How to Successfully Run a Furniture Delivery Company
- 1). Research the furniture delivery industry. Find out from your state office if you need to obtain a license to haul furniture from a store to a client's home or business. Make a list of equipment you need to start your business. Research local furniture delivery companies in your area and figure out which companies they handle deliveries for in your community. Note how they market their services, how much they charge, where they're located and how long they've been in business.
- 2). Write a business plan for your furniture delivery company. Estimate your start-up and operational costs based on the equipment you need to purchase, licensing and registration expenses, the cost of truck and business insurance, as well as marketing costs. Project expenses for routine truck maintenance and gas. First year costs can range from $2,000 to $10,000. Decide how you plan to finance your first year of expenses.
- 3). Name your business and register it with your state office. Obtain a truck, get it insured and get the name of your business and your phone number painted on the side.
- 4). Contact local furniture and antique stores in the areas you plan to service. Explain your business and see if they'd like to outsource their furniture delivery needs to your company. Prepare a contract you can have businesses and their customers sign.
- 5). Hire a graphic designer to create a logo, business cards, a website and marketing brochures for your furniture delivery business. Distribute your marketing brochures at local businesses.
- 6). Develop a system for scheduling and tracking appointments. You can use a spreadsheet or database program to make this easier.
- 7). Hire additional staff if you don't think you'll be able to haul furniture on your own. Apply for employee ID numbers and add the additional salaries to your budget.
- 8). Create a referral program for your customers to encourage them to mention your services to others. Offer them a discount for each friend or family member who signs up for your services as a result of their referral.