How to start a flyer distribution business
If you are looking for a business that you can literally start from scratch, then you may want to consider starting a brochure delivery service.
Flyer distribution is big business. After all, if there wasn’t a lot of money to be made, newspapers and the Postal Service would quickly discontinue this service.
Of course, you’ll never be able to compete with their advanced distribution networks, but you may find that there are services you can provide that they can’t. For example, the brochures they hand out are always bundled with several others. Your small service can easily deliver exclusively to the owner’s front door. You can also offer smaller, more concentrated distributions and customized services.
Having said that, your best chance to make money in this multi-billion dollar industry is to take a lesson from the greats and deliver more than one brochure to every home. Establish routes throughout the city by dividing the territory and concentrating on one area per week. Package several flyers (not competing with each other) in plastic bags with holes to hang on the doors.
If you charge five cents per flyer delivered and have 10 flyers in a bag, you will earn $0.50 gross for each flyer delivered. After you pay overhead, which includes your carrier’s wages, you should have enough to make a nice profit.
You will succeed in this business through your exceptional organizational skills and by being flexible and offering services that larger organizations would not bother with. Not all businesses like to receive their brochures in the usual junk mail, or in a newspaper with 20 other brochures. Also, having a flyer delivered right to your customers’ front door is very appealing.
The hardest part will be getting your first accounts. Walk around and visit some local businesses. Hand out your business card and give them a quick rundown of the services you can provide. You may also want to take note of any flyers that arrive at your door, in the mail, or in your newspaper and contact that company to see if they would be interested in trying your service. If they are already advertising with flyers, you have a good chance of landing a job or two.
Lastly, be sure to hire honest and trustworthy carriers. This is not as easy as it sounds. Take your time and make sure you hire the right people. You should also make it a policy to do random checks throughout the day to make sure all flyers are delivered. Some of your customers will ask what measures you have in place to prevent non-delivery by unscrupulous carriers.