Courier Work as a Side Hustle

Being a courier in the UK

Looking to boost your income without sacrificing flexibility? Working as a courier in the UK could be the perfect side hustle for you. It is a great way to earn some extra money and is flexible, so can be done whilst working another job, or for anyone who needs more flexibility than a full-time job offers.

The demand for the ‘instant’ means that as a self-employed courier, often you can pick and choose the hours to work, as well as the type of work you do – especially if you have a valuable resource such as DeliveryApp, that enables you to instantly plug into a network of driving opportunities across the UK.

As a self-employed courier, you have complete control of when and how you work. DeliveryApp empowers you to take full control of your workflow. The app ensures you can start earning straight away; once you have signed up, you can simply login and take your pick of local courier jobs. With no bidding for jobs or monthly subscriptions, it couldn’t be easier to accept the job you want, and away you go.

This dives into the world of couriers making it as a side hustle and offers you the essential tips for getting started!

Courier essentials

To get started, the first thing you need to source is a vehicle. From a car, van or lorry, whatever you choose will inform the sorts of deliveries you are able to complete, so choose wisely!

Now for the essentials. If you are on the road for a while, you’re going to need to pack a trusty day bag loaded with your champions kit: food to keep you fuelled, enough tea, coffee and water to keep you hydrated, a first aid kit for minor bumps or scrapes, a phone charger to ensure you stay connected to your jobs, and an all weather jacket because, well, this is Britain.

Best vehicles for courier work

When picking the best vehicle for your courier business, the main variables to consider include the weight and size of the packages you’ll be transporting, the travel distance and the terrain you’ll be driving across.

Here, we’ve listed a few vehicle types commonly used for courier work:

Car: using your car to carry out courier work is perfectly feasible and more and more people across the UK are starting to do it. The average sized car in the UK means you’ll have good fuel efficiency and be well suited to towns and big city roads.

Van: perfect for multi-drop and big parcel, long-distance deliveries. With more capacity and designed for carrying goods across varied distances, a van is the ideal courier vehicle, but be wary of the cost of running it, as it may increase.

Truck: a must if you are hauling heavy packages over a considerable distance. A truck is less ideal for multi-dropping, but they can carry a lot of weight.

Ensuring you have the correct vehicle is imperative. If purchasing a new vehicle for courier work, be sure to test drive a range of vehicles, and don’t neglect yourself if you choose to spend many hours in the vehicle every day.

Self-employed courier work

So, what are the vital aspects to consider before you embark on your self-employed courier career? We have gathered some pointers together to give you an idea:

• Suitable vehicle insurance: if you are using your own vehicle for deliveries, you should make sure that you have the appropriate insurance coverage. This may include commercial auto insurance if you are using your vehicle for business purposes.
• Vehicle fuel efficiency: this may depend on the type of courier work you wish to undertake, but do some research, as it’s always good to get the least expensive option to keep your operating costs low.
• Expenses: this doesn’t include your maintenance costs such as garage visits or maintenance, but you’ll need running costs to cover tolls, fuel and other unexpected fees. Remember to factor in these figures, otherwise all these costs will impact your profits.

Many people find that working as a courier driver is a great way to earn extra money on the side, because it allows them to set their own schedule and choose when and how much they work, making it both a flexible and rewarding career.

Ready to get started? DeliveryApp is an app made for drivers and it couldn’t be easier to sign up and start making deliveries. Sign up here or contact our team for more information.