How is Courier business in SG doing.

[CSP]

Hi, anyone in courier business,
ex- courier businessman or who had wanted to be in courier business.

Would like to know how is the business nowaday.

Are them making a profit or just enough to cover overhead.

[Strong Eagle]

I'm not in the courier business but:

a) There are already a million couriers so there is lots of competition and that means margins will be very low.

b) The barriers to entry are very low... anybody can do it.

c) How do you plan on drumming up new customers?

d) How will you protect yourself against the liability of lost/late documents?

[CSP]

I'm not in the courier business but:

a) There are already a million couriers so there is lots of competition and that means margins will be very low.

b) The barriers to entry are very low... anybody can do it.

c) How do you plan on drumming up new customers?

d) How will you protect yourself against the liability of lost/late documents?

Hi, thanks for the fast reply.
Been thinking what can i do beside from working for other.
been in metal machining line for many years, quitted it then started a western food stall in a coffeeshop not long ago.
High competition too, barriers entry very low, margin very Low also.
Highest education Ntc 2 in pecision engineering, half way diploma but quit.
Just don feel like goin back to pecision.

[CSP]

What about import and export doin in Sg?

[Strong Eagle]

Well, clearly people do make a living at all the things you have mentioned. Often though, it is just a living without much disposable income left over after the bills are paid.

As for import/export... that covers many fields. You could import cheap Chinese watches and jewelry and compete against the million others who are doing the same thing. Or, you could find a niche... like specialized high end furniture and perhaps do much better.

I think a successful business requires the following:

a) You want to have a passion for what you do so that you will give it your all.
b) You want some sort of expertise so that you don't have to start off completely ignorant.
c) You need to find a niche market within what you know that doesn't have very many people in it.
d) Your product or service needs to solve a problem.

For example, you are familiar with precision engineering. Could you identify something that the shops need/want that you could supply? DO you know of a machine, tool, or process that could save people money or make them more productive?

Too many people start a business without understanding the market they want to serve. Many products have been introduced that solve problems that people don't have. The key is to identify a problem, then provide the solution.

[CSP]

Well, clearly people do make a living at all the things you have mentioned. Often though, it is just a living without much disposable income left over after the bills are paid.

As for import/export... that covers many fields. You could import cheap Chinese watches and jewelry and compete against the million others who are doing the same thing. Or, you could find a niche... like specialized high end furniture and perhaps do much better.

I think a successful business requires the following:

a) You want to have a passion for what you do so that you will give it your all.
b) You want some sort of expertise so that you don't have to start off completely ignorant.
c) You need to find a niche market within what you know that doesn't have very many people in it.
d) Your product or service needs to solve a problem.

For example, you are familiar with precision engineering. Could you identify something that the shops need/want that you could supply? DO you know of a machine, tool, or process that could save people money or make them more productive?

Too many people start a business without understanding the market they want to serve. Many products have been introduced that solve problems that people don't have. The key is to identify a problem, then provide the solution.

May i know what you do for a living?

[Strong Eagle]

I am a project manager and owner in a company that specializes in project management in the IT arena with concentration in infrastructure and solutions integration areas. Our focus is multi national companies, and/or large scale complex cross border projects.

http://www.catalystprojectsolutions.com