Do you want to start a delivery service from home but you lack ideas? If YES, here are 50 best pickup and delivery business ideas & opportunities.
Delivery service is a business that almost anyone can start. Such a service is one that can offer to businesses needing supplies and documents delivered or those needing personal errands to be run. The start-up costs for a delivery business are small, and regardless of your niche, you have to treat it like any business by first developing a comprehensive business plan and making research into the niche you will be going to.
So, if you are looking to start a lucrative delivery business, then you may want to consider some of these business ideas that are listed below.
Best Pickup and Delivery Business ideas
1. Legal Notice Delivery
The service of a notice is often a key step in creating, exercising, maintaining, or terminating legal rights pursuant to a lease, a contract for the sale of property, or an option agreement. Key examples include notices under the Landlord and Tenant Act, break notices, court appearances, and options notices.
As one going into this niche, you have to understand the importance of notices, and making sure that a notice is served strictly in accordance with the relevant requirements is essential. Failure to follow this strict requirement might lead to consequences. You would have to work closely with law offices and attorneys in your region.
2. Print Delivery
This kind of delivery business specializes in print jobs, which could range from business cards, canvases, fliers, handbills, and others. You would have to understand that with this business it is important that clients get their jobs on time.
To help you out, you can set time frames for job delivery. The time frames would depend on whether the order delivery was directly from the store, or whether you were contacted to handle the delivery by the owner of the printed jobs. Your charges will depend on your clients and the kind of jobs that you will be delivering. You would have to work closely with print jobs and advertising agencies too.
3. Machinery Hauler Business
Machinery hauling refers to heavy equipment. Any entrepreneur going into this business would need not only a large truck for hauling but also enough capital for insurance, licenses, and permits. Heavy machinery is often required by construction companies, mining companies, and other such companies like that.
You would need to thoroughly research this area properly, and ensure that you deliver the equipment when needed and within the time schedule.
4. Grocery Delivery
Delivering groceries is convenient for some people as it is inconvenient for other people. Time is precious to most people as their jobs make them busy and they will gladly pay extra bucks to have their groceries delivered to them.
You would need to have several coolers to keep the grocery fresh, frozen and cool, especially in hot weather. You would need a cell phone, a car for delivery, and a website, though this is optional. In setting your prices, find out the rates your competitors are setting and charge yours accordingly.
5. Egg Delivery Business
The egg is a product that is consumed by both adults and children as it can be fried, cooked, toasted, and used for other means such as health. If you start your own egg delivery, you can be assured of being in business as long as you want, as new markets would continually open up for you once clients see how reliable you are.
The demand for eggs not only stops with individuals but with businesses too, such as hotels and restaurants. In starting this business, you would need to partner with as many local farmers as possible, depending on the demand. Also, you would need a truck or car to safely deliver the eggs.
6. Furniture Delivery and Assembly Business
If you are a handy person and have a truck and basic tools, then starting a furniture delivery and assembly business is the perfect new venture for you. The business can be managed from home so that your overhead costs are at a minimum.
Before starting out, however, contact your local furniture and office supply stores to see if they are already providing their customers with a delivery and assembly option. If they aren’t, strike a deal to provide their customers with the business.
Another company to partner with is a moving truck company, as they are usually moving lots of furniture from one place to another.
7. Sandwich and Salad Delivery Business
This is an inexpensive business to go into and has the potential of generating good revenue for you weekly. Ideally, you would have to establish a sandwich route in office districts or industrial districts of a community or city, as this would enable you already have a large number of customers.
If you won’t be making the sandwiches yourself, you could partner with a catering service or restaurant that will supply the sandwiches and salad on a regular basis, while you build a customer base to purchase the sandwiches and salads.
8. Bread and Milk Delivery Service
If you are looking into a profitable business venture and that will provide you with a steady income, then the delivery of bread and milk is sure to guarantee you that, as almost everyone eats bread and milk.
Once you start this business, the most important thing you would have to consider is to make sure that the product is from a trusted manufacturer, so as to ensure the freshness and quality of your delivery. The essential factor to consider here is that you would need to be waking up early so as to ensure that your customers get their breakfast early enough. You would need a reliable vehicle to be successful in this business.
