Editor’s note: This article was first published in July 2010. The rate of around 40 euros or dollars per 1,000 leaflets is a 2010 figure, and the references to the economic crisis are also of that time.
The most profitable businesses are often right in front of us: every time we open the mailbox, or every time we find a shopping mall’s advertising flyer slipped under the door.
Leaflet distribution companies need less investment than almost any other business, because the work is out on the street, not in an office. So what are the advantages of starting a leaflet distribution company?
The advantages are very clear. As we’ve discussed in other articles, in times of crisis the worst thing a company can do is stop investing in advertising. Now more than ever, companies need to let consumers know they’re there.
The truth is that, in the business we’re proposing, handing out leaflets for someone else takes the same effort as running your own distribution company. It’s really simple.
One of the most effective forms of advertising is direct advertising. It’s the kind we receive whether we want it or not, and in most cases we end up reading it.
What you need to get started
All you need is time. The costs are covered by the companies that subcontract the distribution to you, except for fuel and a vehicle if you need to travel.
The rate for every 1,000 leaflets distributed varies from country to country, but it’s around 40 euros or dollars per 1,000 leaflets.
You can start out on your own; you don’t need employees unless demand is very strong. If it is, you can start with staff paid by the hour, if you decide to do everything fully legally. I recommend reading our article How to start a business with no money. It fits this kind of business perfectly.
The other task you’ll have, as in any business, is making your company known and offering your services. Bear in mind that the rate per 1,000 leaflets isn’t the same when the delivery area is made up of terraced houses as when it’s an apartment block.
Another advantage of this business is that, if you do an excellent sales job, you can break the myth that a small business doesn’t need advertising, when it’s precisely the one that needs it most.
Further reading
- 10 business ideas with no investment
- Business ideas with a future in times of crisis
- Business opportunities in tourism and leisure
- How to become a successful entrepreneur
- Why new businesses fail
Featured image: Nenad Stojković, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
