Use Your Van to Launch Your Own Profitable Business

tony 19/10/2017 Comments off

Commercial Vans could become your ride to business success. Many smart van owners are now finding a convenient and empowering way to earn a handsome income. There are tons of jobs available for you to engage in which could make you ample money as well.

But why think about using your van to start a business? A 9 to 5 job isn’t enough to earn you an income that facilitates a great vacation or extra money at the end of the money. In such a condition, it is wise for you to opt for a business that provides you flexible working times as well as a great earning opportunity. Here are some businesses that you can start with your van.

A booming courier business

In 2016 alone, 2.8 billion parcels and packages were delivered in the UK, according to Mintel’s Courier and Express Delivery UK 207. The report also states that courier volumes in the UK have gone up by 65% since 2012. An estimated 1.7 billion traffic was recorded in 2012 which is growing at an unprecedented speed since then. You will be surprised to know that an estimated 87% of British citizens have either sent or received parcels in the first six months of 2017.

Would you be interested in starting a courier business? Here are the details you need to know:

Average working hours: Demand for couriers is very high in the UK because of which you may work from 30 to 40 hours per week.

Expected salary: An average courier service in the UK could earn up to 21,000 pounds (on a sample size of 152 people) according to TotalJobs. In September 2017, there were 3,551 requirements for courier jobs as per Indeed. The rising demand for this service in the UK could lead to more job opportunities in the future.

How to enter the courier business?

Here are the basic requirements for entering the courier business:

Should be good at English and mathematics
Punctual and able to work in tight schedules
A driving license matching the vans you will be driving
Good driving skills with good road sense and an ability to read maps and scour through instructions
A good ability to plan travel routes that are short as well as effective

What are the day-to-day duties?

Sorting packages and plan the most efficient route for delivery
Check schedules of all pick-up and delivery points from the depot
Get all the necessary paperwork done for the delivery
Getting all deliveries and pick-ups signed
Deliver on time and follow any special instructions, if given

A plumbing service that rakes in money

While courier services are making progress each day, the same cannot be said about the availability of skilled labor in the UK. The construction scene in the country is going through a skill shortage and plumbing happens to be one of the skills in high demand. Federation of Master Builders suggests that more plumbers are needed right now to fulfill this high demand. Are you ready for starting a plumbing business of your own?

Average working hours: As there is a supply problem with plumbing, you could be in high demand and may have to work for 37 to 40 hours a week.

Expected salary: TotalJobs suggests that a plumber could earn 31,387 pounds, researching a sample size of 60 plumbers. Indeed advertised 2,000+ plumber jobs in early September 2017.

The basic requirements for a plumbing service:

You should be GCSE or equivalent qualified (grades 9 to 4 or A* To C) in three subjects- Science, Mathematics, and English.
A Diploma in Domestic Plumbing and Heating (a level 2 or 3 diploma will be better).
Qualification for working with level 3 gas related units to work on domestic gas heating systems.
A knowledge of safe practices at work
Ability to read and follow technical drawings.
Customer service abilities

What are the day-to-day duties of a plumber?

Installation and repair of water, heating and drainage systems in homes or commercial properties.
Installation and repair of domestic appliances like showers and washing machines.
Installation and repairs of weather-proof materials like roofs, chimneys, joints, and flashings.
Cutting, bending, and joining of pipes for best results.
Planning the cost and time estimates of a job.
Finding and fixing any fault with a customer’s plumbing systems.
Staying prepared for and handling emergency situations like blocked drains, flooding etc.
Servicing of heating systems, radiators, and other appliances.

Becoming the most popular chef in town with street food vans

This is one of the most interesting and creative ideas to work with your vans. Brits are spending more on street food every year. In fact, their spending has increased by 30% as compared to the last two years. What’s next in Street Food report by Santa Maria suggests that people spent an estimated 6.50 pounds on street food. An average Brit is consuming street food 2 to 3 times a week. This is not all; the number of people eating from street food vans and trucks up to 3 times a week has increased to 20% to 25%.

Street food vans could be a profitable business for anyone willing to spend the time and energy into it. This business is easier to set up than a restaurant, involved lesser costs and brings in better turnovers as well.

Average working hours: While street food vans provide you more freedom to work according to your own schedule, it makes it difficult to assess the average working hours of a unit owner. You will likely be working on holidays as well as weekends.

Expected salary: In early September, Indeed advertised 5000+ jobs for street food units. However, finding the real salary of a street food unit owner is difficult. There is a wide variety in street food types and your salary will depend on the type of food you serve, the number of customers you serve and where you serve your food.

How to enter the street food vending business?

