Starting any business is impossible without detailed analysis, market research and drawing up an indicative development plan, the so-called business plan.
One of the most rapidly growing areas is the service courier delivery, whose services consist of fast and high-quality movement of the customer’s goods or documents from one point to another destination.
Main advantages and disadvantages of business
Of course, like any other type of business activity that is quite developed, popular and, accordingly, profitable, organizing courier delivery has many more advantages than disadvantages.
The main beneficial and advantageous indicators in relation to the owner and organizer of this type of activity include:
- Enough high level profitability and profitability. IN in this case It should be noted that concentration and universalization in the person of one delivery operator allows significant savings on costs that are aimed at moving cargo. For both individuals and legal entities, it is much more profitable to contact a specialized company in order to obtain cargo transportation services than to do it yourself, especially when it comes to small volumes. This is why various similar ones have been so popular lately, which, in turn, has caused a surge in the growth of the number of operators.
- To organize a small-scale service provision Relatively small capital investment required. At the first stages of its development, an enterprise can use rented warehouse space, as well as cars or other vehicles necessary for carrying out business activities.
- No special requirements for ordinary personnel(this thesis does not apply to the administrative group of employees and specialists). When recruiting personnel, it is enough to conduct a short introductory briefing or internal training in the basics of logistics, internal procedures and methods. In this connection, one should make a simple conclusion that the cost part related to the wages of ordinary employees will be at an acceptable level for the business owner, if we talk about the average statistical indicators of this cost item among similar enterprises and institutions.
The disadvantages include the following facts from the experience of developing and already established companies:
- If you have your own vehicle fleet, there are high costs for its maintenance, such as current and major repairs, licensing, insurance, mandatory government payments and fees, etc.
- Quite a large number of small operations that require perseverance from staff and a large share of responsibility, since we are talking about handling someone else’s property, often very expensive.
In order to determine all the advantages and disadvantages of this type of business, you should clearly understand the level of investment in its development, the territorial level of coverage of the service area and other important factors.
You can watch the conference on the topic of opening such an enterprise in the video:
Required permits
In accordance with current legislation, business entities who want to provide services related to the delivery of goods, are required to obtain a license for freight forwarding and transportation activities. This permit is issued in case of mandatory compliance with technical and environmental standards and requirements.
If the requirements are met, the license is issued for a period of 5 years. Particular attention should be paid to the possible transportation of dangerous goods, which is regulated on the basis of separate rules and regulations.
It is worth noting that activities related to the transportation of goods across the territory of one city or region are not subject to licensing if third-party or even public transport is used.
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First steps to get started
Any activity that is aimed at making a profit is recognized as entrepreneurial; accordingly, it must go through all stages and phases state registration, provided for by the current legislation:
- After you have been or whose main activity is the delivery of goods and other material assets, you should take care of branding your business, the so-called bringing it to the masses. Even if at this stage the founder does not have the necessary assets (real estate, transport, personnel, automated systems accounting and control), you need to start with advertising, albeit with suspensive conditions, for example: “SOON! Opening of a new courier delivery service." It should be noted that a bright and resounding name will immediately be imprinted in the minds of potential consumers of these services, and the time during which the owner will be involved in processing transactions for the purchase and sale or rental of real estate and Vehicle, will only play into his hands.
- At the next stage, of course, you should decide on the location of the warehouse where loading and unloading operations will be carried out. This premises should have the most favorable geographical location within the city, be close to the main transport interchanges and hubs, with public transport stops located nearby. As such, there are no special requirements for the room, but it should be noted that it must be heated, dry, and electrified. Deratization work must be carried out, since the presence of rodents in a warehouse is not best bonus for a new entrepreneur in disputes with injured clients. It is advisable to locate office premises for administrative personnel in close proximity to the place where the main activity is carried out.
- Renting or purchasing vehicles. Should be paid Special attention at this stage, since the high-quality and timely provision of services to consumers depends on it. In many ways, the selection of transport also depends on the owner’s plans for developing his business. If the delivery service only provides for movement within city limits, then having huge trucks in the vehicle fleet is not at all advisable, and delivery of large cargo on scooters to cities in the neighboring region is unrealistic.
Required Personnel
Personnel selection is the most critical stage in the development of a high-quality, reliable and popular delivery service. The administrative personnel who act as support or serve the main administrative processes must include:
- Director or directorate.
- Chief accountant or accounting department, cashier.
