Marketing & Getting Clients

How to Get Clients for Your Errand Running Business

Getting your first clients is the biggest hurdle in starting an errand running business. Unlike businesses with a storefront or online product, errand services rely almost entirely on reputation, convenience, and personal trust. Your potential clients need to know you exist, believe you’re reliable, and feel confident handing you their time-sensitive tasks.

The good news: errand running has a naturally high referral rate. One satisfied client who uses you regularly will talk about you constantly. Your marketing job is to get that first handful of clients, deliver exceptional service, and let word of mouth take over.

Who Your Ideal Clients Are

Your best customers fall into a few specific categories. Busy professionals earning $75,000+ annually who value time over money are your core market—they’d rather pay $20 to have someone pick up dry cleaning than spend an hour doing it themselves. Dual-income households with young children are another strong segment; parents juggling work and childcare often need help with grocery runs, school pickups, and household tasks. Older adults, particularly those 65+, represent a growing market segment, especially for medical appointment transportation, pharmacy runs, and grocery shopping.

Secondary clients include small business owners who need someone to handle administrative errands, real estate agents who need property showings prepped, and people recovering from surgery or injury who temporarily can’t drive. The common thread: they have money, limited time, and specific, repeatable tasks they need completed regularly.

Your Best Marketing Channels

Local Facebook Groups and Neighborhood Apps

Facebook groups focused on your neighborhood or city are where busy people actively ask for service recommendations. Join groups like “Buy Nothing,” local parent groups, and neighborhood discussion boards. When someone posts “Does anyone know a reliable person for errands?” you can respond with a brief introduction and contact info. Nextdoor is equally valuable—it’s specifically designed for local service recommendations and has high engagement from the demographic you’re targeting.

Direct Outreach to Local Businesses

Real estate offices, medical practices, and corporate offices frequently need reliable errand services. Visit these businesses in person, introduce yourself, and leave business cards. Offer a small discount for bulk referrals. A single real estate office that regularly needs property preparations or client errands can generate 2-3 jobs per week.

Google Business Profile and Local Search

Set up a free Google Business Profile immediately. Many people searching “errand service near me” or “personal assistant [city name]” will find you this way. Ensure your profile is complete with accurate hours, service area, phone number, and a clear description. Ask early clients to leave reviews—this is critical for local search ranking.

Community Bulletin Boards and Flyers

Physical flyers still work for local services. Post tear-off flyers at coffee shops, libraries, community centers, senior centers, and grocery stores. Include your name, phone number, and the services you offer. Target senior centers and assisted living facilities specifically—management often keeps referral lists for local services their residents request.

Word of Mouth and Referral Program

Offer a simple referral bonus: $10-15 off for every new client referred. Tell every client about it. Some errand runners also offer their first 2-3 referral sources a discount on their own future services. Track who’s referring clients so you know where your best word-of-mouth is coming from.

Local Partnerships

Partner with businesses that serve your target market. Connect with personal concierge services, house cleaners, handymen, and pet sitters. You can refer clients to each other and include business cards in each other’s invoices. Elderly care coordinators, financial advisors, and estate planners also work with people who need errand services.

Getting Your First 3 Clients

1. Tell everyone you know. Start with your personal network—friends, family, former coworkers, neighbors. Many will become your first clients or will refer someone immediately.
2. Post in local Facebook groups and Nextdoor. Introduce yourself, mention you’re starting an errand service, and ask if anyone needs help. Set a goal of posting in 5-10 local groups in your first week.
3. Walk into 10 local businesses and introduce yourself. Visit real estate offices, medical offices, corporate offices, and senior centers. Hand them a business card and briefly explain what you do.
4. Create a flyer and post it in 15 high-traffic community locations. Coffee shops, libraries, community boards, senior centers, and grocery store bulletin boards.
5. Reach out to your city’s chamber of commerce or business network. Attend a meeting and introduce yourself. Many small business owners in the room will need your services or can refer clients.
6. Set up your Google Business Profile with complete information, add a phone number, and ask your first few clients to leave reviews once you complete their tasks.

Building Referrals and Word of Mouth

Your first satisfied client is worth more than $500 in advertising. An errand runner who delivers on time, communicates clearly, and handles each task professionally will naturally refer you to others. Make referrals automatic by asking every client after their third service if they know anyone who might benefit from your help. Include a small referral incentive card in your invoice. Track who referred whom so you can thank your top referral sources directly.

Attend local networking events, community meetings, and business lunches even after you’re busy. Many of your best clients will come from personal relationships. Senior living communities, corporate offices, and medical practices are particularly valuable—one contact at these locations can refer dozens of clients over time. Build relationships with decision-makers and check in quarterly.

Your Online Presence

You need a simple website—nothing fancy, but something that exists. It should clearly state what services you offer, your service area, your phone number or contact form, and ideally a photo of you. Many potential clients will search for you online before calling; if they find nothing, they’ll assume you’re not professional or established. Your website doesn’t need e-commerce or complex features—it’s a credibility tool and a place to list your services.

A Google Business Profile is non-negotiable. This is how people find local errand services, and reviews on this profile directly influence whether potential clients call you. Aim for 15-20 reviews in your first year. Response time matters too—respond to reviews (good and negative) within 24-48 hours to show you’re actively managing your business.

Social Media Strategy

Facebook and Instagram are your platforms. Facebook is where your target demographic (especially people 45+) asks for local recommendations and shares services with friends. Post occasional updates about your services, ask for referrals, and stay visible in your local community. Instagram works for the younger end of your market and for building a visual brand—before-and-after photos of organized spaces, photos from client tasks, or lifestyle content around being organized and efficient.

Don’t spread yourself thin across all platforms. Focus on Facebook and your Google Business Profile first. These two channels will generate most of your leads. TikTok and LinkedIn are lower priority for a local service business.

Paid Advertising

Wait until you have 5-10 steady clients before testing paid ads. When you do, start with a small Facebook or Google Local Services Ads budget ($300-500 per month). Test Google Local Services Ads first—you only pay when someone contacts you directly, which is ideal for a service business. Facebook ads can work but require more refinement to target the right audience. Don’t spend on paid advertising while you’re still learning to deliver the service consistently; word of mouth will get you started, and paid ads amplify a business that’s already functioning well.

Client Retention

• Send a brief thank-you message after every completed task
• Offer small loyalty rewards after 10 tasks (discount on next service, small gift card)
• Check in proactively with repeat clients—text or call weekly to ask if they need help with anything
• Be flexible with scheduling and responsive to last-minute requests when possible
• Track client preferences (favorite coffee shop, preferred time windows, payment method) and remember them
• Ask for honest feedback after each task and act on it immediately
• Offer package deals or subscription pricing for clients who use you weekly
• Send holiday greetings and occasional thank-you messages to your most reliable clients

Learn more about the fastest ways to get your first 10 errand running business customers, discover the best marketing tools for your errand running business, and explore local marketing strategies for errand running services.