With the cost of living continuing to rise faster than the average wage rise, and inflation usually taking away any increase anyway, it's perhaps unsurprising that more and more people are looking at a second income to supplement their existing one. However, instead of taking on a part-time job somewhere working for someone else, why not work for yourself? You never know, if successful enough, you could even quit your job and work your own business full-time. All you need is a reliable car.

What Can I Do?

If you've ever worked in an office environment, you'll know that most companies either have their own post rooms, or rely on the local postal service for their mailing needs. However, the post office is just like any other business, and they're pretty much set on times and delivery schedules. This isn't always ideal, especially for the smaller businesses for which contracts and deadlines are so crucial to their survival. This is where you come in - as a small delivery firm.

There's Always Another Option

If you have a car and you know the local area well, why not offer your services as an emergency courier option? Even if you're not too sure of your locale and street addresses, something like a SatNav or Tom Tom in-car navigational system will make sure you don't get lost. By approaching local businesses and offering the option of an emergency delivery service, you could set yourself up as a small delivery firm in no time. And the beauty of it is that you can choose how busy or not you are.

Who Would I Approach?

Most companies accept the post office delivery schedules and plan around that. However, there will often be times when a client is in dire need of a file or technical folders, etc, and this is where a small delivery firm such as yours would be ideal. By offering a price far lower than bigger courier companies, as well as the personal touch that you could bring, such as local knowledge, perhaps knowing people that work at the company, etc, you can make that little difference. Ideal companies that would need this type of service are solicitors, who may need important court documents, or architects with plans for a changed design needing to be delivered immediately.

What Do I do Next?

The first thing you need to do is get yourself known. Take the time to either phone or email local businesses and explain what service you would offer and what differences they could expect from larger national couriers. Also, find out if you need any special insurance or driving license, since you are effectively delivering important documents. Then, spend a little money to print some good, professional business cards, and even advertise in the local press or deliver flyers.

The key thing is not to wait for the business to come to you. The only way you'll succeed is by taking the initiative and letting people know about you. Then, once you have your first couple of contracts, and especially if you do a good job, word will soon spread, particularly with the way that business people network with each other. Then, hopefully, with a little patience and hard work, you can soon quit your old job and work the hours and days you choose.