- Responsible for the condition of the vehicle fleet (for example, chief mechanic).
- Safety engineer, since the work is related to equipment and fixed or working capital (cars, racks and loads on them, etc.) that are dangerous to the life and health of personnel.
- Head of warehouse.
The main working personnel must have knowledge in the field of logistics. To do this, you should either select employees with relevant work experience, which in itself is optimal, or organize small courses for them to obtain the appropriate qualifications. 
Customer acquisition and marketing campaigns
None of the modern enterprises or organizations will fully and quickly develop without a proper advertising campaign and high-quality positioning of themselves in the market of services of a certain segment.
In addition to visual advertising of the opening of a new service also various marketing “traps” should be used. These include bonuses and privileges for the first certain number of clients and consumers, the introduction of a system of discount cards or the organization of a so-called client club.
It is important to remember that the majority of both potential and existing customers will be attracted by financial benefits - discounts or gifts.
A plastic discount card with the logo and slogan of the courier company will always be in sight of consumers, and the system of discounts and savings conditions affiliate program will be able to significantly increase the number of clients. 
Business development options. Summary of Costs and Profitability
Of course, the development and direction of the functioning of a business, its volume and sphere of influence largely depend on the initial capital allocated by the owner at the formation stage. In the case of a courier service, several types of organization of its activities are possible, depending on the territorial coverage, these are:
- City service, which operates within one city and is the most economical in terms of cost.
- Service carrying out its activities throughout the state. In this case, the initial costs of organizing it are several times different from its urban counterpart.
- International format. Here the enterprise covers not only individual countries, but also continents. It is not difficult to conclude that the costs of the organization are incommensurable with previous analogues, and the development of any service to the international level indicates the colossal work of top management and financial investments.
Of course, in history there are many examples of the development of enterprises from small unitary to international and transcontinental concerns; all this depends on the approach to doing business, compliance with international schemes and development standards, and, importantly, the desires of the owner.
The issue of costs when establishing a delivery service is also very relative and largely depends on the capabilities of the owner, the level of expected compliance with world leaders and many other factors.
Based on existing experience of registration and foundation similar startups, we can conclude that the minimum amount, which includes only the costs of purchasing the necessary fixed assets, office equipment, furniture, equipment, can begin from 100,000-150,000 rubles. Payback on average can take up to several months, which depends on the right advertising campaign, geographical location, loyalty to first customers and the quality of services provided to them.
It is also necessary to take into account the fact that due to the expansion of business and an increase in the total volume of services provided, the expenditure part also increases, and it is in this case that it is very important not to lose the balance and ratio of expenditure and income, skillfully using the potential of professional administrative staff.
Today, most people find it difficult to find time to go to the supermarket for groceries and prepare home-cooked meals. In such situations, various services for the delivery of food and ready-to-eat dishes come to the rescue. This means that business in this service segment will become profitable and quickly recoup the initial costs. However, before investing in a food delivery service, you need to create a detailed business plan and evaluate your capabilities.
Analysis of the feasibility of investing in a food delivery business
Modern society is characterized by a high pace of life; many people have irregular work schedules that do not allow them to stand at the stove for hours. The average city dweller is forced to reduce the time spent on food, and in most cases, an hour of working time is valued more expensive than ordering ready-made food. This is why the demand for food delivery services is increasing.
These factors have made the food delivery business the fastest growing segment of the restaurant industry. Data from the analytical agency RBC.Research and statistics from the Delivery Club service suggest a rapid growth in demand for home delivery services for ready-made lunches and dinners.
Every day in Russia, food delivery services deliver 150,000 orders
Table: information on the development of the business area in 2017
It is obvious that the demand for delivery services still far exceeds supply, which means that the quantity and quality of the service can be improved. This statement is an external prerequisite for starting your own food delivery business.
Internal reasons for investing in this segment include:
Ideas for starting a food delivery business
A food delivery business can be opened in 2 formats, which require radically different approaches and an incomparable level of initial investment:
- wok noodles;
- pizza;
- sushi and rolls.
Photo gallery: the most popular dishes for home delivery
The highest incomes, subject to proper customer attraction, are observed among catering companies serving banquets and corporate parties. Such an organization requires high skill of cooks and the availability of expensive equipment.
To reduce costs for initial stage, Can:
Video: how to make money delivering food
Own production and delivery
Its production requires obtaining a full set of permits from regulatory authorities and resolving issues with the operating procedure:
Self-production requires renting large premises, purchasing expensive equipment and obtaining permits to work with food.
