Starting A Route Business On A Shoestring Budget
Good News! It is totally possible to start a route business on a shoestring budget… In fact that is exactly how many people start.
If you have watched video #1 you know I lay out a list of expenses you’ll have when getting started in the dry cleaning business… You may remember the total start-up costs are a few thousand dollars. Now a few thousand dollars isn’t that much when you are talking about starting a business. But with the dry cleaning delivery business you can start for much less, here is how that math looks.
Vehicle – If you have an SUV or Mini Van you can start with this vehicle total cost $0.00
Paint Job – Not needed total cost $0.00
Van Racks – Wal-Mart $30.00
Van Graphics – You can order a magnet with your business name and number on it from http://www.VistaPrint.com as low as $15.00
Route Software – This is where it gets sticky… I do know people who have used
QuickBooks to start this business… I am still a firm believer that you need good software to make sure you keep your books and routes in order so total cost here is going to be between $200.00 – $950.00 depending on if you go with professional software or QuickBooks software.
Bags and Door Hangers – for 100 bags and 150 door hangers (which is the minimum purchase) you are looking at about $500.00
Telephone – Convert your home phone (you know the one you don’t use anymore because everyone just calls your cell phone) to a business line total cost $0.00
Insurance – You should already have insurance on your vehicle so total cost again $0.00
Miscellaneous – $100.00
Total cost to get started with a shoestring budget – $845.00 – $1595.00
Not to bad for starting a business.
3 Comments
What about Public Liability insurance? Otherwise the customers’ clothes while in your hands are not covered. What if you tripped on the long polysleeve, fell and ruined your customer’s expensive ball gown.
Nigel,
I am a big believer in having more than enough insurance but even if I tripped and ruined a customers clothes it would more than likely be better for me to just pay for the ruined clothes out of pocket due to my deductible. I pay $54.00 per month for cargo and liability insurance… If you plan on having that from day one you can add that into your start-up costs.
Shaun