The short answer
Make a list of local businesses that send things regularly, such as pharmacies, solicitors, print shops and trade suppliers. Get set up properly first (insurance, a phone number, a website and a Google Business Profile), then contact them in person or by phone with a short, simple offer. Be reliable on the first jobs, and ask for regular work.
Why direct customers are worth it
- They're yours. Nobody else sits between you and the customer.
- You set the price. You're not bidding against other drivers for every job.
- Regular work. One business that sends something every week can be worth more than a lot of one-off jobs.
Get set up before you ask
Businesses want to know you're real before they hand you their parcels. Have these ready:
- Insurance: goods in transit cover and public liability, and know your cover amounts.
- A business name and a phone number you always answer, or call back quickly.
- A website that says what you do, where you go and how to book you.
- A Google Business Profile, so you show up on Google Maps. See our simple guide.
- A rough price list for common local jobs, so you can answer straight away.
Who uses couriers near you
Look for businesses that send things often, at short notice, or that can't go in the post:
- Pharmacies, dental practices and labs: prescriptions, samples and dental impressions.
- Solicitors, accountants and estate agents: signed documents and keys.
- Print shops and sign makers: finished jobs going out to customers.
- Trade counters and builders' merchants: parts and materials to sites.
- Garages and parts suppliers: urgent parts between branches.
- Florists, bakers and small online shops: local deliveries, often fragile.
- Event and wedding suppliers: setting up on the day.
Search Google Maps for each type within 10 to 20 miles of your base and make a list of about 20. Note who to ask for, if you can find it.
How to approach them
- Pick a quiet time. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon, not first thing or at lunch.
- Ask who sorts out their deliveries. It's often the office manager, not the owner.
- Keep it short. Say who you are, where you're based, what you can carry and that you can do same-day.
- Leave something behind: a card or a flyer with your phone number and website.
- Follow up a week later with a short email or call.
What to say
"Hi, I'm Sam from Hill & Dale Deliveries. I'm a local courier based in Cirencester. I do same-day and next-day deliveries in a small van, and I'm fully set up with goods in transit cover. If you ever need something moving quickly, I'd love to help. Can I leave you my card?"
The follow-up email
Subject: Local same-day courier, Cirencester
Hi [name], thanks for your time last week. Just a reminder that I'm a local courier and can collect and deliver the same day within about 20 miles. You can see what I do and ask for a price on my website: [your web address]. Happy to quote for anything, big or small.
[Your name], [phone number]
Win the first job, then the next
- Give a fixed price before you collect. No surprises.
- Be on time, every time. The first few jobs are a test.
- Tell them when it's delivered, with a photo or a signature if they want proof.
- Invoice promptly and make it easy to pay.
- Ask for a review on Google once they're happy. It helps you win the next customer.
- Ask for regular work. "Would it help if I came by every Tuesday and Friday?"
Where your website fits
After you call or visit, most businesses will look you up. Your website is what they find. It should show what you carry, where you go, your insurance and an easy way to ask for a quote. Our checklist covers what a courier website should include.
Questions
Do I need a website to win direct customers?
You can win work without one, but most businesses look you up before they book a courier they don't know. A website and a Google Business Profile show them you're real, insured and easy to book.
How much should I charge direct customers?
Work out what each job really costs you (fuel, wear on the van, insurance and your time), then add what you need to earn. Check what other local couriers charge for similar jobs, and give a fixed price before you collect so there are no surprises.
How many businesses should I contact?
Start with a list of about 20 nearby businesses that send things regularly. Contact them in small batches each week so you can follow up properly.
Do I need a contract with a regular customer?
For regular work, agree the basics in writing, even by email: what you carry, your prices, when you invoice and when they pay. It avoids arguments later.