Organization of food production is an independent topic with many nuances, so in this article we will consider only issues related to food delivery itself.
Mediation between catering establishments and clients
Many restaurant and cafe owners are forced to abandon the organization of home delivery services due to the high costs of this method of increasing sales. Delivery requires hiring additional personnel, who need to be paid money, regardless of the number of orders per day; in addition, you will have to advertise the service and allocate funds for disposable packaging and repairs of transport.
Most restaurants are not ready to organize their own delivery service, which means you can enter into an agreement with them to provide intermediary services
If a consumer likes the menu of an establishment that refuses to provide delivery services, all he can do is come and place an order in person or use delivery elsewhere. But not everyone has time to go to a restaurant, and therefore customers, including potential ones, get lost. The problem is resolved after concluding an agreement with the delivery service - this is beneficial to both parties.
Table: advantages of cooperation between catering establishments and food delivery services
The advantages of this food delivery business model are:
How to open a food delivery business: step-by-step instructions
To start your own food delivery business to homes and offices, follow the instructions below:
Business registration
First of all, you need to register your business, otherwise the activity will be illegal, fines for tax evasion will follow, and it will be impossible to conclude an agreement with public catering establishments.
To open a food delivery service, it is better to register entity
Russian laws prohibit the sale of ready-to-eat takeaway food, with the only exceptions being pizza, pies and some bakery products. And while large companies are often forgiven for such violations, individual entrepreneurs will not be able to register such activities.
A serious approach to organizing a business involves registering a legal entity - doing business becomes more difficult in terms of taxation, accounting, reporting and large fines for violations, but LLC still has its advantages over individual entrepreneurs:
Also pay attention to the choice of taxation system - if you do not indicate during registration that you would like to switch to simplified system(USN) or on single tax on imputed income (UTII), the general system (OSNO) will be automatically applied to you, which involves paying a large number of taxes and drawing up many reports, which will significantly complicate doing business for a beginner.
Preparation of documents and obtaining permits
In order to start a legal business activity, you need to have the following documents on hand:
The full list of documents depends on the current requirements of regulatory services. Do not forget to save all accounting reports and primary documentation(checks, invoices, etc.), otherwise fines from the tax office will follow.
All documents relating to the financial aspects of a businessman’s activities must be kept in perfect order.
Menu creation
In the case of delivery of ready-made dishes from restaurants and cafes in your city, you create a menu based on the offer of establishments with which you were able to conclude an agreement, replenishing the assortment as new agreements are signed.
If you organize your own production, everything will depend on financial opportunities business owner and from the catering establishments available in the city. See which kitchens are most in demand, take a survey on the website or in in social networks. If, for example, Chinese cuisine is chosen, and there are no lovers in the city, you will have to completely re-equip the kitchen and start all over again.
A varied menu will attract a large number of customers
It is best to offer customers variety, but remember that this will require large financial investments, hiring many employees and having a warehouse. Therefore, to begin with, it is worth focusing on one thing, and it is desirable that there are few similar offers in the city.
Selecting a room
In fact, any small office space is suitable - 10–15 m2 is quite enough. There is no point in renting a place in the entrance part of the city - there is no point in attracting the attention of passers-by; only call center dispatchers will work in the office itself. Therefore, choose a premises that does not require large expenses and is equally distant from the outskirts of the city - this will allow you to adjust the cost of delivery for customers living far from the center.
For a food delivery service call center office, it will be enough to rent a room with an area of 10–15 square meters. m
Own production will require large areas (50–100 m2) and a location near busy streets - this will allow, in addition to delivery, to sell takeaway food.
Equipment purchase
If you plan to work as an intermediary between catering establishments and customers, then you will only need to buy thermal bags and, possibly, a computer for the dispatcher to receive orders. If you plan to make cashless payments, you will have to purchase 2 terminals.
For a food delivery service without your own production, it is enough to purchase 4 thermal bags
But the full production cycle will be expensive and will increase the initial investment many times over. The list of equipment in this case depends on the menu - the more varied it is, the more clients you will be able to attract, and the more expensive equipment you will have to purchase. For example, let's take a standard set of equipment for preparing and delivering pizza.
Table: equipment for pizza production and delivery
Recruitment
When the delivery service is just opening, a large staff is not required - it takes time to form a customer base and conclude contracts with as many as possible a large number catering establishments.
