Courier Service Business Plans - You Lose

Anytime some one mentions How to Start a Courier Service, it seems the 1st question is about a business plan. I appreciate the value of planning for the start-up of any business and being careful as to the structure and finance of the business, however, you can over-think the whole bag as well.

When you start a Courier Service as an individual, you need a good vehicle, a phone and some business cards. Now if you need a business plan to show to some banker or potential partner for funding for that, you do not need to go into business. When I started my business, I had a Chevy Capri (4 door) $1500 in the bank and my wife to answer phones, oh yea and a Pager. ( Does anyone know what a pager is anymore?) I do admit that you will be spending money on gas and vehicle maintenance for almost 60 days before you see your first customer payment but that is the worst of it. If you need funding to buy gas for 60 days, "You Lose"

Now let's go beyond that. If you already have a large customer sold and ready to start your company with and have the need to hire Independent Contractors or your own Drivers right away, set up a computer software tracking and accounting system and have a dispatcher or other personnel for the office, you need a business plan to show your banker. Also, if you are already in business and need to expand, you need a business plan. If you have need for start-up expenses and/or expansion and do not have a business plan, "You Lose".

There are many different business plans available but I find that keeping it simple and counting on the experts is a winning combination. So I depend on SCORE which is a great small business advisory made of of retired business men. You probably have a local organization and can even get a mentor to help you do your business plan and set your business up properly. So as you move ahead, give them a call or contact their web site at www.score.org. If you don't ask for help from the pros when you need it, "You Lose".

Ok, Business plans. I am listing the web address for 2 Business plans that you can copy to your computer, fill out and make your own. These are in PDF format and you will need adobe reader to show, copy and alter them on your computer. If you don't have the Adobe PDF reader on your computer, go to this site and download it for free. Either click or copy/paste: http://adobe-reader.download-today.net/

For a Business Plan for a start-up company click or copy/paste :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3588862/Score-Business-plan-for-startup

For a Business Plan for an established business click or copy/paste:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3588762/Score-Business-Plan-for-Established-Business

As you get the Business plan on screen, go to the upper right corner of the PDF screen, click on the button and it will then go to a full screen view.

Now you have some of the tools necessary to move forward but that is the good news and the bad news. When you begin putting a Business Plan together, the next thing you know, it's 3 months later. Don't get stuck-in-the-mud, get the business in motion even if it's not at the level you would like. If you get Stuck-in-the Mud, "You Lose".

For more information on How to Start and Operate a Courier Service, visit me at http://jims-ideas.blogspot.com