I want to open up a courier company, and I want to know every I need to know on how

What scope? Local messengers or city to city or what?

I want to start going about 50 miles in any direction

That's a pretty large scope. Do you think you can compete with the USPS, UPS, Fedex, DHL etc?

The first thing I would do is try some market research to see if there is a demand for that service in your area. Next check with the local chamber of commerce to see if there are any licensing/bonding requirements (there probably will be bonding).

Finally, you have to try getting some customers lined up to use your service.

It would also help us here to know more about what you might be wanting to deliver. Being a courier could involve delivering any number of things, some of which might not be allowable to be delivered by the major courier services.

Thanks!

That's a pretty large scope. Do you think you can compete with the USPS, UPS, Fedex, DHL etc?

The first thing I would do is try some market research to see if there is a demand for that service in your area. Next check with the local chamber of commerce to see if there are any licensing/bonding requirements (there probably will be bonding).

Finally, you have to try getting some customers lined up to use your service.



No I don't want to compete with UPS and the likes. I just need to know how to bill and quote.

I would like it carry any thing from 1-lbs to 50-lbs

For billing and quoting, I would look to see what another service might be charging per pound and also what they will be charging depending on the distance that is traveled as well as what they charge depending on how quickly a customer wants something delivered.

You really do need a business plan for this sort of thing. As such, there is a lot of information out there on the Internet concerning starting a courier service. You might like to click on the following two links and have a look.

Courier Service Requirements Business Plan - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=Courier+Service+Requirements+Business+Plan)

Courier Service - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=Courier+Service)

I do wish you well in starting this kind of business!

You will need to determine how much you will be charging per mile. Any gas surcharge?
If you will be charging for 2nd stops and how much.
If you are going to have a base price for the first parcel and how much for additional ones.

Will you be willing to tender packages at the local airports? Then FAA requirements will have to be met.

What hours will your company be available?

What type of contact will the customers have with you, will you have a dispatcher, or will they be contacting you directly? Will you receive your jobs via fax, computer, or phone,pager... if phone I suggest recording the info... but first you must inform them you are recording the job.
Many people do not want to pay for the job if instructions are not followed.

Will you have other employees if yes, then your charges need to reflect that so that you can make a profit and still pay them

Most of the larger delivery companies do not work after certain hours and on Sundays are you willing to pick up their slack.


Many,many things to think of other than billing and quotes...

I would also consider gretting Quickbooks (or similar) to manage the services books. QB can do invoicing as well.

I just want to thank you all for your great answer, so keep them coming, again thank so much