First, you should hire two call center operators and four couriers with a personal car - they will work in shifts, changing every 2 days. Then one dispatcher and two couriers will work simultaneously.
Even if potential employees convince you that they are ready to work every day, seven days a week, do not take only one operator and two couriers - employees may get sick, the machine sometimes breaks down, there are unforeseen situations, and overtime hours may vary. labor legislation are paid at one and a half and double rates.
Finally, it is better to hire a full-time programmer. Of course, if the site fails, you can contact a third-party IT company, but this will take a lot of time, and a non-working site means direct losses and loss of customers. To save on a specialist’s salary, you can hire an employee to work remotely and part-time, with the condition that he will be in touch at the right time.
It is better to hire a full-time site administrator than to contact third-party companies every time
It is worth noting that dispatchers are initially hired on the terms remote work- this way you can cut your salary and not buy your own laptop or computer.
Business plan for home food delivery
Registering your business and investing money should always be preceded by drawing up detailed business plan. Remember that your goal is to rationally and impartially evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a food delivery business, and not to try to convince yourself of the merits of opening such a service. This way you can protect yourself from unjustified costs and ruin even at the planning stage.
Description of the sales market
When studying the sales market, you need to focus not only on statistical data, but also on the conditions for doing business in a particular city. Before you fill an empty niche or compete with existing delivery services, pay attention to the following factors:
The target audience
Since, regardless of the economic situation and food prices, the demand for food does not decrease and is not seasonal, and the wide range of ready-made dishes offered can satisfy any taste, the target audience for this market segment is quite diverse.
Table: food delivery service clients
Competitor analysis
The only competitors of the food delivery service are similar services. The market capacity for this type of service is quite large, so there will always be demand. In addition, competition will not hinder the development of the new delivery service due to the fact that there are several times more catering establishments whose menu items will be offered for home delivery than delivery services.
The following improvements will help you stand out from your competitors and surpass them:
Prospects for food delivery business development
If you have reserve funds or third-party cash injections into business development, you can think about the prospects:
Sales and Marketing
The main thing in the development strategy of a new food delivery service is to assess the shortcomings of such services and offer a convenient customer service scheme. It is necessary to continuously work on the speed and quality of service and control over these indicators. And you should also organize reserve funds from the very beginning of the business, since only the availability of resources for rapid expansion as the sales market increases will allow you to cope with growing demand and remain at the forefront.
Opening advertising campaign
Distributing booklets is an effective method of advertising food delivery services.
It would also be useful to attract customers with discounts provided to first customers - this way the largest number of people will want to try their luck and be one of the first to use the service.
Creation of a website and mobile application for a food delivery service
From the first day of operation of the service, the site must be in working order - this is the face of the delivery service. The assessment of an enterprise whose services the client has not yet used will be given based on the first impression of the design of the Internet resource - it should be as simple as possible, load quickly, and contain high-quality, clear and bright photographs of dishes that arouse the appetite.
It is imperative to provide a catalog divided into categories - the customer cannot be forced to view the entire assortment, it should be hinted with an inscription like “this dish is perfect with...”. The client must be able to register personal account, where the order history and the current discount would be displayed - this would save him from having to fill out a form and address for each order.
The website of a food delivery service should be as convenient as possible, and the pictures should whet your appetite
Many people browse business offerings on their phones and tablets while on the bus or car on the way home and planning dinner. Sites not targeted at Cell phones, are not fully displayed or seem inconvenient - in this regard, it would be useful to order the development of a mobile application. The money spent will be repaid many times over.
Today it is possible to purchase a ready-made website and order a complete development of the resource “from scratch” according to an individual design. Of course, the second option is more preferable - the client will immediately notice your corporate style. Although the first one saves time and money.
Current Marketing
Advertising is required for a business not only at the start, but also on a regular basis in order to maintain the interest of regular customers, disseminate information about current promotions and expand the range, as well as to attract new customers. For a food delivery service, advertising on the Internet and social networks would be ideal, where people could leave comments and ratings, helping to dispel the doubts of potential customers.
It is effective to distribute booklets by promoters and attach them to each order by couriers. But the main thing is the smooth operation of the site and its promotion to the forefront of search engines. It is for this purpose that a programmer is hired - he must monitor for failures in the system, quickly solve problems, carry out SEO promotion of the resource and buy advertising in Yandex and Google.
