the courier handbooks
this is a courierology site
practical guides to the sameday courier business for owner drivers in the UK
the courier handbooks
These are the handbooks in the series.
the courier business
This handbook explains what a courier is, what the market for courier services is, and what it's like to be a courier. It will help you decide whether the courier business is right for you - and whether you are right for the business!
View this handbook.
making plans
Everything you need to help you plan your business — working out your income, costs, profit and cashflow, and putting it all together into a business plan.
getting started
When you've made your plans you need to put everything into place and get started!
How to do the advertising, marketing and networking to get the work coming in, sorting out your insurances, making sure you've got all the right stationery, quoting for jobs, and how to deal with problems.
on the road
This one explains the nuts and bolts of doing the job - tips on making things run smoothly, keeping everybody happy and dealing with problems.
taking care of business
Tips on how to keep on top of the 'business' part of being a courier - including reviewing your plans, ongoing networking and marketing, invoicing and credit control.
growing your business
The next steps in growing from a one-person owner driver into a full-scale courier business with your own customers, and subbing work out to other owner drivers.
Print the books!
These handbooks have been designed to be printed. If you have an up-to-date browser the printed version will be more like a book, without all the extra stuff around the edges!
How much is it?
All areas of this site are currently free to view, so take a look around and print off any information you need - but please remember that all the content is copyright © Mike George 2005