How to organize a delivery service

Due to the rapid increase in the number of orders in online stores, the services of a professional delivery service are becoming very popular. This type of business does not require large investments and can be very interesting for beginning entrepreneurs.

Features of the courier services market

Russian Post is the largest delivery service in the country. However, this organization works slowly and unreliably. Many mailing companies prefer to work with alternative organizations.

The choice of organizations that are engaged in delivery is rather small and the prices for their services are somewhat overstated. On this basis, small courier companies can successfully compete with large companies due to the individual approach to each client, their mobility and lower prices. Prompt delivery is the key to the success of any company that works in the market of courier services.

Where to start organizing a delivery service

Densely populated points are suitable for this type of business. In a village or a small town, such a company may burn out.

You should immediately decide what goods you will deliver. In order to work with bulky cargo, you need to get the appropriate transport and it is advisable to have more than one car. Therefore, you need to hire a driver (at least one), solve the problem of paying operating costs and a parking place.

Alternatively, you can conclude an agreement with a transport company or hire drivers with personal vehicles.

Your company must have a permanent dispatcher who will take orders. At first, you yourself can work on the phone. The main stream of orders usually arrives during business hours (from 9 to 19), however it is around-the-clock operational delivery that can become your kind of "chip".

If you plan to engage in the delivery of bulky goods, then you will need to have a team of movers on staff.

A competent selection of staff will help you avoid many problems in the future. You should not hire people from the street who will agree to work for scanty pay. You will sometimes trust them with very valuable goods, for the safety and timely delivery of which your company is responsible.

Couriers working in your company should be able to competently communicate with people, dispatchers should be as polite as possible, movers not drinkers, and drivers should be able to navigate well in the city.

Cons courier business

As in any other field of activity, the courier business has its drawbacks.

The main customers of delivery companies are individuals who pay your servants in cash. Such operations require the purchase of a special banking license, which is very difficult to obtain and is quite expensive. That is why the majority of small courier companies operate without a license and at the same time take very high risks.

In this business, you will often have problems with staff. In such companies there is always a large turnover of personnel. Most often, students work as a courier, who are often very frivolous in their duties. For them, this work is temporary and they often violate the established rules. Elderly people are more responsible, but, unfortunately, are not quick.

The development of your company can be hindered by numerous competitors. For example, many restaurants deliver free of charge if the order amount exceeds a certain amount. A huge problem is traffic jams in the central streets.

Delivery service: where to find customers

Clients of your company may be banks, which still prefer to send important documents by courier, law firms and other organizations that send documents to their partners.

Some delivery services specialize in the delivery of goods from Russian online stores and company accounts. You can try to conclude contracts with stores that specialize in home delivery.