Cooperation with catering establishments
The revenue of the ready-made food delivery service consists of payments directly for home delivery services and commissions from orders received by restaurants thanks to its service. It is advisable to think through several options for cooperation, in which the percentage of sales depends on what services the delivery service is ready to offer the partner. It is expected that couriers will independently pick up orders from restaurants and cafes. Such cooperation will bring the food delivery service about 22% of sales revenue.
Additional options may include:
Sales plan
When drawing up a sales plan, you should focus on the number of orders per day. To begin with, while the business has not yet taken a stable position, you should limit yourself to hiring two couriers, each of whom is capable of delivering a maximum of 15 orders per day. The average check will be 1 thousand rubles. Calculate how many kilometers the courier will travel when delivering food to different areas of the locality. You can also develop a simple application, like those installed in taxi services, which will allow call center operators to instantly calculate the price of delivery.
You should not set a delivery cost of more than 500 rubles, otherwise ordering food at home with an average bill of 1000 rubles will be unprofitable
Delivery cost should not exceed 500 rubles. You can increase the price if the courier simultaneously delivers an order for all office employees or picks up dishes from several restaurants. On average, the delivery service will cost 250 rubles per customer. Make a sales plan based on the indicated indicators, but do not count on a large number of orders in the first two to three months.
Financial plan
A financial plan is also necessary to determine the amount of initial investment, monthly recurring expenses, tax expenses, and so on. This will help assess the feasibility of opening a food delivery business with the resources available to the entrepreneur, the payback time and the size of the reserve in case of unexpected costs.
Start-up capital
What investments will be needed to start a food delivery business project? It is assumed that the company is being created from scratch, not as a franchise - otherwise you will have to count on additional costs of the order of several hundred thousand rubles. And we also do not take into account optional expense items, for example, printing development, legal advice, intermediary services, etc.
Table: components of initial investment
Monthly expenses
It would seem that a food delivery service is just a call center and several couriers. But, if you look at it, this business, like any other, requires certain regular costs.
Table: Monthly Costs of Running a Food Delivery Business
Profitability calculation
According to the latest results of the work of marketers, 1 million residents of a locality account for almost 20 million rubles in the annual income of public catering establishments, and the potential revenue of food delivery services varies from 12 to 20 million rubles per year. Indicators may vary depending on the popularity of cafes and restaurants, the city’s population and the average per capita income of its residents.
With proper business organization, the initial investment can pay off in just 2 months
Table: profitability analysis of food delivery business
Risk factors
The food delivery business is characterized by moderate risks.
Table: risks of food delivery business
Starting a business
At the initial stage, it is necessary to check the coherence collaboration customer service personnel. The business owner must check whether the instructions are followed and whether there are any delays in order fulfillment. At first, constant monitoring will be required until employees gain experience, learn the assortment by heart and are able to resolve conflict situations.
At the initial stage of business development, the manager must continuously monitor the work of employees until the performance of job duties reaches automaticity.
The quality of service determines whether the customer will remain on the list of your regular customers or choose another food delivery service. At the initial stage, it is especially important to establish yourself and show that you are the best. No one can take better care of your business than you. If you want to motivate your staff, provide bonuses and allowances for good performance at the end of the month - otherwise, employees will work “from paycheck to paycheck” without particularly caring about revenue.
Service delivery process
The customer service flow looks like this:
Every year, food delivery services to your home, office, and during holidays are gaining popularity. Students, single and unmarried people, overworked employees, fast food lovers, and anyone who simply doesn’t like standing at the stove often buy ready meals and ask to bring the order. Thanks to this, the business of delivering ready-made food does not lose its relevance and will always find its client, despite the fairly high level of competition in the market.
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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 cooperate with alternative organizations.
The choice of organizations that provide delivery is quite small and the prices for their services are somewhat inflated. Based on this, small courier companies can successfully compete with large companies due to an individual approach to each client, their mobility and more low prices. Prompt delivery is the key to the success of any company operating in the courier services market.
Where to start organizing a delivery service
Densely populated areas are suitable for this type of business. In a village or such a company may go bankrupt.
You should immediately decide what cargo you will deliver. In order to work with large cargo, you need to acquire appropriate transport and it is advisable to have more than one car. Therefore, you need to hire a driver (at least one), solve the issue of paying operating costs and parking space.
Alternatively, you can enter into an agreement with a transport company or hire drivers with personal vehicles.
