| Although business experts say a business plan is | | | | ROADRUNNER COURIER SERVICE - BUSINESS |
| required for starting a new business, it's not always | | | | PLAN |
| true. For every business that fails because of poor | | | | Business Overview: Roadrunner Courier Service is a |
| planning, another fails because of too much planning. | | | | new courier service based in Bend, Oregon, |
| As the great Michael Jordan said, "Just do it!" Here's | | | | specializing in local, same-day deliveries. Roadrunner |
| how to jump-start your new courier business: | | | | can transport documents and parcels to customers |
| The secret of a successful courier service is providing | | | | within a 40 mile radius of town. Our customers are |
| services not available from the bigger firms like Fedex | | | | medical professionals, attorneys and local businesses |
| and UPS, such as local, same-day service, or finding a | | | | who need reliable, same-day services not offered by |
| profitable niche, like medical specimen deliveries. What | | | | the larger service providers, such as Fedex and UPS. |
| delivery services should you offer? A business plan | | | | Market Analysis: The demand for reliable, |
| can't tell you that, but your customers can. Instead of | | | | cost-effective delivery services has been growing in |
| wasting your time and energy coming up with an | | | | the area for several years as the town's population |
| elaborate business plan, just get started. Have one of | | | | continues to grow. In addition to a growing population, |
| the many web-based printers (just search "printed | | | | there are more customers who require faster service, |
| notepads" to find them) print notepads to hand out to | | | | ranging from "stat" medical specimen deliveries to |
| prospective customers in your area. One marketing tip | | | | time-sensitive legal documents to "just-in-time" parts |
| is to offer new customers a gift certificate for one | | | | deliveries to local manufacturers. There is only one |
| free pickup/delivery. This let's them test your service | | | | other local courier service in the area, and we believe |
| at no cost, and makes them much more likely to call | | | | there is ample room, due to our growing local |
| you the next time they need a same-day delivery. | | | | economy, for another reliable courier service. |
| You'll quickly learn who will be your best customers, as | | | | Marketing Strategy: The marketing strategy of |
| they now have your contact information and will call | | | | Roadrunner Courier Service is to provide dependable |
| you when they need packages or documents | | | | and exceptional delivery services to businesses and |
| delivered locally the same day. This takes care of the | | | | professionals who have a regular need for pickup and |
| biggest problem a startup business has - cash flow. | | | | delivery services. This will insure that Roadrunner will |
| Once the money is coming in from deliveries, you can | | | | have a regular, steady income from repeat customers. |
| prospect for more businesses in your area that are | | | | The second part of our marketing strategy will be to |
| similar to the customers you now have. | | | | gain customers who need courier services |
| Regardless of how much planning you do, it's only a | | | | occasionally, such as last-minute parts and supplies |
| hunch - an educated guess about how well your | | | | delivered to a contractor's job site, plans deliveries for |
| business will do. The danger is, by spending too much | | | | architects and engineers and documents and materials |
| time on planning, you'll have less time and energy to try | | | | for local government agencies. |
| new marketing ideas to find paying customers. The | | | | First Year Goal: Based on the size of the local delivery |
| secret is to test your ideas as quickly and cheaply as | | | | market and the fact that Roadrunner will be a one |
| possible, then improve and refine them. Handing out | | | | person business, our sales projection for the first year |
| notepads with your contact information and a catchy | | | | is $45,000. We plan to build our customer base through |
| slogan is a great way to do that. | | | | direct contact with prospective customers and |
| Here's another "quick & cheap" way to do a simple | | | | word-of-mouth referrals from happy customers to |
| courier business plan for your new courier service | | | | continue to grow our sales, focusing on the most |
| business. If you plan to borrow startup money from | | | | profitable types of deliveries. |
| friends or relatives - the most common source of | | | | There is a free resource available to start-up |
| funding for new businesses - do an "executive | | | | companies, including courier and delivery businesses. |
| summary" business plan to show them that you've | | | | SCORE is a government program that taps the |
| done your homework. It should cover the business plan | | | | experience and brainpower of retired business owners |
| basics, with an overview of the business, a market | | | | to help new owners get off to a successful start. If |
| analysis with a look at the competition, and an estimate | | | | you find you need a comprehensive business plan to |
| of your first year's sales. It assumes that you will not | | | | get funding for your new courier business, SCORE |
| have employees to start, or buying or leasing property | | | | can help you with that as well. To find the nearest |
| and equipment. Here's a sample: | | | | office, visit: score.org. |