3 ‘Hard’ Truths’ You Must Know before Starting a Delivery Service

Running a delivery service is not all fun and games (although under the right circumstances, or if your heart is in the right place, it can feel like one). At the very least, it requires acceptance of certain ‘unpalatable’ truths that could essentially separate the grain from the chaff, so to speak. If you’re seriously considering entering the business, the following three things must be taken care of at the get-go.

There Will Always Be Complaints

As in any other service-oriented business that deals with people, operating a delivery service means it’s a given that you’ll run into people who may find your business unsatisfactory. Whether warranted or not, it’s absolutely vital to deal with such customers as proactively as possible—after all, it’s highly possible that you may have, indeed, made a mistake. Complaints are not bad things per se; in fact, they can give you important clues about how you can further improve your business. Customer complaints can help you identify weaknesses in your operation: are your employees courteous and do they always have a problem-solving mind set; do you always deliver on time; are your fees and rates on par with those of others in your competitive sector? You need only to tackle them head-on to turn them into opportunities for growth. Remember: if no one’s complaining, then you should smell something fishy.

You Will Have to Work Really Hard

If anyone ever told you that running a delivery service is as easy as a walk in the park is lying through their teeth. Before you entertain visions of yourself rolling on a bed of cold hard cash, you must stop and remember one simple thing: keep your expectations realistic. While there are many undeniable perks in doing your own thing—you are no longer part of the 9-to-5 rat race and you’re often answerable to only yourself—but such independence comes with enormous responsibilities. Sure, you may eventually end up running a very profitable outfit, but the key word there is ‘eventually’. Before that eventuality, there are many things you will have to hurdle, and foremost among them is doing actual hard work. Earning your bread and butter by trying to meet and exceed different people’s expectations can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. And once you’ve accepted the "word really hard" part, you’ve won half the battle.

You Will Have to Make Legal Decisions

Establishing a delivery service business is to create a legal entity, so of course you will have to make crucial legal decisions. For starters, you will have to decide on the legal structure of your business. Is it a sole proprietorship (you’re the owner and the only one responsible); is it a partnership (there are other people who have invested in it); or perhaps a limited liability company (or LLC, which is slightly more complicated)? Each type of legal structure has its own advantages and limitations, and you will have to face these issues squarely. You will also have to obtain the necessary licenses and other paperwork required by your city or state. But this is actually the easy part, and once you’re done with the details, you can move on to the more important things, like growing your business.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day delivery service in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.