Based on your skills and capabilities, you will need to figure out what
services you will render for seniors. Most senior errand runners specialize in
basic errands such as grocery shopping, pet walking, dry-cleaning, picking up prescriptions, and so on. However,
some senior errand runners render transportation services, such as driving clients to and from doctor’s
appointments, shopping, and so on.
2. Obtain the necessary licensing and insurance
You will need to find out what business licenses and insurance you will
need to start your senior errand business. The requirements vary by city,
state, or country. To find out what is obtainable in your location, you should
visit your state government website or call your town’s licensing board to make
inquiries regarding the licensing requirements.
In addition, you should contact a seasoned insurance agent to find out what
liability coverage your errand business should carry. If you would be offering
transportation services, then you ensure that your car is insured for business
use.
3. Gather the required equipment
The basic equipment you will need is a cell phone through which clients can
reach you whenever they need your services. If you will be rendering transport
services, you will need a car, too.
4. Set your prices
Before you get your business up and running, you must find out what similar
businesses in your area are charging for their services. You can start by
contacting them and requesting a cost sheet by mail for reference. You can also
visit their website to see what promotions they offer and what tactics they are
employing to attract and retain clients.
Prices range from $8 to over $40 per hour depending on your location, your
customers, and what services you provide. For example, you will charge more for
transportation services than you would for simple errands that you can execute
on a bicycle or scooter.
You should also make a list of all the services you will render, attach
prices to each, and figure out how much discount you will offer to new clients
or loyal clients who hire your services repeatedly.
5. Market your services
Trust is what works in the senior marketplace. If you succeed in gaining
the trust of your first customers, they will tell their friends, and you will
soon have enough customers to handle.
A good way to start marketing is by checking on homes where there are
seniors and tell them about your services. Pass out business cards to everyone
you meet, and leave flyers and brochures at places like senior centers and
other places often visited by seniors.
6. Open your doors for business
Once you begin gaining the attention you need, you must start delivering
your services to clients. However, you must provide great service once you
start your errand business. If you satisfy a customer, you already have a
repeat customer.
Always remain flexible to accommodate the needs of your clients. And avoid
taking up errands you cannot perform. A better way to go about such errands is
to engage someone who can handle them. For example, you can engage a few
college students to help you handle extra assignments that you cannot handle.
7. Watch out for competition
As you run your senior errand business, you must bear in mind that there
are many other businesses rendering similar services. And any poor service or
mistake on your part will only drive your customers towards the competition.
Even if your services are satisfactory enough, always brainstorm for ways
to push ahead of the competition. Grab every opportunity you have to improve
your services so that your clients will keep hiring your services repeatedly.
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