Going self-employed
A grounded place to begin getting your rates, mileage and money admin organised before you commit to the first round or your first direct client.
Instant digital downloads on currently available products · UK-focused templates and guides · Not a substitute for professional advice.
Driving the rounds is the easy part. Once you're an owner-driver you're not just doing the drops, you're working out whether per-drop, per-mile or a day rate actually pays once fuel and van running costs come off, deciding when network work is worth it versus chasing better-paid direct clients, tracking your mileage, and chasing the money you're owed. LaunchKit is a set of UK-focused, downloadable templates and guides designed to help you think through that setup side and get organised from day one. It's a practical starting point, not a substitute for professional advice.
What to sort first
Before you agree any rate, know what fuel, van running costs and mileage actually cost you so a drop or a day rate genuinely pays.
Set your per-drop, per-mile and day-rate numbers, and be clear on where network rates sit versus what you'd charge a direct client.
Have your quoting and invoicing ready so you can price same-day and ad-hoc jobs and bill clients without it eating your evenings.
Get a simple way to log your mileage and running costs so you know what each round makes and tax time isn't a scramble.
Agree payment terms with direct clients and keep on top of what networks owe you so you're not waiting weeks for the money.
Make sure you've got the right cover for delivery work, like hire-and-reward and goods-in-transit. It's something to look into and sort yourself before you start carrying parcels for pay.
Plan how you'll find rounds and direct clients, through networks, local business outreach, Facebook and word of mouth.
Recommended LaunchKit tools
Walks you through the practical first steps of setting up as a self-employed courier so you're not guessing what to sort before your first round.
See what’s inside Your paperworkReady-to-use client service agreement, proof-of-delivery, vehicle check and route-planning templates for the paperwork you share with local businesses, shops and e-commerce sellers.
See what’s inside Your pricingAn Excel workbook that works out a price as hours × your hourly rate, plus materials with a markup, plus a fixed fee such as a call-out or travel charge, with VAT added if you choose, and prints a quote.
See what’s inside Getting foundContent templates to help you get found by local businesses and stay visible to the shops and sellers who book you for same-day runs.
See what’s inside Your wordsHelps you write clear outreach to local shops, quote follow-ups and listings without staring at a blank screen after a long day on the road.
See what’s inside Money adminA set of forms to help you keep mileage, fuel, van costs and what each client owes you organised across networks and direct work.
See what’s insideNot sure where to start? See everything for courier delivery or browse all LaunchKit products.
Suggested starter stack
The same tools, grouped in the order most people pick them up. You don’t need everything at once — start with the essentials, then add the rest as your business grows.
Works out a price from your hours, hourly rate and materials, plus a fixed fee and optional VAT.
See what’s insideThe service agreements and proof-of-delivery records you'll use with local businesses and e-commerce sellers.
See what’s insideCommon questions
Get the admin side organised so you can focus on the work. Browse the tools built for courier delivery businesses.
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