Tips on Starting Your Own Successful Errand Service

Make Money by Starting a Unique, Flexible Business

Jennifer Foote
There are thousands of individuals who cannot complete simples tasks outside their residence. Whether it is due to a new child, disability, illness, lack of time or age, many of these people often need someone else to complete their errands. Developing an errand service is a fairly easy way to develop your own business and turn a profit.

Errand businesses generally offer services to dry cleaners, post offices, banks, department stores, grocery stores, and additional places of business. Provided that you already posses a reliable vehicle, the start up cost for this business is fairly low. You will need supplies to advertise your business.

Informing the public about your new business is an extremely important task. A good way to target your potential customers is to post flyers and business cards in local businesses and on community bulletin boards. Placing an advertisement in a local newspaper will also bring in new clients. There are many outside companies that can place your company information and logo on magnets. Everyone loves free stuff, so hand these magnets out to customers or you could even place them on mailboxes in the area. Since you will be driving your vehicle around to complete the errands, it may be a good idea to invest in a magnetic sign for your vehicle.

An errand service will typically see more business during the holiday seasons. There are many individuals who do not know what type of gift to purchase or just don't have the time to go shopping. All year round elderly and disabled individuals and working couples may need errands taken care of. During the non-holiday months, it may be a good idea to target nursing homes and new mothers. The first couple of months after a mother has a new child, it is hard to get certain tasks completed outside the home. It may also be a good idea to offer gift certificates because many new grandparents may give this service as a gift.

An errand service can be highly profitable. Depending on the amount of time you put into running this business and the amount of clients that you obtain, a part-time errand runner starts making around $10,000 a year. The more effort and time you put into finding new customers, the more money you will be more likely to make.

The fee you should charge depends on the type of errand being completed. If you are running multiple errands for one individual, you may want to charge them by the hour. If an errand requires you to travel a longer distance, you may want to charge a set mileage rate. When setting your fees, you should take into account your time and expenses (gas and car wear) to ensure you will have a profitable business.

Starting an errand service is a great way to help others out while making money. If you are interested in starting an errand service you should be reliable, trustworthy, and dependable. Have reference numbers on hand in case a potential customer would like to verify your ability to handle their money and important documents. As with any home-based business, it is recommend that you check out your local and state laws before you being professional running errands.

Published by Jennifer Foote

Hello. My name is Jennifer. I love freelance writing, but have only recently starting making a profit from it.   View profile

37 Comments

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  • Stella Lincoln 5/19/2011

    My email address is stellalincoln@ymail.com My number where I can be reached 321-438-5212

  • Stella Lincoln 5/19/2011

    I'm interested in starting my own errand service. How and where do I get the information I need without buying a start-up package from someone already in business. I am on as fixed income and think this would be a viable option to help boost my income. Thanks, Stella Lincoln.

  • ERICA 2/22/2011

    HI I REALLY LIKED YOUR ARTICLE AND WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ERRAND RUNNING, I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND NOW THAT THE KIDS ARE SOMEWHAT LESS NEEDY OF ME THEN I HAVE NOTHING BUT TIME. I WANTED TO START MY OWN BUSINESS, AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE I WOULD MUCH RATHER NOT WORK FOR ANYONE ELSE IF YOU COULD GIVE ME ANY ADVICE OR TIPS THAT COULD HELP ME GET STARTED PLEASE EMAIL ME / miss_e26@yahoo,com THANKS

  • amy amster 8/5/2010

    visit http://franchiseexpo.com to help you answer the questions you are concerned with when choosing your franchise opportunity. They will assist you on your way to a successful future in the franchising world!

  • Kim 8/2/2010

    Id like to start a bussiness but dont know how/where to start any ideas? my bigest thing is what to charge. Please help....Thx

    khotwheels96@hotmail.com

  • Magnet Man 12/3/2009

    Mailbox magnets. I got a call from the post office today telling me to quit putting magnets on mailboxs or they'd charge me postage. (I'm not putting them inside the box and that's covered under a federal law). Any way, I don't think thats a bad deal to have pay postage on some but not all of the magnets that get delivered, as long as the postal service really allows the delivery of the magnets. I wonder if they're held accountable for charging a magnet dropper without allowing delivery.

  • myethix 10/4/2009

    Hi Jennifer. Thanks for the article. However, wanted to let you know that you cannot, unfortunately, place magnets or anything else on mailboxes according to the US Postal Service...

    Here's a quote from the PO on mail boxes:

    "No part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail."
    Source(s):
    https://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/h...

  • ms.luckey 9/30/2009

    What is the best way to accept payments for your sevrices. Please give me any info on starting my own Errand Service!
    Ms.Luckey geema38@gmail.com Thanks!

  • Jvak 9/10/2009

    don't put ANything on or aRound mailboxes as they aRE fEderal property aNd you can be charged with a crime

  • casey 9/8/2009

    Please give me info on Errand running...caseyscoupons2@gmail.com

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