When choosing the right courier company to represent your business, it’s important that you gather the right information to make an informed decision. From using a delivery service that doesn’t have courier insurance to falling victim to an unreliable courier company, making the wrong choice could cost you a lot of time and money.

Below are ten things to consider when choosing a courier company for your business.

Do they have a licence and are insured?

It’s important to ensure that your chosen courier business is licensed to deliver parcels. You should also ask if they have courier insurance in place. If the answer is no, you should walk away and take your custom elsewhere. Checking to see if they have goods in transit insurance for couriers is vital if you want to ensure that your cargo is protected while on the road.

Using a company without courier van insurance with goods in transit cover could harm your brand’s reputation. You run the risk of your parcels being lost or stolen, as there is no guarantee you will be able to be reimbursed should they not reach their final destination.

Do they look professional?

A courier company’s overall appearance and professionalism can indicate how well your goods will be handled. It’s also worth remembering that a courier company’s vans and drivers can be a reflection of your business.

It’s wrong to judge a book by its cover, but if a courier pulls up to your customer’s address in an unclean and old car, it won’t give a good impression of your brand and may make customers feel wary about ordering from you in the future.

The biggest company isn’t necessarily the best

The more well-known courier companies may make the most noise, but they aren’t necessarily the best in the business. Shop around and look at smaller, local courier businesses before making a decision.

Don’t let cost be the only factor when choosing a courier

It may be tempting to use the cheapest courier, but cheaper doesn’t necessarily mean good value for money. Compare prices and see what you get from each company. They might be cheaper because they don’t have courier insurance, which could end up costing you even more in the long run!

Do they have recommendations?

When choosing a courier to represent your business, it’s important to check their reviews. Unless they’re a brand new company (in which case, they should be cheaper than everyone else), walk away if they don’t have good recommendations.

Can they deliver your parcels?

Suppose you are having unconventional parcels delivered (e.g., live animals, perishables, or large objects). In that case, it’s important to check with a courier to see if they are insured to deliver these products as there are several different types of insurance for courier vans.

Are there any hidden charges?

Check with the courier company before using a service to check whether there are any hidden charges you may not know about. These could include delivery charges in the morning or evening or additional fees for heavier parcels. Always ask for the final price before committing.

What is the best way to contact them?

Ask the courier company how they prefer to be contacted and make sure that this is acceptable for you. Should something go wrong, you need to be able to contact the courier in an emergency.

Do they offer a next-day delivery service?

Most courier companies offer a next-day delivery service, but it’s worth asking just in case. This might be something that they only offer on certain days of the week or if you book by a certain time the day before, so make sure to do your homework.

Where can they deliver to?

Make sure that the courier company is okay with delivering to the destinations that your parcels need to reach. This is especially important if you are delivering goods outside of the UK.

If you own your own business, you will be no stranger to business car insurance, which is something that Insurance Revolution is proud to offer.