9. Computer Delivery and Assembly Service
In starting out this business, the best way is to establish joint ventures with retailers of new and secondhand computer systems and equipment.
You could also consider marketing additional products and services along with the delivery and assembly service, which could include computer security items retail, computer cleaning services, as well as software installations, and other kinds of services.
Operating the computer delivery and assembly service will require that you have knowledge of computers and software. Handling this business properly could yield enough revenue.
10. Online Ordering System
This is a process that allows customers to order what they want online; choose the items they want, a delivery time, and a store location. This kind of business will require more than one person involved, so that one handles the online orders, while the other delivers.
This is also known as a convenience kind of business, where customers get to decide what item is convenient for them plus the delivery time as well.
11. Coffee Delivery Business
Coffee is one breakfast beverage that people love to take in the morning. Most people love to start their morning with a fresh brew of coffee, which is why the coffee delivery business is a great business that will be of immense benefit to people. You could deliver to offices and help employers keep their employees happy.
The most important factor in starting this business is the location, if you do not have a strategic location, having the best coffee in the world would not matter, if you would not be able to deliver to people that would want it on time. Also, you have to ensure that you have different tastes and flavors of coffee.
12. Clothing Subscription Services
This is a service for those who need little help with their wardrobe. The way that people can shop has changed over the past few years, with a variety of subscription websites now existing to allow people set their preferences and receive new shipments of clothing bi-weekly, monthly or quarterly.
An entrepreneur starting this business has to ensure that he or she aggressively sources for clients both offline and online, as a business will only begin to grow a few years after customers might have known about it.
13. Eyeglasses Delivery Business
Around 20% of the entire population of the world needs correction eyeglasses at certain times of their life, hence, starting off this business has a lot of potential. In starting off this business, you would need to deliver the eyeglasses to the correct owners and get a commission for doing so. You would need a bicycle, motorcycle or a car and a cell phone.
14. Fruit Delivery Business
This is for those who want fresh fruits that are organic and straight from the orchard or farm. Customers get to select the fruits they want, and you partner with the locals to inspect the fruits and ensure that you will be delivering only fresh fruits to your customers.
In this business, you would need a cell phone and a reliable car to be able to deliver the fruits to your customers when and where they would need them. You can get your clients to set up a standing order, that way you get to deliver the fruits at a scheduled time.
15. Chuck Wagon Business
Chuck Wagons have converted delivery step vans. Chuck wagons are everywhere and this type of business venture can be regarded as very easy. You can get an enclosed trailer and convert it to a chuck wagon, and equip it with fryers and grills.
You can also purchase an already fitted chuck wagon to use. This business is flexible in terms of hours and location; your location can be anywhere. As an entrepreneur starting out, you will need to acquire a vendor’s permit and health board certificate to be able to operate.
16. Bottled Water Delivery Business
It is estimated that half of the 6 billion people living on earth have no access to clean water, which is why a lot of people are forced to buy water especially to drink; and due to the fact that water is drunk everyday especially as doctors and fitness experts advise people to drink at least 8 glasses a day, this is not a business that would be stopping anytime soon.
If you want to go into this business, apart from obtaining a business license in order to operate, you would need to establish a consistent billing plan that will ensure that your customers continue to patronize your services, and also be consistent in your delivery of the water to your customers.
17. Pizza Delivery Business
Starting a pizza business delivery business is not only a profitable kind of business because of the high yields in profit margin, but it is a popular choice of food delivery. If you enjoy unique creations and like to cook, you would find the pizza delivery business to be an enjoyable venture.
You first have to develop a comprehensive business plan, where you will outline your ideas, objectives, obstacles, and possible pitfalls that you might encounter. After getting a good location, you would need to prepare a menu and tweak them to the standard your customers would enjoy.
18. Transplant Organ Courier Service
Transplant organ courier services are those that are employed by donor agencies and hospitals to help transfer organs from hospital to hospital. As a courier in this kind of business, you will be required to use different means of transport from cars and airplanes so that the organs can be carried in small containers full of ice, and delivered on time to where it is needed.
In starting this business, it would require that you meet certain strict requirements and have special licenses from the state you would be operating in.