Register with HM Revenue and Customs
Get a Street Trading license if you will be working on public property
Register with local Environmental Health Department
Get a food hygiene qualification
Get a food safety assessment, health and safety assessment and fire safety assessment
Get public liability insurance
Get gas and electrical safety certifications
Get COSHH (control of substances hazardous to health) assessment
Get employer’s liability insurance
Learn food-making best practices
Learn customer service skills
Get an appropriate driving license.

What are the day-to-day activities of a street food unit owner?

Decide where you wish to set up the stall and drive the van to that place
Get raw materials for the food
Prepare the food and cook it, ensuring high safety and hygiene standards
Ensure that food and drink stocks are maintained
Ensure that you encourage your customers to keep the area neat and clean
Market your business well
Keep a track of the finances

Becoming a mobile dog groomer

The brits love their pets. In fact, an estimated 7.16 billion pounds were spent on Brit pets in 2016, as reported by TotallyMoney.com. This is a steep 25% rise from the figures of 2010. There are an estimated 54 million pets in the UK out of which 8.5 million are dogs. Pet pampering services are becoming a rage among pet owners and dogs are the primary beneficiaries of this trend. You too can think about starting a mobile dog grooming service.

Average salary: As a beginner, you could be earning 13,000 to 14,000 pounds per year, according to National Careers Service. However, once you start gaining experience and build a market for your services, the payments can grow. A good and popular groomer can earn upwards of 20,000 pounds per year.

Expected working hours: You could be working for 35 hours a week but the working hours will depend mostly on your clientele and your availability. Currently, Indeed shows 219 jobs for dog groomers in the UK and the number could be expected to grow.

How to start a mobile dog grooming business?

You should have at least some experience of working with dogs- like previous experience at kennels or training with an experienced groomer. You could even undertake an animal care course.
You should be gentle but firm with dogs.
You must be able to connect well with dogs and help them stay relaxed.
Great marketing and communication skills.

What are the day-to-day duties of a dog groomer?

Understanding and following the standards of beauty and looks in different breeds of dogs.
Using stripping knife and electric clippers for dog grooming.
Trimming a dog’s coat using scissors to ensure that the dog looks beautiful and that there is no injury.
Shampooing and drying dog coats.

The colorful job of painter & decorator

Anglian Home Improvements researched the painting and decorating habits of Brits and found that an average Brit’s home is redecorated at least 36 times during their lifetime. That opens the opportunity for a lot of work. It takes 18 days on an average to complete redecor jobs within homes. This is not all, 3 arguments are considered average in this job. Do you think you can do this job quicker with lesser arguments? Why don’t you start a painter & decorator business?

Average salary: TotalJobs conducted a survey with 60 painters and decorators to find that the average salary for a decorator is 22,492 pounds while for a painter, it is 26,406 pounds. Indeed hosted ads for 1902 painting and decorating jobs in early September, showing their high demand across the UK.

Average working hours: You could be working for 35 to 40 hours a week as a painter and decorator. However, this job often requires overtime and extra pressure to finish a work within deadlines because of which working hours may increase.

How to become a painter & decorator?

Get a CSCS (Construction Skills Certificate Scheme) card. This will allow you to work on building sites.
Learn the basics of painting and acquire practical skills for finishing the job.
Pay more attention to details.
Get better communication skills to read instructions thoroughly and talk about the requirements of the client before you begin the work.

What are the expected day-to-day duties of a painter & decorator?

Talk to the client and understand their painting & redecorating needs.
Measure the surface areas properly to determine how much paint could be needed for the job.
Get all material for the work and prepare it before the project begins.
Work carefully on paints as customers are fussy about the colors.
Strip old paints and wallpaper from the walls and fill any cracks or holes.
Applying new paint and wall covering for the perfect finish.
Use wallpaper, decals etc. properly.
Add marbling, glazes, or other special finishing to the walls.
Clean up the space post-work.

These were some of the way of putting your van to work and earning some extra money. So which job do you think is the best?

Sources

http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/retail-press-centre/courier-and-express-delivery-market-posts-1-billion-increase-in-sales-in-2016

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/courier

https://www.totaljobs.com/salary-checker/average-courier-salary

https://www.indeed.co.uk/jobs?q=courier&l=United%20Kingdom

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/758686/plumbers-roofers-short-supply-skills-construction-firms

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/plumber

https://www.totaljobs.com/salary-checker/average-plumber-salary

https://www.indeed.co.uk/jobs?q=plumber&l

https://www.santamariaworld.com/uk/foodservice/insight/the-road-to-success-whats-next-in-street-food/

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/job-profiles/street-food-trader