The Equipment You’ll Need To Start A Courier Business

So you’ve decided you want to start your own business doing courier jobs so you can be your own boss? This is a great choice for many people – but to get there, you have to take all the practicalities into account. A good first step is working out and then investing in the initial equipment you’ll need.

Luckily for you, you can use this article as a checklist of sorts. Below are some ideas of what you’ll need to ensure your business will be a success.

Getting to and from Your Courier Jobs

It goes without saying that if you’re going to make a living doing courier jobs you’ll need to have a vehicle – so of course that should be the first piece of equipment you purchase. Once you’ve got your mode (or modes) of transportation under control, you’ll want to ensure you can actually make your deliveries in good time without getting lost. It’s a very good idea to invest in a sat nav, as it will be able to give you directions to areas you may not know well, including routes that will help you avoid traffic, get you there the quickest and, in turn, conserve fuel consumption. (This is especially helpful if you are making multiple deliveries during one journey.)

If your courier jobs require you to transport large or heavy items, it’s a good idea to invest in ways to secure them during transit, such as blankets, bungee cords and ratchet straps. Your clients certainly won’t be very impressed if you show up with broken goods due to a sharp turn or sudden brake, so make sure to strap it all down securely before you even think about getting behind the wheel.

The Write Stationery (Pun Intended!)

If you’re planning to start your own courier business, you’re going to have to be organised – and the best way to do that is by keeping written records of just about everything you do. You should consider investing in everything from the seemingly simplest items, such as a clipboard, delivery sheets and pens, to bigger ones like a printer. Remember to have all your customers sign for their packages and keep track of the deliveries you have made. This will show others that you are trustworthy and efficient when it comes to completing your courier jobs.

Other Essentials

Other equipment you may wish to purchase can include a furniture trolley, a pallet trolley or a sack truck – or perhaps all three! It really depends on the type of goods you will be handling. For example, a furniture trolley works better for larger loads while a sack truck is ideal if you’re going to be loading and unloading many small boxes.

Starting your own business is an exciting endeavour. To truly catapult yourself into the world of successful self-employed couriers, start by making sure you’ve got all the equipment you need to help your newly founded company thrive. From sat navs to stationery, purchasing the little things may end up making a big difference.

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Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.