19. Laboratory Test Delivery
The healthcare industry is changing dramatically, as more and more people are being urged to take responsibility for their health, which calls for more people needing their blood work or other kinds of tests done. Usually, the test results are regarded as private documents, but there are so many factors that can cause one not to be around to take their tests, which is where a delivery service for laboratory results comes into play.
In starting this business, you would require several licenses and permits, as you will be delivering results to other healthcare facilities and individuals.
20. Pet Food Delivery Business
According to the American Pet Products Association, 71.4 million homes own a pet, with 93.6 million cats and 77.7 million dogs. The total expenditure for the pet industry exceeds .5 billion. Annually, each pet household spends $229 on dog food and $203 on cat food. This makes this industry perfect for any serious entrepreneur.
All you would need to start this business is a cell phone, a computer, and a reliable van. You can work from home, and use your garage as a storage space for ordered bulk products. You also do not need to limit your services to food only, as you could deliver toys, litter, treats, and food bowls as well.
21. Community Delivery Service
If you have a cell phone to handle customers calls and a reliable means of transportation, you can offer clients in your community convenient and fast delivery services that can encompass a whole lot of services such as spirits, dry cleaning, fast foods, event tickets, medications, groceries, flowers, pet foods and anything else imaginable that can be delivered.
The business would require that you put your management and marketing skills to work. You could also subcontract certain tasks to others and then split the revenue according to an agreed split rate.
22. Auto Parts Delivery
Auto parts delivery is an intense business due to the high rate of competition but it is a lucrative business as well. To be successful in this business, you would need to achieve all the necessary requirements necessary for you to start.
To start this business, several factors need to be considered. You first need to research the local auto service market. The research will help you learn who your strongest competitors are. Secondly, you will need to pick a strategic location, where customers can see your business and contact you when necessary.
23. Balloon Delivery Service
Before starting a balloon delivery business, you will need to determine exactly what balloons you’d want to be selling to your customers, and the areas you would like to cover. It’d be best though if you start small, and work your way outward as your business grows in size.
Depending on your budget, get what you need first. Contact potential clients and tell them about your business. Ensure that you develop a logo and catchy name for your business.
24. Office Supply Store
Delivering to an office is a recession proof business because offices need a regular supply to cater to their various needs day-to-day such as ink, paper, paper clips, and so many other things. This business is a lucrative and sustainable business for any serious entrepreneur.
In starting this business, you will have to estimate the start-up costs, write your business plan and obtain your financing. You will also need to find wholesale suppliers and partner with them to be able to deliver regularly at offices.
25. Liquor Delivery Service Business
The liquor delivery business has the right yield for the right entrepreneur and is quite recession-proof. While most service-based industries tend to suffer during economic downturns, this has not affected the demand for liquor which remains high.
The downside of this business is that it is a regulated service industry and is subject to variable regulatory concerns depending on the city one is operating in. Home delivery of liquor is a niche market that has remained controversial since it is susceptible to abuse as it can be delivered to minors.
If you are starting up this business, you will need to accommodate several limitations such as the time liquor can be delivered, the amount you can deliver, the age of the delivery person, and the documentation requirement for the recipient.
26. Air Freight Business
Starting this kind of business is not for the faint of heart or an unserious entrepreneur. This is a high-tech, expensive, and somewhat complicated business. You can enter this business either as a commercial cargo carrier or as a freight forwarder.
If you intend to be a cargo carrier, you would need a plane or fleet of planes to be able to carry cargo from one destination to another.
A freight forwarder on the other hand will need just the use of a commercial carrier. You would need to carry out thorough research on this kind of business, and a business plan as well. Also, there are certain requirements that you might be required to fulfill, like procuring papers to allow you to move the goods.
27. School Supply Business
A school supply business can be a traditional brick-and-mortar business or an Online business. Your supply and delivery store should be capable of delivering supplies to schools where and when they are needed. You would need to approach schools and ask if they have a supply service, if they do not, you could then fill up the gap.
In order to start a school supply business, you would need to get a great location, a suitable budget, and a reliable wholesale supplier. Your delivery system would have to be very reliable.
28. Flyer Delivery Business
Businesses and organizations use fliers as a means of promoting their brands, for sales and specials, and for any upcoming events. Flyers are an inexpensive way of spreading a marketing messages to the target markets. If you are going to be starting this kind of business, you would need to have a cell phone and a reliable means of transport.
