If you've ever considered working as a courier then you're not alone. A lot of people like the idea of not being stuck behind a desk all day and being able to work without a boss looking over their shoulder.

Although working as a courier can definitely be a good way to make a living, there are some practical aspects of the job that you should be aware of. These include...

It can be stressful

One thing to know about working as a courier is that it can be very stressful, particularly when you're working during rush hour. This isn't unique to courier of course, any job that requires you to be on the road can be stressful at times.

Most courier drivers find they're able to cope with the stressful periods though as it doesn't make up the bulk of the job.

You'll need to have a suitable vehicle

Although it is possible to work as a courier by using a car, it's much better if you have a van. This is because you'll be able to take on more work and fit larger parcels in your vehicle.

Having your own van will make you more attractive to potential employers too so it's definitely worth making the investment.

You'll need to get your own insurance

Another aspect of working as a courier is that you'll need to get the right type of insurance. Although getting cover for road risks is important you'll also want to consider covering the parcels you carry as well as getting cover for things like liability claims and breakdowns. You can do this by getting a good courier insurance policy.

There are many sites where you can easily get courier insurance quotes now so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a policy at a reasonable price.

You'll often need to work long hours

Because working as a courier isn't what would be considered a highly specialised job i.e. you need a lot of training and expertise to do it - this means there are a lot of people currently working as couriers. The knock on effect of this is that you'll need to work long hours in order to make a decent wage. This will sometimes mean working till late into the evening to get all your deliveries done.… Read more

There are many people across the UK who open their own shop every year. This can be a risky venture since not every business succeeds but there are plenty that do and it can be a great way to make a living.

If you're thinking of opening your own shop then below are some of the main things to think about in order to ensure your venture is a successful one. 

Things to consider

• Type of shop - One of the most important decisions you have to make is the type of shop you're going to open. You likely already have a good idea about this but if not, it's the first thing you need to think about. You can open a general shop such as a newsagent but if you're going to be selling a particular line of products then it's always a good idea to sell things that you're knowledgeable about.
• Location - The location of your shop is extremely important. It's never a good idea to try and save money on rent by choosing a location that's in a remote area since it will negatively affect your business in a big way. Always be sure to find out as much as you can about a location before you commit to it to avoid making a mistake.
• Type of building - Some buildings will be a lot more suitable than others depending on the type of shop you want to open. For example, if it's a boutique shop, then something that's unique and quirky would be ideal. You can get creative with how you decorate it and even add things like like venetian blinds for slide and fold doors. 
• Insurance - Insurance is another vital aspect of running your own shop. Shop insurance will protect your business for numerous risks, including structural damage to your building, business interruption, liability claims as well as contents, stock and cash. You can get shop insurance quotes online very easily now so this doesn't need to be too much of a headache. It's always recommended that you get quotes from several different insurance providers in order to save money.
• Staff - Depending on the type of shop you decide to open, there's a good chance you'll need to hire at least one employee to help you run it on a day-to-day basis. Hiring staff can be daunting if you've never done it before so you should educate yourself on the subject of recruitment as much as possible.

You might have heard that the majority of restaurants fail in their first year. This fact alone is enough to put a lot of people off entering the industry. However in spite of this fact, there are still plenty of restaurants that thrive.

If you're thinking of entering  industry and starting your own restaurant then below are some of the most important considerations to ensure your business is a success. 

• Type of food to serve - One of the most fundamental decisions you have to make when starting your own restaurant is the type of food you're going to serve. The vast majority of restaurants will have a selection of meat dishes in addition to at least one vegetarian/vegan option for each course. There's a growing trend for more simple and unpretentious food in the UK right now so there's nothing wrong with doing simple dishes very well.
• Decor - The decor of your restaurant helps to set the atmosphere. Atmosphere is extremely important to people when they're eating out so this is something you want to get right. If you're not certain exactly what sort of look you want for your restaurant then don't be afraid to hire an expert to help you with this.
• Location - The location of your restaurant is another key factor. Restaurants rely on a good amount of foot traffic for business so you want to open a restaurant in a location that's in a fairly densely populated area that's convenient for people to get to by car, taxi, metro etc.
• Insurance - Protecting your restaurant against risks such as business interruption, theft, structural damage, liability claims and loss of licence is a must. The way to do this is by getting a restaurant insurance policy from a specialist provider. Having a good insurance policy for your restaurant will enable you to run your business with full peace of mind and means that you're prepared for the worst.
• Staff - The staff you employ if your restaurant are going to play a huge role in whether it's successful or not. For this reason you should be as selective as possible and only hire people who you're certain will help your restaurant to thrive. The servers in your restaurant are of course important but you should also spend a lot of time finding the right restaurant manager and head chef.

