Make extra money by becoming a part-time, self-employed courier

With many people now taking on a second job to help supplement their income, there are some very easy ways of making your own business, which require very little expertise.

Part-time driving is a great way of making money on the side, with some drivers making it a full-time profession once they have built up a good network.

Part-time driving work basically involves delivering packages from one location to another. Work can vary from short to long-distance work that can take you the length and breadth of the country should you be available. The price you are paid is normally calculated by the size of the load you are carrying as well as the distance you travel. So, what do you need to start your own courier business?

Vehicle

The type of vehicle you will need is dependent on the kind of work you intend on doing. If you want to just transport small items, a small car will do, however, if you are looking to carry large items or help in small home moving projects, you will some sort of van. The most vital things are that you have or choose a vehicle which is reliable and efficient as this will save you vast amounts of money and headache in the long run. Vans are built to last so if you can afford the initial outlay it is worth getting one. Not only does it mean you can do more work, but you can also stick your number and email address on the side.

Insurance

Along with your standard car or van insurance, you will need insurance to cover the goods you will be transporting. Goods in transit insurance or courier van insurance will give you £10,000 worth of cover for the goods you are transporting, which in most cases will be adequate. Should you require larger amounts of cover, contact your insurer to find out how much extra you will be required to pay for a short-term extension of the policy.

Getting work

There are a number of ways to get work. A great place to start is to place private listings in magazines and websites such as Gumtree and Craigslist. Also, try private courier websites where you can take on jobs advertised. Once you have a good list of feedback, you will begin to get more jobs as well as form new business relationships that could lead to regular work.

Notify the Inland Revenue

Once you begin getting work, it’s vital that you inform the Inland Revenue, as you will be required to pay taxes for all the work you will be doing.