If you are looking for a business where you can literally start from scratch, then you may consider starting a brochure delivery service.

Flyer distribution is big business. After all, if a lot of money couldn’t be made, the newspapers and the Postal Service would quickly shut down this service.

Of course, you will never be able to compete with their advanced distribution networks, but you may find that there are services you can and cannot provide. For example, the brochures they deliver are always combined with several others. Your little service can easily be delivered exclusively to the front door of the home owner. You can also offer smaller, more concentrated distributions and personalized services.

With that said, your best chance to make money in this billion dollar industry is to learn a lesson from the big boys and deliver more than one flyer to each household. Establish routes throughout the city dividing the territory and concentrating on one area per week. Pack multiple (non-competing) flyers in plastic bags with holes to hang on the door.

If you charge five cents per flyer delivered and have 10 flyers per bag, you will be earning $ .50 gross for each delivery. After paying your overhead, which includes your supplier’s salary, you should have enough money to make a sizeable profit.

You will be successful in this business thanks to your exceptional organizational skills and by being flexible and offering services that larger organizations wouldn’t bother with. Not all companies like to have their flyers delivered in the usual junk mail or in a newspaper with 20 other brochures. Plus, having a flyer delivered right to your customer’s front door is very attractive.

The hardest part will be getting your first accounts. Walk around and visit some local businesses. Hand out your business card and give them a quick rundown of the services you can provide. You may also want to take note of the brochures that come to your door, in the mail, or in your newspaper and contact that company to see if they would be interested in trying their service. If you already advertise with brochures, you have a good chance of landing a job or two.

Lastly, be sure to hire honest and trustworthy carriers. This is not as easy as it sounds. Take your time and make sure you hire the right people. You should also make it a policy to conduct random checks throughout the day to ensure that all brochures are delivered. Some of your customers will ask what measures you have in place to avoid non-delivery by unscrupulous carriers.