People
are busier than ever and the world around them hasn't changed.
Grocerys
still need to be bought, deliveries still need to be made, gifts
still
need to be bought, etc. You can take
advantage of the needs of these
hyper-busy
people by running an ERRAND SERVICE.
In
essence, what you do is run errands for people and get paid for it.
Think
it sounds like a kid's business? Well,
you won't make kid money!
If
you are in a good sized metropolitan area with steady clients, you can
make
$15, even $20, an hour!
You
won't need much to start off with.
You'll, of course, need a reliable
car
or, better yet, a van. The only real
expenses at the start are:
business
cards and business stationery; a
pager; and postage. Make a
list
of large businesses in your area, ones with large numbers of well-paid
executives,
such as banks, headquarters of large manufacturers, etc. You
should
then compose a letter detailing your services.
List as many
timesaving
services as you can think of: grocery
pickup, dry-cleaning
delivery
and pickup, post office errands, gift-shopping services, food
pickup
and delivery, etc.
Note: Don't transport people or children unless you
have the proper
licenses. Also, if you delivery messages, there may be
state utility
regulations
you'll need to check into. Emphasize to
these people how
they
will BENEFIT from your service: more
time, less worries, less stress.
Be
competitive with your pricing. Call
other delivery services in the
area
and find out what they charge, whether hourly or by the job. Make
your
prices competitive and your services personal, and you'll get the edge.
Four
other good ideas for publicizing your services:
advertise in charity
event
publications that are read by executives;
get permission to post
your
business card at dry cleaners, grocery stores, bakeries, upscale food
stores
and delis, etc.; produce press releases
about your services
showcasing
a unique aspect of your business, i.e. you specialize in
delivering
wedding cakes, for example, and get them to all the newspapers
and
local magazines in the area; and notify
senior citizen organizations
about
the services you offer.
Hints: Know your way around your area extremely well
so you can plan the
quickest
route to efficiently accomplish all your errands. Be assertive,
both
with potential clients and with places you are visiting for a client.
Be
friendly, and you'll get more return business.
Also, be confidential in
respect
for your clients.
If
you're willing to hustle, you can make it in the errand business. Once
you
get that first steady client, if you're good, you can count on word-of-
mouth
business. Then you'll really be rolling!
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