Zero startup cost. Elderly neighbors and busy parents will pay weekly for someone they trust.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Reliable vehicle with gas (already own in most cases) | $0 |
| Phone mount for navigation | $10-20 |
| Insulated tote bag (for grocery or food errands) | $8-20 |
| Simple liability / service agreement (print) | $0-5 |
| Business cards (optional) | $10-20 |
| Total | $28-65 |
Be specific about what you do and don't do. Common errand categories: grocery shopping and delivery, pharmacy pickups, post office / shipping runs, dry cleaning pickup/drop-off, package returns (Amazon, UPS), appointment driving (elderly clients to doctor/dentist), light household task support (bulb changes, assembling flat-pack furniture, organizing a closet). Avoid: anything requiring a medical or legal license, anything involving handling client money directly without a clear system, and moving heavy furniture without separate pricing.
Three segments convert fastest. Elderly clients: often have no nearby family to help with weekly errands. They pay reliably, require low-complexity tasks, and refer enthusiastically to friends with the same needs. Busy parents: two-income households with kids — outsourcing errands reclaims evenings. Post in local parent Facebook groups and Nextdoor. Small business owners: post office runs, supply pickups, bank deposits. Reach them through local business groups or in-person at shops and offices.
Two options work well. Hourly: $20-40/hour with a 1-hour minimum. Simple, easy to sell to new clients. Package: a weekly or monthly bundle (e.g., "4 errand runs/month for $150"). Packages create predictable recurring income and lock in client loyalty. Start with hourly for first clients, offer packages once you know their needs. Charge a mileage or fuel surcharge for errands over 15 miles from your base.
Don't wait for paying clients to figure out your system. Run 2-3 errand jobs for people you know — friends, neighbors, family. Notice what goes wrong: did you forget an item? Did you have trouble tracking receipts? Did you arrive at the wrong pharmacy? Real jobs surface the friction. Fix it before a paying client experiences it. These early jobs also give you your first reviews and word-of-mouth.
After the first few jobs, identify which clients have consistent weekly needs. Propose a recurring arrangement: "Would it help if I came every Saturday morning for your shopping run? I can lock in that slot each week for $[X]/month." Most clients who used you once and liked the experience will say yes. Recurring clients are your business — unpredictable one-off jobs are just extra income on top.
Once you have a client base, expand into personal assistant work: scheduling appointments, handling phone calls, researching service providers, organizing paperwork, coordinating repairs. This work pays $25-50/hour vs $20-30 for basic errands, and it deepens the relationship so much that clients rarely leave. Elderly clients especially value having someone who can navigate phone trees and insurance paperwork with them.
One errand trip: grocery run, pharmacy pickup, post office, or similar. 1-hour minimum. Good for first-time clients or one-off needs. Fuel surcharge for destinations 15+ miles away.
Weekly recurring service: 2-4 errand runs per week at a locked-in rate. Typically 3-6 hours of errand time per week. Best model for elderly clients or busy families who have consistent needs.
Full personal assistant service: errands plus scheduling, phone calls, appointment management, household coordination. 15-25 hours/month. Premium clients who value time over money — one client at this tier is $300-600/month of recurring income.
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👋 Hey [Neighborhood]! I run a local errand service and I have a few openings this week. I handle: • Grocery shopping + delivery • Pharmacy pickups • Post office / Amazon returns • Dry cleaning pickup • Appointment driving (especially for seniors) I've done errands for [X] neighbors this month — happy to share references. Hourly or weekly packages available. Text [Phone] or DM me — I reply fast. [Your Area] | Reliable | Licensed driver
LOCAL ERRAND HELPER Available in [Your Neighborhood] Need help with weekly errands? [Your Name] can handle: ✓ Grocery shopping & delivery ✓ Pharmacy pickups ✓ Doctor appointment driving ✓ Post office & package returns ✓ Light household tasks Reliable, honest, and local. References available on request. Call or text: [Phone] Affordable rates • Weekly packages available [Your Area]
"Hi [Name] — I'm [Your Name], I run a local errand service in [Your Area]. I saw your post / I'm your neighbor / [How you heard of them]. I help with grocery runs, pharmacy pickups, driving to appointments — basically any errand that takes time out of your week. I charge $[X]/hour, and I offer weekly packages for recurring clients. Would it help if I came by this week so you can see how it works? I'm happy to do the first run at a reduced rate so you can meet me and decide if it's a good fit."
Subject: Local errand service for [Business Name] — post office, supplies, banking Hi [Name], I run a local errand service in [Your Area] and I work with several small businesses that need regular runs to the post office, office supply store, or bank. I can handle recurring pickups on a schedule (daily, weekly, or as-needed) so your team doesn't lose working time on routine errands. Rates start at $[X]/hour with package pricing for regular clients. Would a quick 10-minute call make sense to see if it's a fit? [Your Name] | [Phone] | [Area]