- Small business ideas
- Canada
- Errand service
How to start an errand service business in Canada
Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Canada asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.
The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for Canada: researched US figures converted to Canadian dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are Canada's own.
A good fit if you're dependable, friendly and like being on the move
Busy parents, professionals and older neighbors all have errands they can't get to: groceries, pharmacy pickups, returns, dry cleaning and post office runs. With a reliable car and a phone you can start this week, and happy clients book you again and again.
You'll like it if
- You're reliable and on time
- You enjoy driving around town
- You're patient and kind with older clients
- You like a different day every day
Think twice if
- You don't have a dependable car
- Traffic and parking stress you out
- You'd rather not carry heavy bags
- You want to work from a desk
From CA$490 to start
Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bags and cartInsulated grocery bags, plus a folding hand truck in the full figure | CA$30 |
| Insurance, first three monthsGeneral liability, plus commercial auto in the full figure | CA$160 |
| Website and marketingWebsite, domain and business cards | CA$100 |
| Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company | CA$200 |
| Total | CA$490 |
Once you're running: about CA$75 a month, plus about 20% of what you earn. Insurance and your website every month, plus driving costs on every errand: fuel, wear and car insurance.
Work out your own numbers
Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.
Typical in Canada: CA$30–CA$70 per errand, 8–30 errands a week once established.
5–10 errands a week
20–30 errands a week
A second driver takes some routes
11 steps to your first customers
Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.
- 1
Choose your services and area
Decide what you'll do, such as groceries, pharmacy pickups, returns and post office runs, and how far you'll drive.
- Your list of errands
- Your service area
- Check local errand prices
- 2
Choose your name
Pick a friendly name that says what you do. Make sure no one in Canada has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name - 3
Register your business in Canada
Most owners start as a sole proprietor and register a business name with their province; incorporating costs more and keeps business debts separate.
- Incorporate federally: CA$200
- 4
Get your Business Number (BN)
Your business's tax number from Canada Revenue Agency, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Canada Revenue Agency
- Open a business bank account
- 5
Sort out GST/HST
You must register for GST/HST once your sales pass CA$30,000 a year.
- Know when to register for GST/HST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
- 6
Get insured
Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Commercial auto, or business use on your car policy
- 7
Get your gear
Insulated bags keep groceries cold, and a folding cart saves your back on big orders.
- Insulated grocery bags
- Folding hand truck
- A clean, tidy car
- 8
Set your prices
Charge per errand or by the hour, with a minimum per booking and extra for long drives. See the prices below.
- Single errand and grocery run prices
- A booking minimum
- Monthly plans for regulars
- 9
Put your business online
Let clients see what you do, your prices and your area, and book an errand in a few taps.
- Website with your prices
- Online booking
- Google Business Profile
PressUp websites can take free online bookingsBuild your website - 10
Get your first clients
Neighbors, busy parents and families of older people are your first clients. Trust spreads by word of mouth.
- Neighborhood groups
- Senior centers and churches
- Ask every client for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how - 11
Keep track as you grow
Keep each client's preferences, addresses and receipts in one place, and track your miles for taxes.
- Client list and preferences
- Receipts for every purchase
- Mileage log
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how
What Canada asks for
Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.
Incorporate federally
Filed online. You then register the corporation in each province or territory where it does business, for that place's fee.
What to buy first
Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.
3 packages that sell
Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.
Single errand
- Pickup or drop-off
- Pharmacy, returns, post office
- Text when it's done
Grocery run
- Shopping from your list
- Cold items kept cold
- Put away on request
Weekly helper
- Same day each week
- Groceries or a set of stops
- Priority booking
How to get your first customers
You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.
Neighborhood groups
Nextdoor and local Facebook groups are where neighbors ask for help.
FreeSenior centers and churches
Older people and their families look for someone they can trust. Leave cards and offer a first errand.
PartnershipGoogle Business Profile
People search for errand help near them. A free profile with reviews puts you on the map.
FreeWeekly plans
A set errand each week turns one-off clients into regulars.
Repeat incomeOnline booking
Let clients book an errand any time, without a phone call.
With PressUp bookingsReviews
Ask every client for a review. Trust is what they're buying.
With PressUp ReviewsA month from now, you could be open
Set up
- Choose your services and area
- Register your business
- Get insurance quotes
Get ready
- Buy bags and a cart
- Set your prices
- Start a mileage log
Go live
- Website with booking
- Google Business Profile
- Post in neighborhood groups
First clients
- Aim for 10 errands
- Offer weekly plans
- Ask for reviews
Common questions
Do I need a license to run errands in Canada?
Usually there's no special license for errands. You'll register your business. Some states register in-home helpers for older people, and driving people (not just things) can have its own rules, so check before you offer it.
Does my car insurance cover errands for pay?
Not always. Personal policies may not cover driving for business. Ask your insurer about business use, or get commercial auto insurance.
How do I handle clients' money?
Add what you buy to the client's bill with the receipt, or have them pay the store directly. Never keep clients' cards or passwords.
Should I charge per errand or by the hour?
Both work. Per-errand prices are simpler for clients; hourly rates suit long or many-stop days. Set a minimum per booking and charge for long drives.
Can I start part-time?
Yes. Many errand runners start with evenings, weekends or school hours, then add regular clients.
Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
Sources
- TaskRabbit: Errand running service cost
- DoorstepHQ: How to price errand running services (2026)
- My Errand Service: Price list
- O*NET OnLine: Couriers and messengers (BLS 2025 wages)
- IRS: Standard mileage rates
- Insureon: General liability insurance cost
- Insureon: Commercial auto insurance cost
- Walmart: Insulated grocery bags
- Walmart: Folding hand trucks
- Vistaprint: Business cards
- Squarespace: Pricing
- Florida AHCA: Homemaker and companion services registration
Similar ideas in Canada
Senior companion care
Keep older adults company and help them at home with meals, errands, light housework and outings.
Moving help
Load and unload rental trucks and storage units, and handle small local moves.
Dog walking and pet sitting
Walk dogs and look after pets in their own homes while their owners are at work or away.
Virtual assistant
Handle email, calendars, research and admin for busy owners, all from your own desk.
Ready to start your errand service business?
Describe it in a sentence. PressUp helps you name it, register it and put it online.