29. School Bus Services
A school bus is very important, especially for parents who don’t have any other means of taking their children to school. If you are living in a neighborhood that has a lot of students, this is the opportunity you need at starting this business and make the business a success.
You will need a vehicle to deliver the children to either their homes or the school. You will also need to find out the requirements and licenses that will be required from you, especially as you would be handling so many young children at once. You would also need to ensure that your vehicle is safe for transporting children.
30. Restaurant Delivery Service Business
According to the Food and Nutrition website, nearly 60% of every dollar spent on food is spent on food consumed outside the home. Restaurants not only wait for customers to come to their establishments, but they are also offering prepared food ready to heat and eat at home for customers that require such services.
In starting this business, you would have to decide on the delivery area, you intend to service. It’d be best if you choose an area with a high population and income that will help sustain your business. Working couples and especially upscale families are a good target niche.
31. Bicycle Service Courier
In starting this business, you would need to check and see if a courier license is required in the vicinity you want to operate from. It is only after you have cleared this hurdle that you can then look into marketing your bicycle courier services.
You can charge your customers similar rates as tem motorized couriers charge with more benefits accrued to you, especially as your overhead and operating costs will be a tiny fraction of motorized couriers. One person with a cell phone can handle this business, and as it expands, there can be multiple bikes with a central dispatch system.
32. Newspaper Delivery Service
This is an old business but can still be profitable if you make thorough research into this field. If you are determined, you can carve out a share for yourself in this market. You can create your own niche by looking for a service to add to your newspaper delivery.
You will need a bicycle to be able to carry out this business successfully. You also have to work in an area, where there is a scarcity of newspaper deliverers and look to make your own service stand out.
33. After-Hours Delivery Service
This is a niche kind of delivery service where customers can receive their packages after normal delivery hours. If you are starting this kind of business, then you should be on hand to partner with courier services so as to be able to serve your customers well. You would need to have a cell phone and a car to be able to carry out this kind of business.
34. Rental Table and Chair Delivery Business
Rental chairs and tables are an essential part aspect of the entertainment industry. People rent tables and chairs for small and large-scale events, such as birthday parties, school reunions, meetings, seminars, and conferences, or any occasion that would require the sitting of guests.
In starting this business, you’d have to partner with several event planners so as to be able to help them with delivering chairs and rentals to the occasion they are in charge of.
35. Medical Supply Business
Medical professionals of all kinds from opticians to midwives, from veterinarians to dentists, all need specific supplies to be able to carry out their jobs effectively and efficiently. Most medical equipment are usually gotten from niche companies, delivering medical equipment is another niche that you can go into.
To start this kind of business, you need to target a niche and decide which area you would love to deliver to. You would also need to find out the requirements and licenses from the state’s public health department that would be required from you.
36. Airport Shuttle Service
An airport shuttle service is a very profitable business to own and operate. The largest challenge in starting this business is in acquiring an operator’s license, which is usually very difficult to obtain through the local government channels in most areas of the country.
It is however not impossible to obtain an operator’s license. This kind of business is best accomplished by building alliances and partnerships with companies and local businesses that can supply you with customers.
37. Post Office Business
This kind of business is ideal to start up in new communities, and many entrepreneurs are exploring this venture. If you decide to go into this business, you should carry out thorough research so as to understand all the important details regarding the business before starting off. You will deliver letters and packages to clients.
Running this kind of business will require a business plan, where you will need to indicate how you intend to run your business and attract customers.
38. Dinner Ingredients Delivery
Working couples do not want the hassles of going back home to cook dinner after a stressful day; this is the niche that this business intends to cover. Having pre-packed ingredients for clients so that they can cook when they get home will turn a nice profit for your business.
In starting this business, you would need to get the necessary food packs for the ready-to-cook ingredients, a cell phone, and a reliable means of transport.
39. Drug Delivery Business
No, you aren’t to deliver illegal drugs, but prescription drugs. Some sick people usually require assistance with refilling their prescriptions. Also, seniors face these challenges especially when they have serious health issues. This is an opportunity market for any serious entrepreneur.
However, you have to research this business properly so you would find out the requirements, as you might need a special license to be able to handle drugs on behalf of others, which may be prone to abuse.
