Errand running: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering errand running
You run errands for clients, including pickups, drop offs, returns, waiting in line and shopping. Your value is reliable completion, clear receipts and careful handling of the client's items and keys.
What customers ask
- Can you wait in line for me at the government office?
- How do you handle returns, and do I get the refund?
- Will you keep me updated while you are running my errands?
- Do you have a vehicle, and is it insured for errands?
- What happens if something goes wrong on the way?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the list of errands, the stores or addresses, the hours, the items and the proof the client needs, and confirm them in writing.
- Set a rule for the items you pay for, such as paying with the client's card or with your own money and being reimbursed with receipts.
- Photograph the item or the return confirmation at each stop and send the photos with the receipts.
- Plan the route in advance and send the client the order of the stops and the time you expect to finish.
- Keep a log of each errand, with the time, the receipt number and any issue, and send it at the end of the day.
- Return keys and documents as soon as the errand is done, and confirm the return in writing.
What to put on your profile
- List the errand types you handle, such as pickups, returns, waiting in line and shopping.
- Describe your area and your hours in plain terms.
- Note whether you drive and the kind of transport you use for errands.
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a standing weekly errand schedule for clients who need recurring help.
- Suggest a list of common errands the client can prepare in advance, such as bagged returns.
- Check in after the first few errands to confirm the process is working for the client.
Licenses and permits
No license is usually required for errand running. Keep your driver's license current, carry auto insurance that covers business use, and check your state or local rules for any business registration your work requires.
Questions
Do I need a special license to pick up prescriptions?
Pharmacies set their own rules for pickup. Confirm the rules with the pharmacy and the client before you accept that errand.
What if I cannot complete an errand?
Tell the client as soon as you know, explain what stopped you and return any money or items that have not been used.
Can I use my own card for a purchase?
Only if the client agrees in writing and you keep the receipt. Reimburse the purchase quickly and show the client the record.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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