If you’re thinking about starting a shipping business, there are a lot of things that you need to consider, and getting these things right the first time will be key to your success. If done properly, you could earn a lot of money from this field, and you could be sending goods all over the world, and having a key role in the business of trading. If you want to get your shipping business off of the ground and onto the sea (get it?) then follow these simple tips!
Get the funding
Needless to say, setting up a shipping business will put you out a lot of money, and you need to make sure that you have the funds to make it work. There are so many costs that you need to cover, especially when compared to other businesses, although the return will pay this back over time. You just need the money to make the initial investment, which you could get as a loan from the bank or a private company, or you could alternatively use your own funds and savings to get it sorted. Whatever you decide to do, if you’re going to start off small you won’t need millions to get the ball rolling, so try your best to get the relevant funding as it will pay off!
Invest in the vessels
If you want to build up a great fleet in order get your shipping business to high levels, you need to invest in a few core vessels to get you off of the ground. Decide what kind of trade you’re going to be interested in, the journeys that are going to be made, and all of the other specifics, as this will help you to decide what it is that you’re going to buy. Make sure that everything is safe and up-to-date on all of your vessels, such as the oily water separation system, and all of the other requirements are met when it comes to safety. You have to prioritize these things no matter what the cost is, or your business will encounter a lot of issues.
Make Sure Your Drivers Can Fill Up
Of course, your fleet drivers are going to have to be able to fill up their tanks and they’re not going to be doing this from their own pockets. This is why it’s absolutely essential that you come up with a protocol to ensure they can top up their tanks and continue their journey whenever they need. This is where fleet fueling cards come into play. They’re essentially prepaid cards that drivers can use to fill up. You can find out more about this here.
Build up a client base
As with any business, if you’re looking to be successful in the shipping industry you need to build up a trusted client base, who you know will come back and use your company every single time. Whilst it is always good to advertise to try and get new clients, your loyal customers will be the ones that you really rely on in the beginning, so make sure that you do your best to establish those relationships early on. You’ll be glad that you did when you can break even in the first few months, because of your good rapport with clients and your focus on bending over backward for those who come back and use your company time and time again.
So, if you want to get your shipping business off of the ground, follow these simple tips and you’ll be well on your way to great success!