How to Start a Delivery or Courier Business from Home
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Starting a Restaurant & Grocery Delivery
Business
If you're looking to start a business that requires very little start-up costs and has the potential to
offer a great return, a Grocery / Restaurant delivery business is the way to go. With the expanding use of the
internet, people are searching more and more for a way to do what they simply have no time for.
The fundamental steps in beginning a Restaurant and Grocery delivery business are:
1. Choose an attractive business name.
2. Create a logo that will stick in peoples minds. Make it flashy and important. You can do this yourself
with photoshop, but if you lack the artistic skills, you can expect to pay between $50 to $200 for a
professional image.
3. Do not get a business license until you have established your client base a bit. The reason I say this is
because taxes will burn you. The hassle that is associated with a new business can be easily avoided if you
simply start small and take your time in going official. This particular business allows for that as you are
providing a service that will (for a short time) go unnoticed in that respect. (but, you will want to
eventually get your business license, especially because you will not be able to accept checks written to your
business without it.)
4. Start by only accepting cash and checks. Eventually you'll want to include cards, but the cost of the
merchant account will overwhelm you if your income is not such that you can justify it. Don't worry,
surprisingly very few people will ever have an issue with this.
5. Get a website. Get a website. Get a website. You can get one set up through godaddy.com for less than $70
a year. This is important not only for a quality business image, but it makes your life easier and the lives of
others easier. Also, when someone searches locally for a service, Google provides local listings for which you
can enter your business. A website not only moves you up the list faster, but to the user it gives the
impression that you are more established and more capable of meeting their needs. Don't know why, that's just
the way it is.
6. Hand out flyers, posters, business cards and free crap. The return, most likely, will not be to your
expectations, but it will cost you almost nothing but your time. Between all of the above methods, you can go
to Kinkos and pay about $40 for everything. The posters will account for the bulk of that estimate.
7. Remember: A customer is contagious. If you get one and you treat them right, they will turn into two,
three and four. Word of mouth will always be your greatest source of advertising. If you can afford it get an
ad placed on your car. You should be able to find a full back window ad for under $130. This price is
reasonable for an ad that will go everywhere you go.
8. Now you have about 30 returning customers. You might think about getting that business license. While it
is not completely necessary, customers will find it comforting to write a check to a business rather than just
some guy. You can expect to pay about $60-$90 for the whole ordeal.
9. Once yo have a business license and a business bank account, you'll want to place about $200 in the
account. Order a debit card and checks. When someone places an order, pay for it with the debit card, saving
two receipts. One of those receipts is left with the customer and the other goes into a file with your other
purchased receipts. Keep these receipts separate from your account expenses (gas, etc). When you deliver the
food and the customer reimburses you for the food PLUS your delivery fee, place it all back into your account.
Now you have $220. (Or so, depending on what you charge for delivery)
10.The checks that you ordered in step 10 are for you. When you want to spend some of that hard earned cash
simply write a check out to yourself. In this way the records are clean and it's obvious to the IRS what is
what. There IS, however, the issue of letting the IRS know what is profit and what is simply returned to the
account after purchasing the items. This is explained by the receipts you've kept. When filing taxes hire a
professional the first year. Expect to pay about $100 for this service.
Bottom Line:
Minus tax related expenses, you can expect to pay around $500 in total expenses. The good thing is that this
can be spent as you get it and you've got all the time in the world.
This is an easy business to start. It will take hours of your blood and sweat, but financially speaking, it
is one of the cheapest, most demanded ways to go.
Different business charge different amounts depending on the location and economy. Chances are you'll get it
wrong in the beginning, but soon you'll find that comfortable price where you and the customer are happy.
Whatever happens, don't get discouraged. This will take time and patience but every town needs it and
chances are if there's one near you, You could be doing it for cheaper and with better service and customer
satisfaction.
If you need help with a website, logo or advice please contact Dan at snickersnack83@gmail.com. For an example of
a quality website that you may want to model your site around, please visit http://www.StGeorgeDelivery.com. Hope this helps. I've
learned from experience.
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Starting a Delivery or Courier Business Business Checklist:
- Get a business license. Requirements vary by location, so check with your city or
county government office (office listings by state).
- Register your business name with
the city or county clerk. If you decide to operate your business by a name other than your personal name,
you'll need to register that name.
- Get a separate business bank account with your local bank. Make sure that the bank is FDIC is
insured, and it's a good idea to interview a few different banks to find out which one offers the best
services for your business.
- Arrange a meeting with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways to maximize your business tax deductions. Tax deductions can greatly maximize your income, so it's
important to know which ones to take. You can also get more information from a book about business tax
deductions - sometimes at your local library or bookstore.
- Meet with an insurance agent to discuss insurance you may need for your delivery business. The
IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) is a good place to
start. You can also get free quotes online for business insurance
- Set up your business phone system. Whether you use a toll-free 800 phone number, a multi-line phone system, VoIP or simply add an
additional phone number to your existing service, you'll want a designated line to establish a
professional business image.
- Order Business Cards. Business cards are often the first impression a prospect gets
of your business, so it's a good idea to have them on hand. You can design your own business cards
online with professional design tools and cut the cost significantly.
- Set up a website. A website can be a great tool for selling your service to clients.
Post your service area, rates, hours, information about you, testimonials from previous customers, etc.
Your website can work for you 24 hours a day, and you can include the website address on your business
cards, ads, etc..
Advertising Your Delivery Business
Get Free Publicity
Besides advertising in your local yellow pages and running ads, you can save money by writing a brief press
release or "letter" to your local paper announcing the launch of your delivery service. You can also use press
releases on an ongoing basis to publicize events, news and activities happening with your business.
Offer a special discount or free offer for first-time customers, and publications will find this more
newsworthy. This means that they're more likely to publish news about your company. You can write your own
press release - you can find press release samples here: How to Get Free Press.
Advertise your business simply by driving your vehicle Free Car Door Custom Magnet
Postcard Marketing
Do a postcard mailing to introduce your delivery service to the neighborhood (businesses and/or individuals).
Using low-cost online services makes this an easy marketing task. First, choose a special offer that you want
to announce to potential customers. Second, design your postcards online using professional postcard
templates with VistaPrint (you can get 50% off here). And
third, get targeted leads from a lead generation company like Resource Nation.
