How to Start a White Glove Delivery Service

White glove deliveries offer customers specific handling and placement of valuable, fragile, or odd-shaped items. Specific care and treatment options are also applied for the right price.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.

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Start a white glove delivery service by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your White Glove Delivery Service
  2. Form your White Glove Delivery Service into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your White Glove Delivery Service for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your White Glove Delivery Service
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your White Glove Delivery Service
  7. Get White Glove Delivery Service Insurance
  8. Define your White Glove Delivery Service Brand
  9. Create your White Glove Delivery Service Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your white glove delivery service. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a white glove delivery service?

Fortunately, the overhead for a white glove business is, initially, reasonable. You will need a vehicle, preferably a van, uniforms and insurance for your business and employees, and a marketing and advertising budget. You may not need a building to start, but the storage of customer valuables will improve delivery logistics and allow for growth and expansion of business and revenue. It’s wise to factor in building rentals and purchase costs, from the onset. Have a clear understanding of your business’ earning potential, as well as anticipated costs.

What are the ongoing expenses for a white glove delivery service?

A majority of the costs to continue this business are in the maintenance and upkeep of the delivery fleet. Additionally, employee salaries and insurance, as well as business operating insurance and rent or mortgage costs, will be monthly factors.

Who is the target market?

Primarily, white glove delivery customers are those in need of specific care and handling of their valuables. These customers don’t mind paying more for the service, as long as their needs are met. Upper-middle-class customers would be considered your base.

How does a white glove delivery service make money?

Clients pay for a specialized delivery service tailored to their specific needs. Because of specificity, white glove deliveries cost more than standard delivery services.

How much can you charge customers?

Because of the specialized nature of white glove deliveries, these services can charge quite a bit more. Some price increases can double the cost of a standard delivery. Compare other regional delivery services and price yours accordingly.

How much profit can a white glove delivery service make?

With specialized delivery services increasing in popularity, profit margins will more than likely increase. The potential for earning in this type of delivery service often depends on the median income of an area, but many services are making six-figure annual earnings. As a delivery associate, hourly wages can vary from $11-$18, depending on experience and delivery volume.

How can you make your business more profitable?

White glove deliveries specialize in customer satisfaction. Allowing customers to stay in contact via chat allows a constant flow of info without phone conversations. Look into maximizing your use of tech tools which streamline your delivery processes.

Also, look into special add-ons you can attach to your deliveries. When customers have the opportunity to pay for convenience services, many often will.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your white glove delivery service is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your white glove delivery service were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate an aerial art studio business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a white glove delivery service

As mentioned above, creating online marketing and blog content can lead to greater customer engagement. Pictures of satisfied customers and professional employee appearances go a long way to attracting customers, too.

A good marketing campaign should also recognize and capitalize on what your business specializes in compared to other services. How do you stand out?

It is also important to emphasize your ability to be discreet and even available as on-call for certain customers. Ingratiating yourself via your service is recognized and appreciated.

How to keep customers coming back

Go above and beyond expectations regularly and follow-up to establish a personable business connection. And, as your business grows, reward your loyal clients for helping you achieve your success.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Wealthy or eccentric clients often request white glove deliveries. Understanding how to properly lift and handle customers’ valuables while also professionally conversing with clients are both important traits for this career.

Prior work in moving and deliveries, as well as the hospitality or service industry, can prove beneficial.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a white glove delivery service?

Day to day activities for a white glove delivery service include

  • Securing client merchandise and scheduling deliveries
  • Contacting clients for delivery times and special instructions
  • Delivery and placement/installation of client merchandise
  • Follow-up with clients for satisfaction upon completion

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful white glove delivery service?

This type of delivery service is specifically designed to cater to the client’s every delivery-related request. Excellent customer service and an ability to politely and professionally converse with your customers will significantly improve your chances of being hired again or recommended to friends and colleagues. 

Additionally, a decent set of handyman skills is necessary to tackle the assemblies and installs. Electrical and audio/video experience may also be called upon. Finally, some basic business and marketing skills are needed to help get your startup off the ground.

What is the growth potential for a white glove delivery service?

With exponentially higher numbers of consumers purchasing online, delivery services are in high demand. White glove services are specifically gaining popularity, as more clients are looking to outfit their home and office or business life, via online shopping. Assembly, installation, and specific placement are, increasingly, being left to the pros.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a white glove delivery service?

With the popularity of these services increasing, so will competition. Do your business a favor and perform some market research to start. How many white glove services already exist in your area. Market saturation will strangle out good companies.

Look for a need for deliveries. If you live in a city with a large medical community or tech commerce, for instance, focus on deliveries that benefit these industry professionals in their personal lives.

Create a marketing splash with online and print advertising, as well as an online social media presence. Online photos let customers see your professional attire and attitude and understand what they can expect prior to your arrival. Target your print marketing to higher-end shopping and commerce centers, as well.

How and when to build a team

Many small white glove services often start out as a two or three-person outfit. Deliveries can be handled by a few employees, which keeps salary overheads low. As you grow, though, reliable delivery personnel become invaluable for success. Being able to rely on employees to follow through and match your same level of quality and attention to detail is critical, so choose wisely.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading