It hasn’t been long since cannabis was legalized in over 20 states of the U.S., but it’s already quite clear to everyone that the cannabis industry is experiencing a boom. Would you like to jump on the bandwagon and strike while the iron is hot? If so, make sure to read this guide on how to start a weed deliveries business and get the ball rolling.
Do Research and Develop a Strategy
Starting a weed delivery business isn’t possible without preliminary research on federal and local laws. There are many legal restrictions, and it’s essential that you strictly follow the rules in order to create a profitable business and not end up paying high fines. For example, in New York, the maximum amount of marijuana that a user can possess is only 3 ounces, so the seller must track and control how much weed clients order from you at a time. In Arizona, on the other hand, you can only deliver medical cannabis, despite the fact that both medical and recreational weed is readily available for sale there. All of this just goes to show how important it is to take your time to research the state’s laws and figure out what is legal and what is not in your area before starting a marijuana delivery service.
The next step is to understand which delivery service model suits you best, as there are a few possible options. If you don’t want to bother with keeping an inventory in a warehouse, the best option for you would be to work as a courier for the local dispensaries. And if you have an online store, you may want to look into recruiting drivers to fulfill orders on your behalf. In the latter case, it is necessary to account for all delivery-related costs, including the cost of petrol, employees’ salaries, and vehicles and make sure the expenses don’t exceed the potential income.
Store Cannabis Properly
Once you’ve decided how you’re going to carry out orders, you should put some thought into how you’re going to store an inventory. This will help not only to make a great impression on your customers and create a good reputation for your service, but also to maintain the quality and potency of cannabis. So, what’s the proper way to store and transport cannabis? Of all existing methods, glass containers are the best. Because glass is impermeable, it doesn’t allow air to seep through, so no microbes can get inside and deteriorate the product’s quality. Alternatively, you can use a vacuum sealer to prevent weed from being exposed to microbial growth. Besides, it’s necessary that you maintain the perfect storage temperature for your weed, which should be about 70-72 degrees F. Temperatures lower or higher than that will negatively affect your product and can lead to microbial growth.
Allocate Advertising Budget
Getting the word out about your cannabis delivery business is no less important. So, the first thing to do would be to contact your local dispensaries and tell them about your courier service. Even though there is a huge demand for cannabis, there aren’t many companies that provide delivery services, and if you go into the dispensary, chances are high that you’ll find quite a few new clients there. If you don’t work on a tight budget, you may also want to spend money setting up a presence online. A business website or even an Instagram profile is a great way to build awareness and get people to know what you do. Last but not least, you may want to try your hand at advertising on platforms like Facebook but before doing so, make sure that your advertising materials comply with Google’s policies not to get banned.
Deliver to Your Customers’ Expectations
Now that you know how to start a cannabis delivery service, think about how you’ll communicate with customers. Weed isn’t pizza or ice cream, and it can’t be just dropped at a client’s doorstep. Besides, most customers will likely want to know beforehand how the product will arrive. That’s where emails and SMS come in, allowing you to provide information about your product and include delivery details. To take your delivery service game to a whole new level, you may also want to carry out surveys from time to time and ask your customers to share their experiences. All of these things play an important role and can make your weed delivery stand out from the competition.
Final Thoughts
Summing up everything said above, starting a marijuana business is attractive from many perspectives. The cannabis industry is thriving and opens up opportunities for everyone. Moreover, it has a comparatively low barrier of entry, so even if the idea of starting delivery crossed your mind just recently, you have a good chance of success. On the other hand, this business should only be done after careful study of local laws and regulations because even a minor violation of the state’s rules can have serious consequences. Do it thoughtfully, and you’ll be rewarded with success!