Your company must have a permanent dispatcher who will accept orders. At first, you can work on the phone yourself. The main flow of orders usually comes in work time(from 9 to 19), however, it is the round-the-clock prompt delivery that can become your unique “trick”.
If you plan to deliver large-sized cargo, then you will need to have a team of loaders on your staff.
Proper selection of service personnel will help you avoid many problems in the future. You should not hire people from the street who will agree to work for meager 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 must be able to communicate competently with people, dispatchers must be as polite as possible, loaders must not drink, and drivers must be able to navigate the city well.
Disadvantages of the courier business
As in any other field of activity, courier business has its downsides.
The main clients of delivery companies are individuals who pay your servants in cash. For such operations, you need to purchase a special banking license, which is very difficult to obtain and is quite expensive. This is why most small courier companies operate and take great risks.
In this business you will often have problems with service personnel. There is always a high staff turnover in such companies. Students most often work as courier, and they often take their responsibilities very lightly. For them, this work is temporary and they often violate the established rules. Elderly people are more responsible, but, unfortunately, they are not efficient. 
Numerous competitors may hinder the development of your company. For example, many restaurants offer free delivery if your order exceeds a certain amount. A huge problem is traffic jams on central streets.
Delivery service: clients
Your company's clients may be banks that still prefer to send important documentation by courier, law firms and other organizations that send documents to their partners.
Some delivery services specialize in delivering goods from Russian online stores and company accounts. You can try to enter into agreements with stores that specialize in home delivery of goods.
Video on the topic
Online shopping allows you to save time and purchase the desired product without leaving your home. But placing an order is only half the battle. There remains another, no less important, half - delivery.
Instructions
After you have placed your order in the shopping cart on the website, an online store employee may contact you to double-check the list of selected products, their cost and delivery conditions. When the order is confirmed, it is transferred to the service that completes it and sends it to the end consumer.
Most online stores offer several methods of delivering goods to customers: courier service and mail. The main determining factors when choosing one method or another are the speed of delivery, its convenience and cost. But the distance between them is not always that big, especially when sending goods to other regions.
If you do not have any special knowledge in a particular area of entrepreneurship, this does not mean that you have no chance of opening your own business. If you have a certain (not necessarily impressive) amount of money that you are willing to give in favor of the development of your business, and obsessive desire If you work, as they say, for yourself, then you should think about how to create a courier delivery service.
This type of activity does not require special skills or knowledge, the purchase of expensive equipment or the investment of exorbitant funds, so this business idea is an excellent solution for a novice entrepreneur with a limited budget.
Of course, it is better to open such a business in a large populated area, where home delivery services are more in demand, but with perseverance and desire, you can succeed in any city. Where to start? Of course, the first thing you need to do is draw up a business plan to take into account all the expenses and calculate the possibility of making a profit.
Organizing a courier service: where to start?
So, if the desire to earn income from your personal business is firmly stuck in your head, and you don’t know what to do, then this article is just for you.
A legal business requires state registration, so first of all, go to the tax office and register your type of activity. Then you need to open a current account in the name of the organization in any bank that is profitable for you (here you will be asked for documents from tax service on the registration of your enterprise and a certificate from the State Statistics Committee). In principle, from the formal side of the issue, that’s all.
In parallel with the preparation of all documents, begin searching for office space. If your budget is very tight, then rent it. If you succeed and prosper in this matter, in the future you will be able to purchase your own corner.
Then, when drawing up a business plan for a courier service, take care of the technical side of the issue. Today without modern equipment you won't get anywhere. We need telephone and computer networks, as well as transport. It is advisable that you have your own, although at first you can rent it. If your budget allows, you can create a fleet of several cars, and also acquire bicycles for mail delivery. It’s even better to hire couriers with personal cars.
The scope of your activity will most likely be limited to one city at first. Indeed, at this stage of development it is important to obtain good reputation, and if you deliver orders late, then no one will want to work with you. In order for the business to have a good start, it is recommended to find a couple of large clients who would place regular orders. By fulfilling the orders of such customers efficiently, you can count on receiving a stable profit, which you can immediately use for advertising.
How to promote your business?
A courier service, like any other type of business, requires investment in advertising. Start by creating a website. This marketing tool is considered the most effective today. Don’t skimp on creating your own website on the Internet, because it will later become the face of your organization. Order a website promotion service for a web company. Its specialists will analyze the market in which you operate and will be able to create a truly competitive resource.
Don't forget to include the cost of business cards in your courier service business plan. They should also characterize you from the best side.