40. Dry Cleaning Delivery
For those with good organizational skills, and hoping to earn good money, then this business might just be the one for you. You will need to contract with dry-cleaning establishments so as to be able to comfortably deliver service to your customer.
Your task will be to pick up the dirty clothes from their homes and offices, take them in for cleaning, and pick them up after servicing and returning them to the rightful owners.
You can choose to arrange with your customers when you would need to be stopping by, and if you would be picking up more dirty clothes, as you return the clean ones. You could also decide to give your customers the emergency pickup option.
41. Diaper Delivery Service
Before starting this business, it would be best if you carry out thorough research and feasibility study as to the state or county’s requirements. Starting the business will only see you have a tiny fraction of the market, as people would only become aware of your business after a few years. You will have to determine what type of diaper will be offered in your diaper service.
You will need to get the list of manufacturers who supply diapers in bulk and partner with the ones that will be favorable to your business. Most people in this business deliver cloth diapers and sanitize the diapers before delivering them. You would need to pick out a niche for yourself.
42. Senior Errand Service Business
Due to the fact that people get older, they are less capable of carrying out certain daily tasks like picking up prescription services, grocery shopping, and other such tasks. This is where the errand service comes in.
Serious errand runners can make a nice profit if they are serious. To get started, you will have to decide on the legal structure and name of your business. You will also need insurance, a cell phone, and a reliable means of transport to get you and your customers to whatever errands you might need to run.
43. Concierge Service
Concierges help deliver services to individuals and organizations, by ensuring that clients stay organized above the clutter of life or the environment around them. In this regard, concierges offer a service delivery business. To start this business, you have got to have a knack for ensuring your clients have it stress-free by running errands, and doing whatever is necessary.
44. Flower Delivery Business
If you are passionate about flowers and have the skills in arranging flowers, you can start your own flower delivery business. The first thing you would need to do is to find the perfect location. You would need to find somewhere that doesn’t have too much competition.
Ensure you get the appropriate licenses and permits. You will also need to get a business phone that clients would be able to use to get in touch with you, and have you deliver flowers to them.
45. Quick Messenger Service
This is for people who do not want to use the regular courier or errand person in getting things. This kind of service is not limited to an age group. Quick messenger service is a specialized form of delivery service and can be regarded as a niche market.
46. Mail Order Catalog Business
You would need to Develop a business plan that determines the types of products you want to sell and how your catalog will be different from other catalogs that sell the same items as yourself. You would need to research the startup expenses that would be required to run this business.
Obtain the necessary finances, and there are many ways you can do this, which is through your savings, or third parties such as fried and families or investors. After getting a good location, you would then need to source for the products that you intend to sell.
47. Marijuana Delivery Business
The marijuana business is one that has very strict requirements and also needs a large amount of finance to start off. This should not however stop you from going into this kind of business, as you can go into the marijuana delivery business.
You would need a steady source of supply so that you do not run out of supply for your customers. You would be required to have a medical marijuana recommendation, and will also need to collect standard documentation from each of the clients you deliver to.
48. Lunch Delivery Service
People who are busy at work, and seniors who barely have the time will want to be able to have their lunches according to their specifications without needing to go out or pack a lunch to work. This can be done over the internet or through a call.
To deliver this kind of service, you would need to partner with restaurants that can offer up different dishes that customers can choose from.
49. Gift Basket Delivery Business
A gift basket is usually a creative venture, as one has to be creative about the kind of gifts placed inside the basket. To go into this business, you would have to either start your own gift basket business or partner with those who are into the business and help them in delivering to their customers.
To start this business, you would need a reliable means of transport as well as a cell phone to stay in touch with your partners and your customers as well. This is a business that can turn a nice profit for you.
50. Courier Service
Anyone can start a courier service, as long as they have a reliable means of transportation, that will enable them to pick up and deliver packages each day. Your means of transportation could be a car or van, only becoming a truck when you have to deliver a large number of packages.
Most people starting this business usually start from home to reduce overhead costs. You have to decide if you want to focus on residential customers, business customers, or both. You can decide what kind of packages you would want to deliver and their weights too.
In conclusion, even though the economy is poor, you can successfully run a delivery business. People want the ease of having things brought to their door. With a cell phone and reliable transportation, you can deliver just about anything legally imaginable for your clients.