If you currently work, or have worked, in the truck industry then there's a good chance you've considered starting your own business at some point. Starting your own business gives you the freedom to operate as you choose and to become self-reliant.

If you are planning to start your own trucking business then below are some of the key things that you must consider.

Choosing the right industry

The right industry is usually one that you have the most experience in. There are a lot similarities from one industry to the next where trucking is concerned but if you have years' of experience working as a recovery truck driver then it's probably better to stick to this rather than opting for an industry you have less experience in, such as refrigerated trucks.

Choosing the right industry at the start can be the difference between success and failure so this is certainly something you should think about carefully.

Hiring the right drivers

Hiring the best drivers for your business is absolutely key. Self-driving trucks are still a long way in the future so for now you want to hire drivers with a lot of skill and experience and who you're confident will be able to do the job safely and effectively.

Some things to consider when hiring drivers are -

• Their age - Age is extremely important when hiring drivers for your business. Most truck insurance providers will not offer cover for truck drivers who are under 25 years of age so you should ensure you hire experienced drivers who you'll be able to get cover for on your truck insurance policy.
• Their experience - Experience is also key when hiring drivers. Just because a driver is over 25 doesn't mean they're necessarily experienced in driving a truck. You'll want to be sure that any drivers you hire have plenty of experience driving the particular trucks that your business operates and that they hold the right licences and have done adequate training.
• Their driving history - In addition to hiring drivers who are over 25 and have plenty of experience driving a truck, you also want to check their driving histroy, including any points on their licence and their claims history. This will make a big difference when it comes to getting cover.

Getting cover at the best price

When you're looking for cover for your trucking business, you want to go to specialist providers. Specialist providers of truck insurance will offer the best prices and be able to provide comprehensive cover for every aspect of your business. You should get quotes from several different providers so you can easily compare them and choose the one that offers the best value for money.

For more information on truck insurance for all kinds of trucks go to https://www.cleangreencars.co.uk/truck-insurance/… Read more

There are many great reasons to start your own business, especially given how difficult it can be to find regular employment nowadays. You get to make your own decisions and the success or failure of the business is completely down to you.

If you're considering starting your own business then below are some of the most important things to consider before you take the plunge.

1. Are you passionate about the industry?

Whatever industry your business is in, it should be one that you're passionate about. It's very easy to underestimate the amount of work that's required in order to get a new business off the ground and keep it going. If you're planning to go into an industry you don't know much about or don't have much passion for then you might want to think carefully before going ahead.

2. Are you going to invest in a premises?

Getting a business premises, whether you're planning to buy or rent, is a huge financial commitment. Because of this you should educate yourself on every aspect of the process, from the location and insurance to the pros and cons of renting vs buying.

3. Do you know what insurance you need?

One of the most important aspects of starting a new business is ensuring that you get the right level of cover. The level of insurance you'll need will depend on the industry you're operating in. If you're running a coffee shop for example, then you'll need cover for your building, cover for employee and public liability claims and cover for cash, stock and tools. If you're running a business in the motor trade then you'll need cover for your building as well as cover that allows you to work on and transport customer vehicles.

4. Are you going to need staff?

If you've never hired employees before then you'll definitely want to educate yourself on the subject of recruitment. Good staff are vital to almost any type of business so you want to be sure you've taken the right steps to find the best employees possible for your business.

5. Where is your business going to be located?

Where your business is going to be located is vital and something you should put a lot of thought into. The location of a business can make or break it, especially for businesses that rely on a high volume of foot traffic. Generally businesses that are in built-up areas where a lot of people pass by are more successful but this is dependent on the industry you're in. It's always a good idea to get outside advice when making a decision as to the location of your business, particularly from other business owners in your industry.… Read more