Again they are few and far between but this is very problem I say don't do this its unviable and people never take any notice of me and still do it and then stop !!!!!!!!

My advice to you is take some time out cold call as many business as you possibly can. Just simply ask them what transport services their company uses record and document your findings and you will discover that there is a very small demand. !!!
Look around your industrial estate or town center what do see ? !!
Lots and lots of dedicated vehicles moving dedicated cargo !!!
No !!!
You see parcel vans moving cheap parcels
Haulage firms moving cheap pallets
Haulage firm with full loads
but not these dedicated loads !!

 

[Rico Plymouth]

Me and Mike at Rico Plymouth go back a long way fortunately for me I have kept my youthful looks and all my hair unlike Mike

Your youthful looks have lines (wrinkles) in the middle and your hair is synthetic. Even hair has a shelf life and you is old!

Sentinel... I had your ambition once, and set up and ran my own company for a good few years, then the industry changed, but I knew it would be back, so haplessly sold the Audi, sold the Mrs (well divorced anyway), remortgaged the house, sold my soul then I realised the good days weren't coming back. Email, technology, overnight carriers, overnight pallets, filing online.....the amount of items needed urgently now are probably 5% of what they used to be, with 100 x more drivers willing to do the work and undercut people. I like your passion and understand it, but please do serious research and LISTEN to what the results tell you!
What area of the UK are you in? have you considered working as a contractor to someone else....?