Free for couriers · from HAF
Your courier set-up checklist
Everything you need before your first paid job, and the steps to your first 3–5 regular customers. Tick things off as you go — your progress is saved to your email, so you can pick up where you left off on any phone or laptop.
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Got the course? The HAF Courier Playbook, our free course, walks you through every section of this list, step by step.
1. Your business
- Most people start as a sole trader. A limited company keeps your business separate from you.
- Your UTR is your 10-digit tax reference. You'll need it for invoices and your tax return.
- Only if you chose limited.
- Keeps tax and invoicing simple.
- A notes app or spreadsheet is fine to start.
2. Your documents
- Ordinary van insurance does not cover paid deliveries.
- Covers the goods you're carrying.
- Covers damage or injury to other people or property.
- Lets a business check your licence. Codes last 21 days.
3. Your van
- Payload is the weight your van can legally carry.
- Over 3.5 tonnes you need an operator's licence and may need a different licence category.
4. Your kit
- A photo of the goods where you left them, plus a name or signature.
5. Your prices
- Fuel, wear, insurance and finance. The HAF Courier Course shows you how (coming soon).
- How long is free, and what you charge after.
6. Getting found
- Customers can book you without a phone call.
- Business name, hours and a short description.
- Free, and helps local people find you.
- The HAF Courier Course has one to copy (coming soon).
7. Your first customers
- The area you'll work most.
- Trade counters, showrooms, motor factors, printers, florists, online sellers.
- Walking in beats emailing.
- That's a business.
8. Getting paid and your accounts
- CleverPay is the HAF payments team. Pay weeks run Monday to Sunday, and drivers are paid on the Wednesday morning after.
- Gemma, our accounting partner, can help you set up a limited company, do your accounts and tax return, and sort out VAT. Tap Ask Gemma, give your HAF username, and she'll get in touch. It costs nothing to ask.