Starting a grocery shopping business is a great way to become your own boss in a growing field. In these uncertain economic times, self-employment can still offer the American Dream and provide the best job security for the future. As boomers become senior citizens, they will drive the growing demand for grocery shopping services.
The senior population is over 45 million today, and is expected to double over the next two decades. As seniors age and become less mobile, they need more help with daily activities, such as grocery shopping and running errands.
Start-up costs: a grocery shopping service can be a true “shoestring start-up,” as a reliable vehicle and a cell phone are the only essentials, and most of us already have both. A computer with internet access is needed to stay in touch with customers by email, although an iPad or smart phone can be used while making grocery deliveries, and an all-in-one printer, scanner, copier and fax is a versatile tool for a grocery shopping service.
Printed marketing materials, such as business cards, flyers and postcards, are essential business-building tools. By paying careful attention to start up costs, it is possible to get started for just a few hundred dollars.
How much can you charge? The amount you can charge for grocery shopping and delivery depends on your location more than any other factor. Rates are lower in small towns and higher in cities, a reflection of the cost of doing business. Most grocery shopping businesses charge a fee based on order size, such as a $25 fee for a $200 grocery order. That typically works out to about $27 an hour.
Recommended training and skills: Starting a grocery shopping business requires no formal education or business experience. What it does require is lots of common sense, honesty, patience and organization. You have to earn the trust of seniors, but once you do, you’ve got a customer for life. Organizing skills come in handy, for example when you are at the grocery store with shopping lists for two or three customers, or figuring out the best route for your grocery deliveries.
Marketing Tips: First, you need to identify who your customers are, then figure out the best way to reach them. Local senior publications, such as magazines and newsletters, reach most seniors in any area, as do newsletters for the over-55 communities and retirement communities. While seniors are an ideal customer base because they are regular, repeat customers, many grocery shopping providers also serve other types of customers. For example, you can grocery shop for busy professionals, or those homebound with medical issues.
Income potential: Using the national average rates for a grocery shopping service, a grocery shopper could expect to earn around $1,000 a week, or $50,000 a year after the business has become established. There are also “add-on” services, such as other errands that can be combined with grocery shopping, that can boost income substantially.
Starting a grocery delivery business could be your escape from the rat race or unemployment. With rock-bottom start-up costs and above-average earning potential, the future is looking bright for anyone who wants to take advantage of this growing trend. To learn more, read How to Start Your Own Grocery Shopping Business.
