How to Choose a Courier Franchise That's Right For You

If you’d like to enter the world of franchising and build a profitable business from the ground up, the courier and delivery industry is a great option, with successful franchises operating in many different ways with many different specialisms. Here’s how to choose the courier franchise that’s right for you.

Over 2.1 billion people shop online for their goods and services across the world [Easyship], and the percentage rate of online sales is on the increase [Office for National Statistics]. Investing in a courier franchise makes financial sense, and is a lower-risk alternative to business ownership. But it’s still a huge commitment. 

Before you make a career change with a courier franchise and commit to a legally binding agreement, it’s important that you do your research and see what’s out there. The following options are four of the directions that you might take in the delivery industry...

1. Speedy delivery

Our world is growing ever more fast-paced, and with this increasing speed, customer trends show a clear desire for reduced delivery timeframes. Some courier and delivery services specialise in same-day or 24-hour services, giving them a competitive advantage over their less-fast counterparts and meeting customer needs across the UK. You might want to choose to invest with one of these speedy delivery franchise networks.

Same-day delivery has the potential to fundamentally change the way we shop. It integrates the convenience of online retail with the immediacy of bricks-and-mortar stores. [...] Demand is expected to increase significantly given the compelling value proposition of same-day delivery for consumers.
- McKinsey & Company

Choosing the right fast delivery franchise

If you’re interested in investing with a franchise that puts the focus on fast delivery, Speedy Freight is a great option. First established in 2006 by Mike Le-Gallez and Ian Southworth, the network has grown substantially since this time, becoming the UK’s leading same day courier and freight service. With over 2,500 delivery vans on the roads, you can become a Speedy Freight franchisee for a minimum initial investment of £38,500.

2. International fulfillment

Some delivery businesses will only offer national-level services, but others will provide their customers with shipping support worldwide. International shipping is more accessible than it ever has been, with packages able to arrive abroad in as little as three days. If you’d like to become a part of the growing international delivery sector, this is a great area in which to make your investment. Here are the biggest advantages of running a courier franchise which offers international fulfillment:

• You’ll have plenty of room to grow and expand
• You’ll reduce the impact of seasonal slowdowns
• You’ll be able to ship a wider range of products
• You’ll increase your brand’s recognisability

How to choose an international courier business

If you’d like to help UK customers ship their parcels overseas, look no further than an investment with World Options. The franchise, founded in 2003, now has over 78 franchisees. World Options’s network of carriers caters to a range of businesses, always aiming to save customers three things: Time, money and trouble. You can become a World Options franchisee for a minimum initial investment of £35,000.

3. Parcel shop

Parcel shops don’t just provide delivery and fulfillment options to their customers - they’re also physical locations that can be visited for packing materials, boxes, envelopes, printing services, and more. Some of the best courier and delivery franchises in the UK are parcel shops, and can simplify the shipping process for small and medium businesses, meaning they can access everything they need in one place, from one reliable source. To thrive as a franchisee in a parcel shop environment, you’ll need to be:

• Committed to the provision of quality customer service
• A strong communicator
• Personable and friendly
• Willing to help 
• Patient and calm
• Attentive to detail
• Able to work well with others 

Finding the right parcel shop franchise opportunity

If running a parcel shop and helping customers face-to-face appeals, why not look into franchising with Post & Packing? Post & Packing prides itself on its ability to suit the needs of all businesses, and the franchise’s shops offer a wide range of shipping and fulfillment services alongside storage services, archiving, post box rental, packaging and more. Become a franchisee for a minimum initial investment of £35,000, with a total investment cost of £50,000.

4. Food delivery

One option that you might not have considered within the thriving delivery industry? Food delivery. Food delivery service uptake has grown substantially since March 2020, and the market is now worth around £2 billion, employing over 5000 [IBISWorld]. As a food delivery franchise owner, you’ll run a kitchen and manage a team of delivery people, sending delicious dishes right to doorsteps every working day.

Depending on the investment you choose, you might be running a food franchise that’s focused on delivery-only options, or you might be balancing the demands of in-restaurant diners with the demands of delivery orders. Either way, the work will be fast-paced, dynamic, and exciting, giving you room to explore your passion for food within a sustainable business model.

How to choose a delivery business in the food industry

There are many great options for investment in the food industry. One restaurant which puts the focus on providing great delivery is Camile Thai Kitchen. Camile Thai Kitchen is a healthy and sustainable Thai chain, established in 2010 by Brody Sweeney. In 2021, the franchise has expanded into over 30 different locations, and you can become a franchisee for a minimum initial investment of £100,000, with franchise fees of £20,000 and monthly royalty and advertising fees, each charged at 5%. 

Choosing a courier franchise that suits you might take time, but running your own business will make all the effort worth it.

By now, you should have a strong idea of what’s out there in the delivery industry, and an even better idea of what might suit you. With the research done and the knowledge cemented in your mind, it’s nearly time to make your choice. Have you discovered Point Franchise’s full range of courier and delivery franchise investment options?