Couriers are in incredibly high demand now, in no small part due to how massive internet shopping has become.

If you want to take advantage of this and start making money as a freelance courier then below are some of the most important things to know.

Do you need a van?

One of the first things people want to know when thinking of becoming a courier is whether or not they’ll need to buy a van. The truth is that while you don’t absolutely need a van to work as a freelance courier, it will certainly help you get more work. A lot of freelance courier jobs require you to have your own van due to the size of the parcel being transported.

Where to find work

Easily the hardest part about getting started as a freelance courier is finding work. There are websites you can use where people post freelance courier jobs so it’s certainly not an impossible task but your aim should always be to secure long-term clients who need repeat work. The best way to do this is by doing an excellent job and proving yourself to be reliable.

Getting insurance

In order to work as a freelance courier you’ll need to get a courier insurance policy. Below are some of the most important things to get included in your policy –

• Road risks – You will of course need to get cover for road risks in order to be able to drive legally. If you want the cheapest type of cover then a third party only policy is what you need. For more protection then consider adding fire and theft or getting a fully comprehensive policy.
• Goods in transit insurance – You will certainly want to get goods in transit cover with your policy too. This will ensure that if any of the items you were transported were damaged or stolen that you’d be fully compensated.
• Breakdown assistance – Breakdown assistance can also be added to a courier insurance policy for an extra fee.

You can get courier insurance quotes from a site such as Insure The Courier.

Paying tax

When you work for yourself, you’ll also need to take care of paying your own tax. If you’re uncertain exactly how to go about this or aren’t great with numbers then it’s never a bad idea to hire an accountant to help you out.