Home-Based freight and delivery coordinator

Small manufacturers, online sellers, wholesalers and trade suppliers that ship regularly but have no one to manage it.

A monthly management fee or a margin added to each haulier or courier cost, sometimes both.

• Organised and good with detail
• Clear phone and email manner
• Comfortable negotiating rates
• Basic spreadsheet or booking software skills

• Check what goods-in-transit and liability cover you and your subcontractors need, and who is responsible if goods are lost or damaged
• Check whether your haulier partners hold the right operator licences for the vehicles and loads they use
• Make sure your terms are clear on liability and payment, and use trading terms such as those from a recognised freight trade body as a starting point
• Late-paying customers can strain cash flow when you pay hauliers first
• Check whether you need professional indemnity insurance
• Check with your landlord or mortgage lender before running a business from home

As an estimate, startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the booking software, equipment and insurance you choose. You subcontract vans, couriers and pallet networks rather than owning vehicles, which keeps the starting budget lower.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £4,000, depending on how many clients you take on and how often they ship. Late-paying customers can strain cash flow when you have to pay hauliers first, so watch your payment terms.

Check what goods-in-transit and liability cover you and your subcontractors need, and whether your hauliers hold the right operator licences. Make your liability and payment terms clear, consider professional indemnity insurance, and check with your landlord or mortgage lender about working from home.