A high-quality, tactile and eye-catching business card with full information (your company name clearly visible, all necessary contacts, opening hours, any special conditions or discounts, etc.) will encourage its owner to use your courier service again.
Place advertisements in the most popular newspapers in your city, and don’t forget about radio and television. And just share the information with your friends and acquaintances. This simple method of advertising is often most effective.
You can also distribute flyers, the presentation of which guarantees the client a discount. It may be very small, but the opportunity to save at least a little always encourages clients to further cooperate.
Use your imagination!
Promotions and discounts are, of course, good, but it’s even better to come up with your own “trick”, which can be a decisive factor when a customer chooses a courier organization. After all, there are many similar services today, they compete with each other in the quality and speed of delivery, the cost of their services, etc. But modern people they want variety, and this can play into the hands of the newly created courier company.
Anything can be your “trick”. For example, let female models deliver the goods, then the circle of your customers (especially males) will definitely increase.
You can also hire several guys of model appearance. Then women will turn to you for services much more often.
To make the ordering process more interesting, create an online catalog on your organization’s website in which you post photos of your charming employees.
Thus, by leaving a request, the client has the opportunity to choose what he wants from the couriers provided to him. In general, use your imagination, creativity is always welcome!
This “zest” of your business will allow you to slightly increase the cost of your services, but in most cases this will not affect the client’s choice.
Recruitment is an important matter
It is impossible not to include labor costs in your courier service business plan. The issue of recruitment must be approached with all responsibility, because only serious and diligent employees will help you get good feedback about the company as a whole. If you do not have experience in the provision of courier services, then it is all the more advisable to hire professionals in this matter who will help you set up the entire process and organize correct work with clients.
Don't hire people who want to make good money and still work a 9 to 6 job. These types of employees usually won't give their all to help grow the business. Before official employment arrange a trial period for at least a week. This will help you understand how the future employee relates to the client, whether he is capable of providing the level of service you have specified.
Price policy
When it comes to setting prices for delivery, you cannot act “at random”; it is important to analyze the cost of such services in your city. You can qualitatively “monitor” information by using the Internet, because today every serious company has its own website. But don't rely solely on information you get online. It is better to call the courier service you are interested in.
Typically, telephone consultants are very talkative and will tell you about some conditions, promotions or other points that you can use in your activities. And in general, such calls - The best way find out how the courier service works.
Providing services for the delivery of documents and goods within one city usually requires minor expenses, therefore the cost of such delivery should be small. But don’t lower your prices too much to fully recoup your expenses. To do this, carefully calculate everything possible options exit and distances that will need to be covered. A well-structured pricing policy can recoup all costs in almost three to four months.
Your business abroad?
The homeland of the business we are considering is France, so let’s see from its example how to open a courier delivery service and make good money abroad while in Russia.
If you follow French law, the delivery service personnel must consist exclusively of French citizens. Therefore, first, find a native Frenchman for the position of director, preferably an acquaintance. Accordingly, you, as the founder of this organization, will need to obtain a visa.
The so-called “merchant card” is long-term and is issued to the founders of legal entities with French registration for a period of 1 to 5 years. Obtaining such a visa gives its owner many rights, which will be more than enough to bring your business idea to life. The courier service can now be headed by you personally.
What other formalities must be observed in France?
French legislators have clearly defined the entire procedure for the establishment and operation of enterprises with foreign capital.
Therefore, in order to find out how to open a courier delivery service for a citizen of the Russian Federation in this country, you need to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the norms of local legislation. Overall, it all comes down to a few basic questions:
- To begin with, you must submit everything to the commercial court of the city you have chosen to carry out your activities. registration documents founder;
- after considering the above papers, the commercial court decides to register the enterprise in the unified trade register;
- after this, you can apply for a “merchant card”;
- obtaining a residence permit for a period of 1 year; If you become the head of your courier service, it is automatically extended for the duration of your leadership.
Let's sum it up
After reading this article, you have a general knowledge of how to open a courier delivery service and where to start working on the domestic or foreign market for these services. In general, the most painstaking activities require activities related to the selection of personnel, the organization of work processes and their improvement, as well as the policy of attracting clients.
Your individuality and creative approach to work are also important - only interesting and exclusive projects reach the desired heights.
Don't forget to take all these points into account when you create your courier service business plan.
