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Based Business Idea
E
R R A N D S E R V I C E / C O N C I E R G E :
Business
Description:
You are saving time for busy people. People today will gladly pay
for someone to perform the mundane services of their lives. A concierge
offers services such as as locating quality entertainment, booking the
event and securing transportation and accommodations if required.
As an integrated service you can provide errand running to take care of routine
chores like picking up dry cleaning, grocery shopping, returning library
books/videos, taking the car to the mechanic, party and event planning and
all the other tasks that your clients simply can't accomplish in a day.
Note:
You will need the appropriate licenses and insurance if you plan to
transport people or children. Check into liability issues.
Your
Unique Skills
You must be a master of resources, efficiency and organized beyond
belief. If you have your own life (and you probably do) you can
incorporate a successful errand running service into your own tasks and
duties. Time-management and resourcefulness will be your guide to
success.
Tools
of the Trade
Start-up costs will vary depending on the equipment you already have on hand.
Cell phones and pagers can cost up to $200 and include service plans. Computers
start at $800 in local retail stories, more with added peripherals. PDAs start
at about $200. Cars and mass transit costs all vary. Research for the best
deals.
Getting
Your Foot in the Door
If you have the luxury of locating someone locally that is already
performing this service you may want to ask them if you can assist them
for a small fee or as an apprentice to learn the skills. If
someone is kind and generous enough to take you on as a mentor - don't
forget to return the favor someday to someone just starting out in the
industry.
- Create
an Interesting Business Name. Like "In a Flash", "We Do
The Work So You Don't Have To", "Errand-Running Mom" to
announce and define your unique identity.
- You
want to target your busy people - find them when they are doing the chores
that they would like to offload such as in the dry cleaners, getting their
clothing repaired, at the mail delivery counter.
- Corporate
accounts can be attained through contacting human resource directors.
You will have to present a professional image to attract this type of
clientele including a professionally designed brochure, specific services
pricing etc.
- Small
business accounts can be acquired through joining networking groups and
local business organizations, or even going door to door.
Creative
Marketing Techniques
Create a Christmas/special occasion card and describe how you will hand
write and mail invitations/greetings for special occasions.
Speaking of special occasions you can target your business specifically
to special events and be the day of the event service runner.
Bring food, decorations, gifts etc to the location the day of the event
- set-up and tear down all for one special price.
Consider
providing a single service for corporate accounts - such as
"Laundry Mobile", "Shoe Repair Gal" and setting a
schedule that you will pick up and return to the business
location.
Show
Me the Money
The vast majority of errand running service providers charge by the hour
while a concierge service can be charged by the service or hour. The
hourly rate can range from $15 to $75 per hour. You may want to evaluate
flat fee for service options to. Determine flat fees for services and
list them as such in a brochure so that a client can create a custom
list for weekly errand service. You may want to set up a website
where they can pay online - create a service list and then have the
client pick and choose what they need and have it modified by the client
if they want to cancel/modify. For example,
a weekly grocery-shopping trip may cost $60, etc. You need to determine the cost
of resources to accomplish the task and factor an appropriate rate for
your time.
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