If you are interested in pursuing a career as a courier, then it would probably be in your best interest to gather any and all information you can about the job before committing yourself to it.
Which is why this article aims to outline what exactly a courier does and examine some of the finer details of working as a courier.
What Does a Courier Do
A courier works to deliver packages from one location to another. This work involves a lot of driving around and the delivery of packages to specific locations.
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How Do You Find Work
Finding work as a courier is a relatively easy thing to do conceptually. There is no shortage of courier businesses, although the way you get involved may vary.
Job Boards. If you are self-employed, then finding courier jobs on job boards is the best way to do so (learn more here). It is probably the best way for you to consistently find work, especially if you have particular working hours.
Alternatively, if you are working more traditionally as a courier, there are two ways that you might find yourself employed.
Companies. The first is to be hired directly by a courier company, which will then employ your services in delivering parcels.
Agencies. The second is to be hired to work with a courier company through an agency. This generally allows more flexibility in your work hours, but at the sacrifice of some of the benefits of being hired directly by the company.
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How Much Will You Make
Depending on the avenue of their employment, couriers will make an average of $23,159 a year in the united states. This is somewhat below the median US salary, which may or may not matter to you.
Self-Employed vs. Traditionally Employed vs. Business Owner
Finally, when it comes to working as a courier, you have three major options for employment. You are either self-employed, employed by a courier company, or you are the owner of your own courier company.
All of these come with different benefits and drawbacks, which means you should make a decision based on what works for you.
Self-Employed
Generally speaking, as a self-employed courier, you will have more control over your working hours and greater flexibility in how you work, which can be enormously beneficial, especially if you have non-traditional circumstances and need to work accordingly.
However, you lack a lot of the work security that a traditionally employed courier would have, and you will often be motivated to organize yourself around the availability of work.
Traditionally Employed
On the other hand, working as a traditionally employed courier entitles you to a consistent salary and all the benefits that come with full employment.
However, you lose a lot of the selectivity and flexibility that working as a self-employed courier allows, and you will never be able to exceed your salaried pay without working overtime.
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Business Owner
Finally, owning your own courier business comes with both the highest risk and the greatest potential for success. Your earning is entirely tied to your business’s ability to turn a profit, and if you do not succeed in properly managing the responsibilities of your company, you could find yourself in hot water, legally speaking.
If high-risk, high-reward work sounds like something you can get on board with, then this is a brilliant option for you.