An errand running business solves a particular problem for people or businesses. But what is it and how do you start an errand running business? People are busy today and often need help running errands. Small or home-based businesses may also need your services.

For example, a small mail order company may need someone to regularly pick up brochures at the local printer. Whatever the case, study what other errand companies are doing. Set your prices in line with your local competitors.

Make Sure You Can Operate from Home

Call your local county or city administration office. Make sure you are allowed to operate an errand running business from your home, according to Entrepreneur.com. Check to see if certain zoning laws may prevent you from running a home-based business.

Create a Home Office

Designate a section of your home as an office if your are legally permitted to run a home-based business. Use a spare bedroom, for example, creating ample workspace for designing brochures or calculating revenue and expenses. Calculate square footage of your office because you may be able to take the home office deduction for tax purposes, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Apply for Licenses

Obtain a vendor’s license from your county or city administration office, as you will need to pay sales taxes. Apply for a doing business as license through the same government office if you use a fictitious name for your errand business.

Purchase Business Insurance

Purchase some insurance for your errand running business to cover potential personal item damages.

Decide Which Services to Offer

Decide what errand services you want to run. Focus on a particular segment of the market. Run grocery store errands for elderly people, for example, because they may be unable to leave the house.

Create Flyers and Brochures

Create flyers and brochures detailing your errand running services. Use the flyers for residential customers and brochures if you service businesses. Go into more detail in the brochures because businesses will expect more professionalism.

Distribute Flyers and Place Ads

Distribute your flyers on car windshields and throughout your neighborhood, if allowed. Place a classified ad in your local newspaper targeting residences or businesses. Visit businesses in person. Try to sell your errand running services to the business owners or managers.

Leave your business cards and brochures behind so businesses can review your services.

Schedule Daily Errands

Set up your schedule for daily errands. Try to work a full-time schedule.

Create a Website

Create a website for your errand business as your profits grow. Place your website in various search engines, such as Google.com or Yahoo.com. Also make sure to focus on social media with sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. However, make sure that your content are interactive and fun

Things You Will Need

  • Vendor’s license
  • DBA
  • Insurance
  • Automobile
  • Cell phone
  • Computer
  • Database software
  • Revenue/expense ledger
  • Printer
  • Invoices
  • Website
  • Fliers
  • Business cards
  • Brochures

Warning

Use your computer and printer to create and print your invoices. Obtain some database software to maintain a list of your customers. Mail fliers and brochures to you current customers offering special deals on errands. You can really boost your potential revenue by getting additional business out of existing customers.