Monday, November 3, 2008

Buying a Courier Franchise: Can You Handle it?

By Eamon Treesdale

Many people who want to start out in business, get fooled into thinking that owning your own courier franchise is an easy way to get started. After all, how difficult can it be to relocate a number of small packages? One person, relocating a few parcels using one vehicle, servicing two or three towns might be a simple operation. The moment you add more people, more packages, and more delivery destinations, it becomes a real challenge, albeit a profitable one.

Owning your own courier franchise is a great opportunity. The fact that you are buying into an established company, means that most people already know what to expect from your new business as far as quality, service and performance is concerned. You do not need to establish a new brand amongst competitors, as you would have had to if you started your own courier business under your own chosen name. You do not need to establish a track record, as that has already been done.

You have to keep in mind that the group as a whole has established a standard you will have to adhere to. You will be expected, by both the group and the public, to perform in accordance to the existing track record. Remember that high standards in service delivery is part of the group's marketing campaign, and a fortune is spent putting that message across. The perception was created to give them an edge in the market, but you as a franchise owner have to deliver on that promise in order to retain market leverage.

Working under such pressures mean that you will have to absorb, and work around, a multitude of possible problems, and still deliver on schedule. Whether you have absent staff, traffic jams, flight delays, or broken vehicles, is of little or no importance to a paying customer. The timely delivery of a parcel is in many instances crucial, and since you have been selected, the customer obviously has more faith in your company.

The one advantage of being in such a demanding industry, is the high profitability. The fact that so many factors contribute to management stress, means that many people pass up on this opportunity, making it even more lucrative for those getting into it. The popularity of your courier franchise service is likely to grow, as more and more people opt for the time saving convenience it offers.

The ever increasing pace of business is bound to result in even more growth for the courier industry. And as a courier franchise service, you have to "outrun" the corporate world, and deliver documents before the next meeting. Businesses have come to depend on, and became accustomed to, the quick and timely delivery service. The expectations are high, but so are the rewards. Is it for you?

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