Start a newspaper and magazine delivery round

Households, often older people or regular readers, who want their paper brought to the door, plus some small businesses.

You earn a delivery charge or a share of the cover price on each copy, billed weekly or monthly. A tighter route with more customers per street makes better use of your time.

• Reliable early starts
• Route planning
• Keeping accurate customer records and collecting payment

• Check whether your supplier or wholesaler will work with a new, independent round
• Vehicle insurance that covers business use if you deliver by car or van
• Public liability insurance, and rules on employing young people if you use delivery helpers, check with your council
• Falling print sales mean you should plan for the round to change, so test demand before committing
• Late payers and missed deliveries can quickly lose customers

Startup costs are estimated at typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on whether you take over an existing round, what transport you use and your insurance. There is no shop to rent, which keeps the costs lower.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on the size of your round and the number of customers. Print sales may change over time, so test demand before committing.

Check whether your supplier or wholesaler will work with a new, independent round. Also check business-use vehicle insurance, public liability insurance, and the rules on employing young people as helpers with your council.