There’s hardly any activity today that does not depend on transportation. And for transportation petrol and diesel fuels are indispensable. So, in short, every other activity depends on the availability of these fuels. However, not every location has equal access to these resources. And for this reason, having a strong network of fuel distribution channels is vital for economic activities to flourish.

 

Regardless of strong delivery channels and exclusive distribution systems, there are instances when the drivers or vehicle owners need to drag their vehicles up to the fuelling station. It is both frustrating and tiring at the same time. Moreover, refuelling is probably the dullest task that anyone would have to take up any day.

That being said, the growing popularity of mobile refuelling stations might change the situation very soon. Of course, the drivers wouldn’t have to take any detours if the services are made widely available.

So, if this business idea interests you, this article is for you. Here, you shall find all the necessary information on how you can set up a mobile fuel distribution business. So, without any further ado, let’s begin.

Identify The Market Demand

The very first thing, which is probably common to all sorts of businesses is identifying the market demand. Particularly when you are in a business that is largely dependent on walk-in customers, you need to be ever more vigilant to the changing market demands. Consider the routine road users in your region and how many of them regularly make a trip to the gas station. You can take a step further and evaluate how many of these vehicle owners have to make a detour for refuelling, regularly. After all, your easiest targets would be the people who have to make long trips or go out of the way for refuelling their gas tanks.

Estimating The Cost Of Setup

Once you know that your market has demand for such a business, the next thing you need is to get your finances in place. Every business needs investment, and mobile fuel distributions are no different. You’ll need to spend money on legal fees, marketing, choosing and renting a space for your business and several similar tasks, without which setting up your business may be incomplete. One such important investment is choosing the portable fuel tanks. After all, you’ll need fuel tanks to store and transport fuel to your peers. Make sure you get together a list for comparison of expenses before you invest your money into anything.

Preparing For The Legal Obligations

For smooth and hassle-free operations, it is always important to get your business registered according to the local as well as other legal norms, as per the requirement. In fact, fulfilling legal obligations not only protects your business from future threats but also ensure that your profits are safe. Plus, it also improves your brand’s image before your customers.

Getting Together The Inventory

The next thing you ought to be doing is putting together the inventory. Think of the things that you shall need for smooth operations of your business. For example, you’ll need trucks, and office space, some furniture, electrical and electronics equipment, etc. You can imagine yourself, if there’s no electricity in your office it’ll become difficult to even carry out routine tasks such as preparing the invoice. You should collect more info about all the equipment that you need and the quantity you need. For instance, particularly if you consider the number of trucks it is necessary that you consider the size of your fleet carefully.

Training Your Fleet

Simply gathering together the inventory items won’t make your business successful. Essentially, your business is about delivering fuel to the vehicles on the go. And for this purpose, you would need to train your fleet accordingly. They should operate within their designated regions or zones and respond to the customer call ASAP. In fact, proper training will make a much greater impact on the success of your fleet than anything else.

Integrating Smart Communication Systems

Besides, there needs to be proper communication between your peers and your staff. You can very easily get your business a tech tool such as a customer management system, similar to that of the uber model. Think of ways you can seamlessly connect your fleet with your customers in real-time. As soon as the customer places a request for a refill, the nearest fleet member should receive a notification. Subsequently, they should also receive the location details of the customer to reach them. All of these systems should enable your business to follow a simplified process of operation.

Get Your Business Rolling

Most importantly, you’ll need to market your business before your customers. After all, if your customers do not know about your business, it is very unlikely they shall buy services from you. Therefore, it is vital for your newly set up business to follow an appropriate marketing procedure. It should include different modes of advertising and promotions while educating your customers about the potential benefits that your business can offer. For example, you can include conventional marketing methods such as newspaper advertisements, TV commercials, or radio announcements. Plus, you can include modern digital marketing methods such as influencer marketing, YouTubing and social media promotions, and even email marketing or mobile marketing. All of these methods if used carefully will help improve the potential of your business. That being said, when choosing the marketing channels it is important that you also keep track of your budget.

Summing it up, a mobile fuel distribution business is surely a great idea, considering the growing market potential. However, it might be foolhardy if you go with a business plan without proper consultation. Therefore, it is still suggested that you take into account all the possible challenges for your business location and target market, and also consult with a legal representative to get your business on the right track. It is only if you can manage to make the right choices that you should expect good returns on your investment.