Opening a courier delivery service attracts entrepreneurs because it does not require large investments or experience in this field. However, this type of business, like any other, has its pitfalls and nuances. In the business plan we will highlight the main aspects of this type of activity.
Objective of the project: making a profit by providing courier services to businesses and the public.
The attractiveness of the courier services business is determined by the following factors:
- Low barriers to entry into the market.
- Constantly increasing demand for this type of service.
- Lack of any qualification requirements.
- Wide opportunities for business development and scaling.
The initial investment amount is 120 000 rubles
Break-even point is reached at first month of work.
The payback period is 4 month.
Average monthly profit of the 1st year of project implementation - 82 000
2. Description of the business, product or service
3. Description of the sales market
Every day, many organizations and people use courier services. Before opening a delivery service, it is necessary to determine which market segment will have to be served. Potential clients of the courier service are:
- online stores with delivery of goods;
- flower shops;
- cafes and restaurants;
- publishing houses;
- bookstores.
In the age of technology, online shopping is becoming increasingly popular. However, not every organization offering delivery services has its own staff of couriers. Most online stores resort to outsourcing, and they conclude contracts not with market giants, but with local small firms.
Another large segment is flower shops. Many of them are located on social networks and offer delivery services. Without having their own courier on staff, they will happily become your regular customers.
Today there are no more or less large city, which does not have a large number of pizzerias, cafes, restaurants, pancake houses and other various catering establishments. Most likely, the owners of such establishments will not refuse to have additional income from delivering their dishes to customers' homes. Therefore, the courier service can provide its delivery services.
Almost all large organizations need couriers to deliver various packages of documents to some public services. An example could be tax office. The courier from the delivery service will be able to not only deliver the necessary documents, but also stand in line with everyone else. Thanks to such services, clients will be able to save their time, and you, as a business owner, will receive additional profit.
4. Sales and marketing
5. Production plan
The main goal of the project is to open a courier service and maximize its profits.
Review of the real estate market to select the optimal premises.
Requirements for placing a beauty elephant:
- Location: can be either the city center or a residential area;
- Room area 10-15 m2;
- It is advisable to have parking.
- Registration of a legal entity.
Activities can be carried out as individual- Individual entrepreneur and legal entity - LLC.
- Opening a current account.
6. Organizational structure
Staffing:
- manager - 1,
- couriers - 2-4,
The total number of employees is 3-5 people.
As a rule, the manager of such a small company is the business owner himself. The salary is set at 30,000 rubles. The wages of couriers are piecework and amount to 30% of completed orders. In the first 2 months, it will be enough to hire 2 couriers, but with an increase in clients, the staff will need to be expanded.
It is necessary to approach recruitment responsibly. After all, only serious and diligent employees will help you get good reviews about the company as a whole. If you do not have experience in providing courier services, then it is all the more advisable to hire professionals in this field who will help you organize the entire process and organize proper work with clients.
Before official employment, arrange a trial period for at least a week. This will help you understand how the future employee relates to the client, whether he is capable of providing the level of service you have specified.
Basic requirements for recruitment:
- Having your own car;
- Competent Russian written and oral speech;
- Responsibility;
- Communication skills;
- Activity;
- Reliability.
The wage fund is the main item monthly expenses courier company. Thus, the dynamics are presented in a separate table.
Dynamics of the fund for wages in the first year of project implementation
1 month | 2 month | 3 month | 4 month | 5 month | 6 month |
|
Manager | ||||||
Total: |
7 month | 8 month | 9 month | 10 month | 11 month | 12 month |
|
Couriers (30% of the order amount) | ||||||
Manager | ||||||
Total: |
7. Financial plan
Sales plan for the 1st year of project implementation, rub.
Type of service | Indicators | 1 month | 2 month | 3 month | 4 month | 5 month | 6 month |
pre order | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Rush order | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Order at night | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Courier for an hour | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Total: |
Type of service | Indicators | 7 month | 8 month | 9 month | 10 month | 11 month | 12 month |
pre order | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Rush order | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Order at night | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Courier for an hour | Average transaction price, rub. | ||||||
Number of transactions, pcs. | |||||||
Total, rub. | |||||||
Total: |
The financial result for the first year of activity is presented in the table. The average net profit for the first year of operation is RUB 82,871.
Indicators | 1 month | 2 month | 3 month | 4 month | 5 month | 6 month |
Revenue | ||||||
(-) Monthly costs | ||||||
(=) Gross income | ||||||
(-) Taxes simplified tax system (15%) |