Home services No experienceRepeat customersFlexible hours

How to start an errand service business in Illinois

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Illinois asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In US dollars 12-minute read

To start$395–1.5kLean to full setup

Per month$2.5k–8kOnce established

Profit margin65–80%After car costs, fuel and insurance

First customer1–3 weeksFrom today

DifficultyNo special skills; reliability is everything

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

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

02What it costs

From $395 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start$395

What	Cost
Bags and cartInsulated grocery bags, plus a folding hand truck in the full figure	$25
Insurance, first three monthsGeneral liability, plus commercial auto in the full figure	$135
Website and marketingWebsite, domain and business cards	$85
Registering your businessThe state's fee to form an LLC in Illinois	$150
Total	$395

Once you're running: about $65 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.

03What you can make

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.

Average price per errand $40 $13$120

Errands a week 20 160

Monthly costs $65 $0$260

Typical in Illinois: $25–$60 per errand, 8–30 errands a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle$500–1.3k

5–10 errands a week

Full-time, on your own$2.5k–4.5k

20–30 errands a week

With a helper$5k–8k

A second driver takes some routes

04Step by step

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
1–2 days Free

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
1 day Free

Pick a friendly name that says what you do. Make sure no one in Illinois has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas, then check yours with IllinoisFind a name
3
Form your LLC in Illinois
1–2 weeks $150 state fee

An LLC keeps your personal savings separate from the business. You file Articles of Organization with the Illinois Secretary of State.
- Articles of Organization
- A registered agent
- An operating agreement
PressUp can file your LLC with the state for youForm your LLC
4
Get your EIN
Same day Free

The IRS's tax number for your business. You'll need it for a business bank account.
- Apply online with the IRS
- Open a business bank account
Apply for it along with your LLC filingAdd your EIN
5
Sort out sales tax in Illinois
1–3 days Free

Illinois's sales tax is 6.25%, and cities and counties add their own. Ask the Illinois Department of Revenue whether what you sell is taxable.
- Check if your services are taxable
- Register for sales tax if needed
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

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
1 day $25–96

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
1 day Free

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
1 day Included

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
1–3 weeks Free

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
Ongoing Included

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

05Licenses in IL

What Illinois asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Articles of Organization (LLC)

Registers your business with the state.

The Illinois Secretary of State$150once

Annual report

Keeps your LLC in good standing with the state.

The Illinois Secretary of State$75a year

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

IRSFree

Sales tax registration

Only if what you sell is taxable where you are: ask the state.

The Illinois Department of RevenueFree

Helping seniors at home

Some states make in-home helpers for older people register. Florida, for example, registers homemaker and companion services, even one-person ones.

Your state health or aging agencyVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Insulated grocery bagsKeep cold and frozen food cold

$14–$51Must have

Folding hand truckFor heavy orders and stairs

$49–$133Later

Business cardsLeave one with every new client

$10Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Single errand

$35 per visit · Up to 1 hour, one stop

Pickup or drop-off
Pharmacy, returns, post office
Text when it's done

Grocery run

$45 per visit · About 1–1.5 hours

Shopping from your list
Cold items kept cold
Put away on request

Weekly helper

$160 per month · One errand a week

Same day each week
Groceries or a set of stops
Priority booking

Grocery run prices in IllinoisTypical: $30–$60

Average $45

$0$20$40$60$80

08First customers

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.

Free

Senior centers and churches

Older people and their families look for someone they can trust. Leave cards and offer a first errand.

Partnership

Google Business Profile

People search for errand help near them. A free profile with reviews puts you on the map.

Free

Weekly plans

A set errand each week turns one-off clients into regulars.

Repeat income

Online booking

Let clients book an errand any time, without a phone call.

With PressUp bookings

Reviews

Ask every client for a review. Trust is what they're buying.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your services and area
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get ready

Buy bags and a cart
Set your prices
Start a mileage log

Week 3

Go live

Website with booking
Google Business Profile
Post in neighborhood groups

Week 4

First clients

Aim for 10 errands
Offer weekly plans
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to run errands in Illinois?

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