Courier and delivery businesses for sale

Many courier firms use a mix of employed drivers and self-employed owner-drivers who invoice the firm. Ask about the split and the agreements behind it. Self-employed subcontractors give flexibility but can leave at short notice, and if the relationship in practice looks like employment, it can cause problems. Employed drivers transfer with the business on their existing terms. In many small courier firms the owner answers the phone, assigns the jobs and drives when a driver calls in sick. Ask how many hours the owner puts in, and who can take over planning and customer contact.

Fixed routes for business customers such as pharmacies, laboratories, wholesalers and workshops give predictable revenue. Same-day and one-off jobs often pay better but fluctuate. If the firm works as a subcontractor for a large parcel or freight company, one customer usually sets the prices — check the contract, the notice period and what happens on a change of owner. Ask for revenue per customer and per route.

Vans, route planning, the booking system and a customer app can all be part of the value. Ask for a list of vehicles with age, mileage and leases, and make sure the domain, booking system and customer accounts are included. Whether the work requires an operator licence depends on, among other things, vehicle weight and the type of transport — check it for the specific fleet.

• Split between employed drivers and subcontractors.
• Revenue per customer and route, and the contracts.
• Vehicle list with leases.
• Systems, domain and customer accounts to be handed over.
• Whether the work requires a licence.

Read more about buying a transport company, and see the pre-purchase checklist.